RSVP’s Erica Carter recently enjoyed a spa break at the luxurious Johnstown Estate in Enfield, Co. Meath and left feeling relaxed and rejuvenated – here’s the full review
Johnstown Estate in Enfield, Co. Meath
As a full-time Dublin dweller, peace and quiet can sometimes be hard to come by and it’s great to escape to the country every so often to relax – and relaxation is exactly what The Johnstown Estate in Meath offers.
The stunning hotel is situated in Enfield, just a short drive from Dublin or a quick trip on the train from the city centre to Enfield station nearby. The only downside of taking the train is that there is a 20-minute walk from the station to the hotel as taxis were hard to come by. But for those who drive, there’s handy onsite parking.
Despite being a quick commute from the capital, when you arrive you feel as though you’re in the middle of nowhere – it’s quiet, serene and peaceful.
The building itself is elegant and luxurious; the lit fireplaces gave the lobby area a warm, cosy feel and was the perfect place to sit with a coffee and get lost in a book. The check-in experience was easy and quick, and the staff were kind and accommodating.
My king room was spacious and comfortable, with a bright bathroom complete with a bath and shower plus Voya toiletries. The bed was huge and super comfy, with a large TV on the opposite wall. I got settled, ordered a quick lunch of chips and a Coke Zero via room service and got ready to go to the spa.
I used the thermal suite, which was the perfect way to relax after what had been a long day. It includes a steam room, sauna and a salt chamber, as well as a Jacuzzi and hydrotherapy pool on their rooftop. I went on a Monday evening and while it certainly wasn’t empty, there were few enough people that I never felt like it was crowded or loud. I stayed for around two hours soaking and left so relaxed that I had to grab an energy drink from a vending machine to prevent the risk of falling asleep.
I went for dinner in the Couch House Brasserie, the more casual of the two restaurants in the hotel. My food (beef nachos) were exactly the comfort food I needed to finish off my day. After a fantastic sleep, I loaded up on the extensive breakfast buffet which featured hot options as well as a wide variety of cereal, fruit, yogurt, meats, cheeses and more.
The grounds are perfect if you want a scenic walk to stretch your legs, which is exactly what I did before checking out feeling relaxed and refreshed.
This review originally appeared in the April issue of RSVP Magazine
Want to see more of the stories you love from RSVP ? To add RSVP as a preferred source of news on Google, simply click here
