The Johnstown Estate: Honest Review by a 4-Month Guest

Thinking about staying at the Johnstown Estate Hotel and Spa in County Meath, Ireland?

You’ve come to the right place!

I just spent four months living in one of the extended-stay lodges at the Johnstown Estate and have all the information you need to know before booking your stay.

Let’s jump right into it!

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The beautiful 18th century Georgian Johnstown Estate reflected in the still waters of a pool

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The Johnstown Estate Hotel
✔️ Luxurious 4-star hotel
✔️Picture-perfect Irish countryside
✔️ Top-rated Fire & Salt restaurant

The Johnstown Estate Hotel Review

The Johnstown Estate Hotel Overview

You may sometimes hear the Johnstown Estate called the Johnstown House Hotel, so don’t let that confuse you.

The Johnstown Estate is a 4-star hotel located in beautiful County Meath, Ireland near the small town of Enfield.

As you drive down the lane to enter the property, you’ll notice that the grounds are gorgeous and immaculately landscaped. And then, you’ll see the 18th-century hotel reflected in the decorative pool.

The beautiful 18th century Georgian Johnstown Estate reflected in the still waters of a pool.
The Johnstown Estate Hotel is a gorgeous 18th century Georgian manor in the peaceful countryside of County Meath Ireland

There are 128 rooms and suites in the main hotel, as well as lodges which are great for families, a girls’ getaway, or extended-stay guests.

Hungry? You can grab a casual bite at the Coach House Brasserie or enjoy a sumptuous prix-fixe dinner at the stellar Fire & Salt Restaurant.

One of the hotel’s most luxurious amenities is the Spa at the Johnstown Estate, for some serious pampering. Or keep up your fitness routine with their extensive gym facilities and pool in the Leisure Center.

I was fortunate to be able to stay at the Johnstown Estate on a business trip.

I lived in one of the lodges and the Estate was my home-away-from home. And the staff (especially the lovely folks in Reception) became my family away from home. (I miss you guys!)

Are you ready to book the best hotel in County Meath?


The Johnstown Estate Rooms

You may be wondering “How do you know about the hotel’s rooms, if you stayed in one of the lodges?”

Well, one evening there was a problem with my lodge and to make things right, the front desk folks moved me into one of the rooms in the main hotel. Actually, I think it was the last available room since they were all full for a wedding.

The decor in my room will vary from what you’ll see in the rest of the hotel. This was one of the rooms the decorators used as a ‘sample’ for color schemes when they were updating the hotel. (The ‘winning’ color palette was the blue and gray, so that is the color scheme that you’ll find in all the other rooms.)

The Johnstown Estate Hotel room with king-sized bed and armchairs in front of a large window.
The rooms at the Johnstown Estate are tastefully decorated and include spacious bathrooms.

There are several different kinds of rooms available in the main hotel:

  • Deluxe King (1 king bed, 2 guests)
  • Executive King (1 king bed, 2 guests): Slightly larger room with luxury touches including a Nespresso machine, robes, and slippers.
  • Deluxe Twin (2 single beds, 2 guests)
  • Family Room (1 king bed + 2 single beds, up to 4 guests)

All rooms at the Johnstown Estate feature a large screen TV, complimentary wi-fi, and in-room coffee/tea-making equipment. Spacious bathrooms have a separate shower and bath and come with Voya bath products.

If you really want to splurge, the Johnstown Estate has some suites that might catch your eye:

  • The Lady Margaret (1 king bed, 2 guests): A luxurious 3-room suite! Enjoy an evening in front of the fireplace in the living room or soak your cares away in the roll-top slipper tub.
  • The Mulberry (6 guests): This unique 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom suite (complete with 4 hair and makeup stations) is perfect for a bridal party preparing for the big day, or for a girls’ getaway.
  • Junior Suite (1 king bed, 2 guests): These suites feature a separate living room/dining area, perfect for cocooning with that special someone during your stay.

