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Summary of reviewsThe Moorings Hotel & Seafood Restaurant is highly praised for its exceptional location in the heart of Portmagee, offering picturesque views of the bay and harbor that captivate visitors. It serves as the perfect base for exploring Valentia Island and the Skellig Michael tours, balancing convenience and tranquility in a quaint village setting. Guests frequently highlight the ease of access to local tours and the marina, making it ideal for both adventure and relaxation. The friendly and helpful staff, along with the clean and comfortable accommodations, complement the stunning vistas and contribute to an overall serene environment.
Breakfast at The Moorings garners acclaim for its delicious and filling options, from a continental buffet to freshly cooked hot dishes made to order. Homemade items like brown seeded bread and freshly baked scones are standout favorites. The use of locally sourced ingredients and specialties such as lemon sole and smoked salmon bagels further enhance the experience. While the breakfast staff's engagement varies, the service is generally friendly, adding to the cozy and inviting dining atmosphere.
Dinner experiences at the hotel receive commendations for quality and taste, particularly the seafood. Memorable dishes include pea and leek soup and toffee pudding, enjoyed in a cozy restaurant setting. Despite occasional comments on limited menu options and the bar food being less impressive than the restaurant fare, the overall feedback is positive with excellent meals and exceptional staff service leaving a lasting impression.
Guests frequently praise the spacious, clean and well-furnished rooms, emphasizing comfortable beds and lovely harbor views. Newly renovated and equipped with modern amenities, the rooms provide a quiet and tranquil setting despite their proximity to the pub. Family rooms and large bedrooms are noted for their extra space and functionality, contributing to a restful stay.
Cleanliness is a strong point for The Moorings with rooms and public areas described as 'sparkling clean' and 'super tidy.' The overall maintenance is meticulous and the friendly, communicative staff enhance the welcoming atmosphere, making a great first impression.
The exceptional friendliness and helpfulness of the staff are consistently highlighted in reviews. Guests feel both attended to and at home, appreciating the staff's professional yet warm demeanor. The team's genuine happiness in their roles adds to the overall positive experience.
Though certain beds receive mixed reviews with comments on occasional discomfort, the majority of guests find them cozy and comfortable, contributing to a pleasant stay. Some issues with older mattresses and odd waterproof covers are noted but are not the norm.
Overall, The Moorings Hotel & Seafood Restaurant provides a very good stay with high standards of service and facilities, despite some finding it a little pricey. With its superb location, delightful dining options, clean and comfortable rooms and exceptional staff, it remains a cherished choice for travelers seeking beauty, convenience and a welcoming atmosphere. Show more
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Small Guest House
3-Star Guest House
Room Types
Superior Double RoomStylish Superior Room with beautiful views over the harbour and an en suite bathroom featuring a luxurious spa bath. It also includes an LCD TV/DVD player and crisp white bed linen and a CD player.
Standard Twin RoomThis room offers a marble bathroom with luxury toiletries, bath, shower and a mirrored wall, satellite TV, and tea/coffee facilities.
Please note that some of these rooms are above the bar. If this is not suitable, please request a quiet room when booking.
Standard Triple RoomThis room offers a marble bathroom with luxury toiletries, bath, shower and a mirrored wall, satellite TV, and tea/coffee facilities.
Deluxe Triple RoomFeatures a marble bathroom with luxury toiletries, bath, shower and a mirrored wall, satellite TV, and tea/coffee facilities.
This room can accommodate a cot at no additional charge.
Double Room with Private BathroomOffering free toiletries, this double room includes a private bathroom with a bath, a shower and a hairdryer. The double room offers a tea and coffee maker, a wardrobe, a carpeted floor, heating and a flat-screen TV with cable channels. The unit has 1 bed.
Quadruple RoomThe quadruple room includes a private bathroom fitted with a bath, a shower and a hairdryer. This quadruple room has a tea and coffee maker, heating and a TV with satellite channels.
