Malton (The)

Experience the romance and grandeur of a bygone era in one of Ireland's most beautiful hotels......

Victorian elegance is the birthright of The Malton hotel in Killarney.  In its past life, this hotel was first opened in 1854 as a Railway Hotel, right next to the line that runs through Killarney.  It became the place to stay for many a VIP and visitor to the area.  In 1897, the hotel was relabelled The Great Southern Hotel, a year after the Great Southern and Western Railway Company acquired it under its portfolio of properties.  Under this banner, it became the most modern, biggest and best hotel in the area.  Another change came about in 2007, when the company sold off its major establishments, and a group of Killarney businessmen bought this particular premises.  With the new ownership came the new and current name.  Even though there have been many changes along the way for the Grand Old Lady of Killarney, the style and period features of the original building have remained intact.  It’s charm and grace is much evident from the moment you walk up to the entrance.

The Malton – which is named after a set of rare Malton prints shown in the lobby - is a grand place to stay in grand style.  Ivy clad exterior walls and Victorian proportions on the façade of this building shout the Victorian architectural style.  The Concierge’s greeting and service when you arrive is still comparable as that of the earliest days, when visitors were welcomed from the train station and still are.  You’ll be met at the top of the gentile stone stairway, under the roof of the pillared front porch, and led through to the lobby area.  If it’s raining, the Concierge will even come down the steps outside to cover you with a large umbrella!  Now that’s service for you.  Restored to the glory of its former days, today the lobby and Grand Foyer at The Malton is a modern space that combines old features, including the heavily corniced and gilded ceiling, striking black and white tiled floor and roaring fire in the fireplace, with brand new looks and contemporary style beyond.  The large open plan main foyer has the comfortable lounge off - a good place to sip coffee or tea anytime of day.  You never know who you might bump into here, or spot checking in!  Or you can retire to the more private Coffee Room with its richly draped windows and comfy sofas.  Residents and non residents can enjoy afternoon tea here – a stylish affair given all the ceremony it deserves in these opulent surroundings.

Room selections are many and varied everything from standard doubles and twins to family rooms, deluxe rooms, junior suites and two magnificent Superior Suites.  These are spread across the ‘main house’ which is the original building, and large extension wings to each side.  All rooms have bottled water, tea and coffee making facilities, and TV as well as hairdryers, trouser press, work desk or station with stationary too.  Standard rooms have contemporary style and a mix of modern colour schemes - bright and vibrant or natural and muted.  All use designer fabrics and have little twists of individuality.  Bathrooms are finished to the highest quality, and of course, the towels are fluffy and the toiletries heavenly.  As you go up the notches, Deluxe rooms are larger and more spacious, the junior suites positively charming  – the ones in the main house have great proportions, magnificent antique furnishings, a separate sitting area, large bathrooms and big windows with good views.  Added extras include velvety bathrobes and slippers and a mini bar or fridge which can be stocked on request.  At the very top end, the Ambassador Suite is a two bedroom, two bath roomed suite with four poster bed in the master bedroom and queen size bed in the second bedroom.  The Drawing Room provides a place to relax with a drink from the mini bar or a choice from the room service menu.  Windows in this suite enjoy views over the peaceful gardens.  In the two bedroomed Kennedy Suite, the ornate bed in the Master Bedroom is draped in heavy brocade throws and comfy cushions, the bathroom has a majestic stand- alone cast iron  Victorian bath and double sinks – its pure luxury.  A second bedroom and bathroom are also here, along with a separate sitting room.  These two suites are highest end hotel accommodation for those who really want to splash out, kick back and enjoy every moment of their stay. 

Fine dining takes place in The Garden Room – the original Victorian restaurant with its stunning domed and corniced ceiling.  This is really a room to behold if you’re into Victorian period features.  The original gaslights of the old hotel have been restored and converted to electricity and are still in place in the gold leafed ceiling.  Crisp softly upholstered dining chairs surround the crisp white linen draped tables to make a breathtaking space which platforms a wealth of local and home-grown produce.  Head Chef John O’Leary is what we at Good Food Ireland call a human dynamo – a ball of gourmet energy!  He just whizzes his way through the kitchen domain, lapping up the opportunity to use good local produce and start his own gardens in the grounds here.  It harks back to the days when the original hotel had a farm on site, and John is echoing that with polytunnels and vegetable patches galore.  He’s even campaigning for his own free range pig herd so he can serve and cure his own pork for the menu here.  We started with the Terrine of local Salmon, Trout and Haddock, with cucumber jelly, salted lemon and zingy Gribiche sauce – a total wake up call for the palate.  After that, the Roasted four bone rack of Kerry Mountain Lamb impressed us with its moist succulence, cooked perfectly pink and served with glazed baby artichoke, tomato and pimento gnocchi and an aubergine millefeuille with intense lamb jus sauce.  It couldn’t be beaten in our view but then there are lots of other tempters here, so we beg to be challenged on that one!  Seafood abounds, with west coast Scallops and meaty monkfish among the choices too.  For pud, we fell prey to the Dark Chocolate Mousse, Chocolate Parcel and Amaretto Ice Cream with mini crushed raspberry and white chocolate jelly.  This is a serious plate for serious chocolate lovers so just be warned!  Naturally, in such grand surroundings you’d expect a grand wine list and that doesn’t disappoint at all.  It’s a huge and selective collection from Old and New World vineyards, starting very reasonably priced and hitting the hefty figures with the old favourite classics.

The Middle Lake Room is another graceful room to serve the overspill from the restaurant on the busiest of days, plus private banqueting feasts.  Here is the spot for a lovely wedding location – and the dining level is as high for the banquet menus as it is for the a la carte restaurant.  John ensures that.  The Malton also has large banqueting and conference facilities in a separate area of the modern wing, accessed by a lovely covered walkway from the original building.  Event rooms here include state of the art facilities for anything from national conferences to black tie dinners and everything in between.

After dinner you might want to retire to The Punchbowl bar, a cosy area where you can sip an Irish Whiskey or aromatic Cognac, and indeed any other tipple that takes your fancy.  In the afternoon, have a quiet pint and a snack from the bar menu, browse the papers, and chill out.  Also located on the ground floor is a lovely library packed with a wealth of reading material, so you might want to wander in there with your chosen poison and browse a few of the tomes on offer.  For guests looking for the spa experience, the Innishfallen Health and Beauty Rooms doesn’t fall short of that.  It’s nothing less than serenity itself here, with a 17 metre pool, Jacuzzi, sauna steam room, hydrotherapy bath, fully equipped gym, and three very tranquil treatment rooms where you can avail of a massage, a facial or any other treatment from the list.  And if that’s still not enough for guests who want a health kick during their stay, grab some rackets and head for one of the outdoor tennis courts and knock that ball around!

As with all Good Food Ireland establishments, good food is at the heart of the Malton.  Guests can browse the newly established gardens and then retire indoors to enjoy the wonderful array of local produce in the restaurant.  This hotel is driving the way forward in growing its own and maximising on the land outside to feed its own menu.  Alongside all the other wonderful facilities we’ve mentioned and the high standard of service and comfort here – The Malton is becoming one of Ireland’s top food destination hotels.     

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Contact Details

To Contact a Member Directly, please click on the email or website below

The Malton
Town Centre
Killarney
Co Kerry
+353 (0) 64 6638000
Email: res@themalton.com
Web: www.themalton.com

 

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