The Johnstown Estate Lodges

Now, this is the part of the hotel that I am extremely familiar with!

The lodges at the Johnstown Estate are located in a set of buildings behind the hotel proper. There are two sets of lodges, with a central lawn (and a children’s play area).

Each building contains four apartments, or ‘lodges’. I stayed in one of the Deluxe Self-Catering Lodges. They’re in the process of renovating and upgrading them into Executive Self-Catering Lodges.

The Johnstown House Lodges are two-story apartments (so that’s something to be aware of, if someone in your party can’t climb stairs). The lodges are quite spacious, at 1000 sq ft.

Downstairs is a living room, a dining room, the kitchen, and a half bath (convenient).

The downstairs living area of the lodges at the Johnstown House Hotel include comfy couches, chairs, and a large screen TV.
The downstairs living area of the lodges at the Johnstown House Hotel include comfy couches, chairs, and a large screen TV.

The kitchen has a stove, oven, microwave, dishwasher, and refrigerator. Kitchen basics such as plates, glasses, silverware, and some pots and pans are supplied as well.

The kitchen also contains a washer/dryer combination unit, which is really helpful if you’re a long-term guest like me.

Upstairs you’ll find two bedrooms and two bathrooms, one with a small balcony. One bedroom is a ‘master suite’ setup with a large bed and an ensuite bathroom.

In my lodge, the second bedroom was set up with two single beds. I set this room up as my office for days when I was working from home (aka working from the Estate).

(Some of the lodges may have both bedrooms set up as doubles, rather than one double and a set of singles.)

There is plenty of parking outside of the lodges, so you can park right next to your apartment.

There were a couple of things that were not stocked in the lodges, such as a hair dryer and a fan. And washcloths. (What is it with Europe and not supplying washcloths/face cloths?)

But the staff was more than happy to supply me with all of these items as soon as I asked for them.


The Johnstown Estate Restaurants

Fire & Salt

The Fire & Salt Restaurant at the Johnstown Estate is a feast for the senses! This restaurant has a 2 AA Rosette rating, and a meal here will be one of the highlights of your stay!

Dinner is a 3-course, prix-fixe meal. And even though Fire & Salt has amazing flavors and stellar reviews, this is no foo-foo restaurant with tiny portions. So come hungry!

Start your meal with a glass of wine or a signature cocktail. I’m not much of a drinker but enjoyed a tasty strawberry cocktail.

You’ll start off with bread and butter before heading to your appetizer course. My favorite appetizer was a salad with goat cheese, and my husband had a pork belly appetizer.

Delicious steak with peppercorn sauce and a potato cake, served at the Fire and Salt Restaurant at the Johnstown Estate.
Enjoy a delicious 3-course meal at the Fire & Salt Restaurant at the Johnstown Estate!

On both visits, I chose the same entree — sirloin steak with a peppercorn sauce and tobacco onions. (That’s right, it was so good I ordered it twice!)

The potato cake they serve alongside the steak is divine. And they bring out the cutest little pots with additional sides of veggies and roasted potatoes.

I went with the luscious crème brûlée for dessert on both occasions as well. All the desserts sounded great, but I was already pretty full by this time, and crème brûlée is a little lighter than a piece of chocolate cake.

They say you eat first with your eyes — just look at how beautiful this dessert is! Yum. And it tasted just as good as it looked.

Creme brulee topped with berries and powdered sugar - dusted cookies is one of the delicious desserts at the Johnstown Estate Hotel!
Creme brulee topped with berries and powdered sugar – dusted cookies is one of the delicious desserts at the Johnstown Estate Hotel!

And then, just when you tell yourself that you couldn’t eat one more bite… the server brings out a plate of chocolates. OMG.

So full, but so worth it! The Johnstown Estate Fire and Salt Restaurant is my kind of fine dining.

Coach House Brasserie

If the Fire & Salt Restaurant sounds like a bit too much, then check out the Coach House Brasserie at the Johnstown Estate.

