PRICE:
Frommer's Highly Recommended

With a fanciful Victorian facade of turrets, towers, and battlements, this restored 1741 gem is an ideal choice for those who have always wanted to live in a castle. A 15-minute drive from the center of the city, it is between the villages of Dalkey and Killiney, amid hilltop grounds with clear views of Dublin Bay. It's a marvelous, rambling old building, with a wandering lobby that seems to go on forever, filled with comfortable sofas, a piano, and working fireplaces. There's an excellent bar, with leather chairs to sink into, and two good restaurants -- P.J.'s for upscale dining, and downstairs, the casual and very good Dungeon Restaurant, for less formal meals. The color of the building changes yearly -- one year it's blue, the next it's pink. Book online if possible, as good deals are often available. If you prefer privacy, ask about their guesthouses.

Copyright: Excerpted from Frommer's Ireland 2009, (c) 2008, Wiley Publishing, Inc.

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