Audrey and I were thrilled to be invited to stay at the Red Cow Hotel to do a travel review. Not only is this our first time alone together since lockdown… It’s also our first time away from our youngest daughter Arya.
And can I just say that our 24 hours of rest was beyond brilliant.
Location:
Located around 15 minutes from Dublin City Centre the Red Cow Hotel is directly beside the m50 and the Luas red line. This is an ideal spot for anyone, like us, looking to have a little break without going too far from home. Or indeed, anyone visiting Dublin who doesn’t want to stay in the hustle and bustle of the city centre. It’s a short drive or Luas ride away from plenty of local amenities such as shopping centres, playgrounds and parks.
Covid Cleanliness:
This is our first hotel stay post-covid, so it was understandably a bit different. We were very impressed with all the health and safety measures and felt entirely comfortable throughout the stay. We were pleasantly surprised, that while things were a bit different with social distancing measures in place, it still felt like a lovely hotel stay and break, just as it would have pre-covid.
Even the famous red cow which greets you at the entrance was wearing a mask. Just "moovolous!!!"
Here is a link to view their current cleanliness protocols:
Room:
We were upgraded to one of the executive rooms, which was beautiful. The decor was tasteful and modern. There was a huge bed with really comfortable sheets and bedding. We had a better sleep than we've had in months. Features like the large flatscreen and walk in shower really enhanced the whole experience. I especially loved the small enclosed balcony which really opened up the space. There was a bottle of red awaiting us in the room, which was a lovely touch to make us feel welcome and immediately get us into the swing of relaxing and enjoying our stay.
Food:
The food in the Red Cow's signature restaurant "Toms Table" was magnificent. They've been open for takeaway throughout the lockdown and have only recently opened up to regular dining again. I absolutely have to make special mention of Bruno, the restaurant manager who looked after us so well. You could tell he was happy to once again have customers dining in- even if things are a little different.
We are both former vegetarians who now eat a bit of fish. So that gave us a little bit more choice when it came to choosing our meal. Audrey had the prawns to start and goats cheese risotto for her main course. I had the goats cheese salad and then the salmon as my main course. It was all really good, but the highlights were definitely the salmon and the prawns. Whatever sauce was on the salmon I had to stop myself asking for extra. It all washed down a bit too easily with the strawberry daiquiris!
I'll just mention that the portion sizes for the mains are huge. So if we go back again we'll probably just order main courses and deserts. Because we were so full, we had our deserts sent up to the room with a pot of tea. Audrey ordered a gluten free pavlova which was really nice.
Breakfast was again served in "Toms Table". The buffet is gone temporarily due to health and safety- but you can still order anything from the menu. I had eggs florentine and Audrey had the full Irish veggie style. All really satisfying and a great way to round off the night away.
Overview:
The Red Cow Hotel is a great little 4 star hotel, easily accessible from the m50 and a great base from which to explore Dublin or as a short getaway for locals like us.
I know it’s so hard to plan the logistics of a couples night away when you have young kids. It's taken us this long to be able to do this! But if you can at all do it, then DO IT. The planning and preparation will be worth it. You cannot underestimate the value of reconnecting and recharging as a couple. It was best night we have spent together in a long time.
Thanks again to the whole team at the Red Cow for a beautiful night away.
Ranae x
***Our stay was complimentary in return for a honest travel review. All views and opinions are entirely my own.