Stayed here for 3 nights on a business trip and thought it was perfect. Couldn't fault it.
We arrived later than expected and found nobody at reception or in the bar. Everything was locked up. We called the phone number and it was answered by someone who we can only assume is the owner. This person was rightly confused by our arrival at such a late hour but promptly instructed us on how to enter the hotel and locate the key to our rooms. This was much-appreciated as the alternative would have been to sleep in our van!
We were staying in the apartment located around the corner from the main entrance to the hotel. It was newly refurbished and very clean with a kitchen, living room, hallway, and two en suite double bedrooms.
The beds were very comfortable. The bathroom and shower were beautiful with a monsoon showerhead and backlit mirror. Plenty of storage space in the bedrooms for clothing, though the rooms themselves were quite small.
Both bedrooms and the living room had a massive smart TV mounted on the wall. The TV in my room did have a vertical strip of dead pixels which was slightly annoying, but I'm sure it's easily fixed.
Breakfast in the hotel was continental, with a small selection of cured meats, cheeses, croissants, cereals, yogurts, and jams; as well as tea and coffee made to order. Everything was fresh and tasty, and well organised.
Kingston's has a great bar which includes an extensive selection of whiskey and cocktails. They also serve wood-fired pizza, which is very tasty and with great options, albeit a little pricey in comparison with other lunch/dinner spots in Killorglin.
If you're looking for a a more refined meal, there is an excellent restaurant only 2 mins walk from the hotel called 'The Bianconi', which has a beautiful menu that aspires to the level of fine dining found in cities such as Galway and Dublin. It's a favourite amongst locals and was almost full when we visited on a Thursday evening. Highly recommended.
Other than that, there are a multitude of food options, both in Killorglin, and the surrounding area including "Bunker's Bar and Restaurant" in Killorglin proper, and the 4 star Glenbeigh Hotel a mere 10-15 mins drive west.
Overall, Kingston's is an excellent base of operations for solo travellers and couples who wish to explore Killorglin, the Macgillicuddy Reeks, Rossbeigh, Killarney National Park, or even the Dingle peninsula. It's a place of comfort and tranquility nestled amongst some of the most beautiful natural scenery that Ireland has to offer.
In terms of improvements I would like to see, a more rounded offering of food at meal times would be desirable, and would almost certainly help to bring in more business during the off-season.
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