Having run The Dolphin Restaurant here since 2000 there was delight all round when brother and sister, Pat and Cathy Coyne, developed as a small hotel in 2006.
Set in landscaped grounds, it has proved a wonderful addition to this beautiful unspoilt island of Inishbofin: the building is a modern mix of slatted wood and brick and, in tune with the island’s interest in the environment, solar panels and under floor heating were installed.
There are eleven large, bright bedrooms, with thick deep blue carpets, walnut furniture, great beds, TV and tea making facilities; all are en-suite, some with a bath. Upstairs rooms have sea and mountain views, and three special ground floor rooms have their own private sundeck on to the garden; one bedroom, and also the dining and lounge areas, have disabled access.
There’s also a lovely residents’ lounge, with access to decking and great views.
Banqueting (100); free broadband wi/fi. Walking, live music (trad.). Boat trips, angling, cycling and scuba diving all nearby. Children welcome (under 5s free in parents' room, cot available at no charge, baby sitting arranged).
Rooms 11 (8 shower only, 2 ground floor, 1 single, 1 for disabled, all no smoking); B&B €70 pps (€45 low season).
Restaurant:
Menus change throughout the day at this versatile restaurant, which (subject to availability) has a strong focus on locally caught seafood on both daytime and evening menus, continues to be a great asset to the island.
There are two dining rooms, which can be joined to accommodate large parties, with a deck for alfresco dining. Cathy - who now grows her own organic vegetables and herbs - oversees the kitchen and is personally responsible for starters and desserts; the standard of cooking is consistently high and visitors are invariably delighted.
Evening meals are substantial and quite sophisticated; while the speciality is local seafood (Inishbofin lobster is often available - order by noon), there is plenty of choice including steaks, cornfed chicken and, perhaps, rack of lamb.
At lunchtime - which considerately runs all afternoon - there’s a menu of simpler hot meals and made to order club or open sandwiches, also a range of drinks to comfort or refresh, depending on the weather.
The Dolphin Restaurant : Seats 100 (outdoor seating, 20). Open daily in summer: L 12.30-5; D 7-9.30. á la carte; house wine from €17.95. Establishment closed Nov-Mar. MasterCard, Visa, Laser.