Guest Reviews
8.9
Excellent
Location
Nestled in the heart of Portmagee, The Moorings Hotel & Seafood Restaurant boasts an exceptional location that captivates its visitors. The hotel is perfectly positioned for those eager to explore the stunning landscapes of Valentia Island and embark on the coveted Skellig Michael tours. With picturesque views overlooking the bay and harbor, guests are consistently charmed by the serene and scenic environment.
Its central placement within the quaint and welcoming village of Portmagee provides both convenience and tranquility. The proximity to the marina and the easy access to local tours make it an ideal base for adventure and relaxation alike. Guests frequently praise the quiet and peaceful setting, complementing the wonderful vistas whether they are near the small harbor or right by the water.
Moreover, the hotel’s excellent location is matched by its comfort and cleanliness with many appreciating the friendly and helpful staff. The dining experiences receive high marks as well with delicious breakfast options and superb meals enjoyed either in-room or in the pub just below.
Striking the perfect balance between being a restful halfway point on the Ring of Kerry and a bustling hub for boat trips, The Moorings Hotel & Seafood Restaurant offers a stunning and strategic location, making it a cherished choice for travelers seeking both beauty and convenience.
Breakfast
The Moorings Hotel & Seafood Restaurant has garnered a wealth of praise for its breakfast offerings, consistently highlighted as delicious, tasty and filling. Guests commend the homemade meals and the variety of options available, ranging from a rich continental buffet to a selection of hot dishes prepared to order. The brown seeded bread and freshly baked scones are particular standouts for many, adding a fresh and moist touch to the breakfast experience.
The morning chef's ability to produce superb, freshly cooked meals to individual preferences has been particularly appreciated. Visitors have also enjoyed specialties such as lemon sole, kippers and smoked salmon bagels, alongside more traditional breakfast fare, underscored by the use of locally sourced ingredients.
Though the breakfast staff are noted for their efficiency, there have been some comments on their lack of engagement and welcome. However, many reviews counter this by praising the friendly and attentive service, contributing to a cozy, lively atmosphere. The restaurant setting itself reinforces the overall positive experience, providing a beautiful and inviting environment for diners.
Timing-wise, some guests have suggested that an earlier breakfast start than 8:30 AM would be preferable, particularly for those departing by boat. Nevertheless, the comprehensive selection, quality and freshness of the breakfast offerings have left a lasting impression on most visitors, making it a highlight of their stay at The Moorings Hotel & Seafood Restaurant.
Dinner
The Moorings Hotel & Seafood Restaurant has garnered a range of feedback regarding its dinner offerings with the majority of guests praising the quality and taste of the food. The restaurant frequently receives accolades for its excellent meals, superb seafood and delightful atmosphere. Many visitors highlight the cozy setting and commend the great food and service with some mentioning memorable dishes such as the pea and leek soup and toffee pudding. Both the bar and restaurant areas receive positive remarks, though bar food is noted as being less impressive than the restaurant fare.
Despite these many positive comments, a few guests found their dining experience subpar, remarking on limited menu options and, in some cases, disappointing seafood selections. There are mentions of the dinner being poor or not meeting expectations, especially with regards to the seafood variety in a restaurant positioning itself as a seafood establishment. Noise from rooms above the restaurant and the occasional closure of the main dining area have also impacted some guests' experiences.
However, the consensus remains largely favorable with the excellent dinners and exceptional staff service leaving a lasting impression on those who visit.
Rooms
Guests of The Moorings Hotel & Seafood Restaurant frequently praise the spacious and comfortable rooms. The accommodations are noted for being very clean and well-furnished with many highlighting the comfort of the beds. Several reviews appreciate the lovely views of the harbor, particularly during events like New Year's Eve. The setting is described as quiet and tranquil, contributing to a restful stay despite some rooms being positioned above the pub.
There are multiple mentions of the rooms being newly renovated and equipped with ample amenities such as coffee and tea making facilities. Family rooms and large bedrooms are also available and appreciated for their extra space and functionality. While some bathrooms might appear slightly older, they are nonetheless clean. Guests also commend the excellent location, which provides easy access to the pier and other local attractions.
