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The Powerscourt Hotel, a member of the esteemed Autograph Collection, was named for one of the prominent families that once resided in County Wicklow, outside of Dublin. A luxurious and fantastic country retreat within minutes of Ireland’s capital, the hotel offers a stately and modern Palladian-style building set on a sprawling campus of 1000 acres. The Powerscourt is somehow tucked-in discreetly, yet stands proud in a largely residential area near the seaside port of Bray. A stay here will redefine everything you know about luxury, or what lies within a short time from Ireland’s largest city.
Driving-up to the hotel, you can’t help but open your mouth in awe of the design and size of the property. With hills and land stretching for what seems like miles, the glass and stone hotel rises in the distance and you instantly realize you’re somewhere unexpected. The half moon-shaped drive leads you to a grand entrance where your car is allowed to roll to a stop and you are finally able to get out and stand in awe of the details unfolding before you.
The Powerscourt offers guests a beautiful experience in every way. The rooms, 194 to be exact, are huge – averaging 700 square feet in size. They’re stately, equipped with rainforest showers, marble bathrooms and sitting areas, expansive views of the grounds and hi-tech gadgets and tablets that control the temperature and lighting. Upon arrival, I was greeted with a wooden board full of freshly made scones with jam and clotted cream. I devoured every single one.
The property has as much to explore inside as it does on its endless park-like grounds outside. Walking around the hotel, you’ll find an amazing ESPA spa and wellness center equipped with a state-of-the-art fitness center, sleek indoor Swarovski crystal-lit pool and treatment rooms. You’ll also find three dining options at the hotel, including: Sika, Sugar Loaf Lounge and McGills. Sika is the fine dining option and was named after the Japanese deer introduced to the estate by its owner, Lord Powerscourt, in 1860. Sika’s farm to table, seasonal menus are changed often and offer an excellent curation of local poultry, game and fish from the nearby sea. I dined at Sika and it was one of the best meals I’ve had in Ireland.
My favorite part of the Powerscourt is turning-in for the night. My room was set just right with mood lighting to get me in the space for a long, much-needed slumber. With a bottle of water and cup of mint tea bedside, I drifted off thinking about how impressed I was with my surroundings. For those looking for a country retreat with impeccable service and fantastic amenities, all within a 30-minute drive from Dublin, look no further than the remarkable Powerscourt.
