My afternoon tea obsession is well documented at this stage with recent outings including the Merchant Hotel in Belfast, Ashford Castle in Mayo and even Father Ted’s House in Clare. So when we found ourselves in the vicinity of the stunning 5 star Dromoland Castle in Clare there was nothing else for it, we had to indulge in a spot of afternoon tea!
Dromoland Castle
We knew we were in for a treat as we entered the magnificent grounds of Dromoland and the stunning castle came into view. The inside of the castle is like stepping back in time, it’s old world and traditional with lots of nooks and crannies to explore.
Afternoon Tea is served in both the Gallery lounge area and the Cocktail Bar and, being the cocktail lovers that we are, we decided on the Cocktail Bar. It was an excellent choice! The Cocktail Bar is a cosy, intimate space with a roaring fire and the soothing sounds of cocktails being shaken resonate in the background. We were offered a lovely window seat looking out on the rolling grounds of the Castle and we even spied some old style pony and traps passing by. Bliss!
Both afternoon tea and a casual dining menu are served in the afternoon and I love having the choice to order a mix of foods. Everything sounded delicious and, after some deliberation, we chose Mrs White’s traditional afternoon tea and Irish smoked salmon on brown bread.
Given that we were in the cocktail bar obviously we had to sample some of the cocktails on offer and decided on a Cosmopolitan for me and a whiskey sour for the husband.
The food and drinks were beautifully presented and we couldn’t wait to get started!
Afternoon Tea
Afternoon tea consisted of the traditional selection of sandwiches, scones and cakes and sweet treats. The five finger sandwiches were filled with smoked salmon, ham, chicken, egg and cucumber and were accompanied by two warm fruit scones with jam and cream. The sweet tier included fruit cake, a pistachio and almond sponge and a lemon curd.
50th anniversary celebrations:
The afternoon tea was excellent and everything in the 3 tiers was delicious. The locally sourced smoked salmon was exceptional as was the traditional Irish brown bread on which it sat.
Cocktails
We were in the Cocktail Bar, it would be rude not to sample! The cocktails were well made and tasty and Dromoland Castle can definitely hold its own in the cocktail department.
The Grounds
The grounds of the Castle are beautifully manicured and a post afternoon tea meander is a real treat. There are lots of little gems scattered throughout the grounds and we especially enjoyed the lily pond and the walled gardens. We were even lucky enough to catch sight of a stunning hawk from the Dromoland School of Falconary.
Overall
We had a lovely afternoon at Dromoland Castle. From the moment we entered the grounds the old world charm was evident and it felt like we were stepping back in time. The food and drinks were excellent quality and the Cocktail Bar is a gorgeous little corner of the hotel to relax in. The wonderful grounds are an added bonus!
Dromoland Castle
Address: Newmarket-on-Fergus, Co. Clare, Ireland
Website: Dromoland Caslte
Afternoon Tea: Mrs White’s traditional afternoon tea is served between 3pm and 5pm
Wow, I do love some afternoon tea. Cocktails makes it even better! x
I know, the cocktails just add to the occasion!
Another place for me to go for afternoon tea
I have a few more to come! There’s so many great places to choose from.
This looks amazing! My family and I love visiting castles but I’ve never had afternoon tea in one, definitely something to try and do for Valentines Day. Thanks so much for linking up to my blog hop, delighted to find your amazing blog!
Fiona @ http://www.dollydowsie.com
Thanks Fiona, I love a good afternoon tea and a castle is a bonus! Especially as they always have fab grounds. Thanks for hosting the blog hop, great idea!
Everything looks gorgeous I’m craving a nice afternoon tea now!!
There’s so many nice ones at the moment, I love it!
I’m a huge fan of afternoon tea and have also been on a mission to try ALL Ireland has to offer in that area, haven’t tried Dromolands yet though so I’ll definitely be adding that to my list! Your photos are lovely by the way! x
Thanks Chole. I have a designated photographer with me most of the time (also known as the husband) and he takes great pics! Love the idea of an afternoon tea mission!
I’ve dreamed of going to Dromoland Castle since reading a mention of it in a book, when someone got engaged! It looks absolutely beautiful. x
Ah lovely, castles are always so romantic!