The Club at Goffs

Opened to great excitement in March 2023 this new Thoroughbred Country 4-star is the latest venture from industry leaders Eoin Doyle and Ray Byrne - of County Wicklow gem BrookLodge and Westmeath's lovely lakeside Wineport, respectively, among other excellent venues. Very handy to Dublin and yet with a truly rural feel once on-site - and, remarkably, free of traffic noise from the nearby N4 - it's an ideal meeting place for business or pleasure.  

While the property is very much a work in progress and bad weather has delayed landscaping (so the exterior looks pretty stark) the bar and restaurant are fully up and running, as are the deluxe rooms - all of which have balconies overlooking the paddock. Configured for double or twin occupancy, the pleasing guest rooms feature Respa luxury super king size (or twin) beds, 50-inch smart TVs, air conditioning, high-speed internet and beautiful equine artwork - and, while there are no baths to soak in, bathrooms feature Voya toiletries, which will always be a treat 

And what a pleasure it is to see Derry and Sallyanne Clarke (of the former Dublin favourite, LEcrivan) back doing what they love best at the impressive restaurant in The Club at Goffs. Together with chef James Sheridan (formerly of Canteen, Kildare and Dublin) the Clarkes and an excellent team are serving terrific ingredients-led all-day food here every day of the week.

Except for Sunday Lunch, menus are à la carte, with the evening menu starting at 5pm -  but there is likely to be a buzz here in the handsome horseshoe-shaped bar at any time, especially on big race days when there's always a good crowd gathered around the big screen sipping the tipple of choice - champagne, perhaps, or something from the extensive cocktail menu which includes a good choice of non-alcoholic options....

All menus are available online and - as would be expected from Derry Clarke and James Sheridan - they are designed to showcase the very best locally sourced and other Irish in-season ingredients, including the famed Kelly's oysters from Galway, Feighcullen duck from up the road at Rathangan and the excellent Gilligan’s Dry Aged Beef from Co Roscommon. In keeping with the smart-casual tone of the restaurant (which has doors opening onto extensive terrace seating in fine weather) there are gorgeous snacks (ham croquetts ox tongue tarlet...) small plates and sharing platters in the mix along with flavour-packed mains such as the very popular Ribeye steak, with Roscoff Onion, Mushroom, Béarnaise...

Add the X factor of terrific staff, who match well-trained professionalism with warmth and outstanding customer care, and The Club at Goffs has the makings of a longterm favourite for visitors and locals alike.

Just a short hop from Dublin and with loads to do in the area, this gently equine-themed destination had a great buzz from the day of opening and an early visit is strongly recommended.