Something wonderful beginning with K?
Something wonderful beginning with K? It’s The K Club, the stylish country resort set in 550 lush, green Kildare acres
The K Club is a stylish country resort, tucked away in the Kildare countryside but just on Dublin’s doorstep, firmly anchored in old-school Irish hospitality in a delightfully relaxed and unfussy way.
The K Club is an exceptional backdrop to laidback country stays. With an authentic country mansion at its heart and comfortable contemporary wings, the fabulous décor, attentive staff and an impressive range of things to do both indoors and outdoors set the tone for days that can be as chilled or as full as you like, as there are scheduled and bespoke activities for you to dip in and out of, just as suits you.
Set in lush countryside, overlooking formal gardens and its own pair of championship golf courses, The K Club has a wide choice of bars and restaurants, handsome drawing rooms and magnificent interiors with elegantly classic furnishings. The 130 spacious bedrooms are each individually designed with great attention to detail, with bathrooms that feature hand-painted murals.
A visit to The K Club begins with a journey down the winding avenue to the beautiful country house at the centre of the resort, the original Straffan House, built by the renowned wine-making family of the Bartons in 1832. The Bartons also laid out the original formal gardens and planted some of the wealth of specimen trees now reaching their gorgeous maturity.
Breakfast is served daily in the Barton Restaurant, an oasis of calm from where to plan your day ahead, whether that’s a round of golf, a trek on horseback, a stroll along the river or just spending time with family and friends.
During the day The Henry Lounge, the informal hotel bar with its high ceilings and tall French windows that open out onto The K Club’s glossy lawns, makes the perfect setting for a casual lunch, a pre-dinner apéritif or a creamy pint, and The Blue Martini Cocktail Bar also has a selection of fine Champagnes, Barton & Guestier wines in a tribute to the original house owner, and an impressive collection of Irish and international whiskey, gin and spirits.
In the evening, dinner is served in the Barton Restaurant, intimate and luxurious, with white linen, fresh flowers and candlelight. And in an exciting addition to the resort, The Palmer, the new all-day dining venue at The K Club, is all about relaxed destination dining, easy and effortlessly modern. Spread across the first floor of the Clubhouse and out onto its impressive wraparound terrace, with spectacular views over the resort’s velvet greens and sparkling lakes, The Palmer serves a bright and early breakfast, leisurely lunch, an unmissable weekend brunch and dinner every evening all the way through to last orders. The Palmer menus offer contemporary comfort food where quality ingredients, simply and elegantly prepared, are at the heart of every menu, from Curragh lamb to locally-brewed beers, handmade cheese and fresh vegetables to exceptional artisan produce from local suppliers, including some ingredients grown in the resort’s own walled garden.
To ensure you get maximum pleasure from your dining experiences at The K Club, work up an appetite by playing one of the two Arnold Palmer-designed championship golf courses, host to the Ryder Cup in 2006, try paddle boarding on the estate’s private mile-long stretch of the River Liffey or experience the noble and ancient art of falconry, getting up close and personal with a stunning selection of birds of prey. Enjoy playing a few games of tennis or fishing on the Liffey or the well-stocked lakes for pike, perch and brown trout, carp and tench, with the expert tuition of one of The K Club’s ghillies. With all equipment provided, this is an exhilarating way to spend a few hours, and even complete beginners catch fish in these well-stocked waters.
Get out in the fresh country air on horseback where, from quiet lanes for beginners to full cross-country courses for the adventurous, you’ll be well minded by experienced K Club instructors on this classic country day out. Simply follow one of the gentle mapped garden walks, exploring the grounds at your own leisurely pace, or take the resort bicycles for a short spin to the cosy Straffan Inn, the pub in the nearby village which has been serving locals for over 100 years, opening its doors originally in 1920. Enjoy your drinks, with the concierge team collecting you when you are ready to return home to The K Club.
If the weather isn’t cooperating, you could take a wine cellar or guided history tour, enjoy the beloved ritual of afternoon tea in one of the drawing rooms, or work your way through the menu of indulgent spa treatments in the award-winning K Spa, delivered by exceptional therapists. From deep tissue massages to cutting-edge skin treatments, there are relaxing and rejuvenating options to suit everyone at The K Spa.
Rainy days are also a good time to experience the high-tech excitement of golf in K Golf World, a sophisticated suite of 8 state-of-the-art golf simulators, with spacious and luxurious bays, designed for up to 4 golfers at a time. In K Golf World at The K Club you can virtually play some of the world’s finest golf courses and improve your game, all while leaving your wet gear at home.
For children there are Kids Club activities during school holidays, including movies, kids discos, treasure hunts, face painting, arts and crafts and duck races, as well as outdoor options like tennis and cycling, with families welcome to use the resort bicycles together to go exploring. Fuel your sense of adventure as a family and do some something different together every day with the impressive range of on-site activities at The K Club.
Then, after a day’s adventures, simply choose one of the many grand drawing rooms with their crackling log fires and deep sofas, and get comfortable — make yourself at home at The K Club.
Visit www.kclub.ie
Editors note:
Under the new owner of The K Club, a multi-year investment programme is underway, gently and carefully transforming the property with a series of significant developments and refurbishments.