Overall, the rooms at The Moorings Hotel & Seafood Restaurant are highly regarded for their cleanliness, comfort and spaciousness, making it an appealing choice for travelers seeking a peaceful and well-appointed stay by the sea.
Beds
The Moorings Hotel & Seafood Restaurant has received a range of feedback about its beds and accommodations. Many guests praised the cozy and comfortable beds, describing them as great with some even emphasizing that the beds were very good. The rooms are noted for being spacious and clean with the added benefit of a beautiful harbor view, enhancing the overall stay.
However, not all reviews were entirely positive. A few guests mentioned that while the beds were comfortable, certain mattresses had issues such as being too soft, causing them to sink in the middle or being old and in need of replacement. Some mattresses had an odd waterproof cover which detracted from the comfort. There were also occasional comments about hard beds and noisy, unsupported mattresses.
Despite these mixed reviews, the overarching sentiment leaned toward the positive with many guests appreciating the comfortable and warm beds, contributing to a pleasant stay. Overall, the hotel seems to provide comfortably furnished rooms with a generally high standard of bedding, although some inconsistencies were noted.
Cleanliness
The Moorings Hotel & Seafood Restaurant consistently impresses guests with its exceptional cleanliness. Reviews highlight that both the rooms and public areas are spotless with phrases like 'sparkling clean', 'super clean and tidy' and 'exceptionally clean' frequently used to describe the premises. Guests found the rooms not only clean but also comfortable and spacious, adding that the modern amenities and decor were very appealing. The hotel's bathrooms also garnered praise, especially the ones with luxurious features such as jacuzzis.
The establishment's overall maintenance is described as meticulous with one review noting that everything is made 'with a lot of love.' Beyond cleanliness, the friendly and communicative staff enhance the welcoming environment, making for an excellent first impression. Combined with its clean, cosy ambiance and tasty food, The Moorings Hotel & Seafood Restaurant provides a well-rounded, satisfying stay that clearly meets, if not exceeds, guest expectations.
Staff
The reviews for The Moorings Hotel & Seafood Restaurant consistently praise the staff for their exceptional friendliness and helpfulness. The words "friendly," "helpful," "kind," and "welcoming" frequently reappear throughout the feedback, highlighting an environment where guests feel both attended to and at home. Multiple mentions of the staff being "brilliant," "excellent," and "amazing" underscore their professional yet warm demeanor.
Guests felt very much at ease, noting that the staff were not only attentive and accommodating but also genuinely happy in their roles, which in turn added to the overall positive experience. Phrases like "made us feel at home," "very welcoming," and "outstandingly friendly and helpful" are common, painting a picture of a team that prioritizes guest comfort and satisfaction.
The consistency in these positive remarks about the staff's attitude and service clearly demonstrates that The Moorings Hotel & Seafood Restaurant is a place where exemplary customer service is a core value.
3 Star
The Moorings Hotel & Seafood Restaurant offers a predominantly pleasant and very good stay, despite a few remarks suggesting it may not fully meet expectations for a higher-tier hotel. Visitors appreciate the very nice accommodation and the convenience it provides, making it a good choice for a break in the heart of the ring. Additionally, guests enjoy the nice restaurant in the adjacent bar, adding to the positive dining experience. However, some guests find it a little pricey for the level of services provided. Overall, the hotel's facilities and services are positively reviewed, though a few feel the price is excessive compared to the offerings.
No, The Moorings Hotel & Seafood Restaurant doesn't have any pool.
No, a spa isn't available at The Moorings Hotel & Seafood Restaurant.
No, The Moorings Hotel & Seafood Restaurant doesn't allow dogs.
No, parking facilities aren't available at The Moorings Hotel & Seafood Restaurant.
No, The Moorings Hotel & Seafood Restaurant doesn't have a gym.