The Coach House Brasserie is a more casual venue with a warm ‘clubby’ feel.

I ate here on my first day at the Johnstown Estate. Since I was super jet lagged (as I can’t sleep on a plane), I just needed something nutritious and comforting to eat. I had a lovely bowl of the soup of the day with soda bread, and that hit the spot.

The menu includes a little bit of everything, from hamburgers to fish and chips and global fare. And the dessert menu is quite tempting!

Afternoon Tea

Located between the Fire and Salt Restaurant and the Coach House Brasserie is a bright and airy Atrium. And this is where they serve Afternoon Tea.

I never partook of the tea, but those little pastries sure looked good!

The Atrium is also a great place to enjoy a cup of coffee and read the newspaper in the morning or a pre-dinner cocktail.

Breakfast

Breakfast is served daily in the Fire and Salt Restaurant. It’s a pretty nice buffet breakfast setup. There is a wide selection of cold foods (cereal, meats and cheeses, a variety of fruit, parfaits, croissants), coffee, and juices.

The hot items include eggs, beans, potatoes, white and black pudding, sausages, and rashers. (If you’re not sure what rashers are, they’re kind of a cross between ham and bacon. I’ve never seen them in the US, but they are everywhere in Ireland!)

There is also a toaster station to toast up your breakfast breads.

Full Irish breakfast including potatoes, beans, sausage, and rashers.  A parfait, cheese, and pastries are in the background.
Enjoy a hearty full Irish breakfast at the Johnstown House Hotel!

The Johnstown Estate Spa

The Johnstown Estate Spa is the perfect way to enhance a romantic couples weekend or to treat yourself to some well-deserved ‘me’ time with a spa day! Bring along your best friends and enjoy a fun-filled Johnstown Estate girlie getaway.

I spend a LOT of time on the computer and accumulate stress in my back and shoulders, so getting regular massages is a must for me. It works out the kinks physically while letting your brain zone out and refresh, which is just as important.

The Johnstown House Spa has plenty of pampering services and an extensive Thermal Suite to provide the ultimate in relaxation. You can reserve time in the Thermal Suite before or after your treatment, or as a standalone treat.

The Spa is located on the second floor, upstairs from the Leisure Center. When you arrive, you’ll be given a wristband that will let you into the rooms of the Thermal Suite and relaxation areas.

And it’s waterproof, so you don’t have to worry about it when you hop in the jacuzzi.

I had my massage first. After your treatment, your therapist will lead you to a relaxation room that has waterbed-like loungers with a cozy blanket to keep you in that Zen mode.

But you won’t want to spend all of your time there when the clock is ticking on the Thermal Suite!

If it’s not raining (or only raining a little — it is Ireland, after all), the rooftop Jacuzzi is lovely. The rooftop area also has a firepit lounge area and a hydrotherapy pool.

Bright yellow daffodils and orange and yellow tulips on the grounds of the Johnstown Estate Hotel
The grounds of the Johnstown Estate are always blooming with gorgeous flowers!

But beware of the ‘water cannon’ in the hydro pool! Luckily, I was facing away from it when I pushed the activation button. Otherwise, I would have gotten smacked in the face with a very forceful stream of water. Great for the shoulder and back muscles, though!

The Thermal Experience continues indoors in a suite of interconnected rooms.

Relax in the salt room, walk across the reflexology path, or enjoy the cozy warmth of the heated ceramic loungers. There is also a sauna, steam room, tropical shower, and a cold plunge bucket if you’re brave enough to douse yourself!

If you prefer manicures to massages, check out Gloss at The Spa and treat yourself to a pedicure or a facial.

Complete your spa experience with a light meal at the in-spa cafe.


The Johnstown Estate Hotel Leisure Center

Guests at the Johnstown House Hotel are allowed to use all of the amenities in the Leisure Center.

Use the weights and cardio machines in the well-equipped gym, relax in the thermal rooms, do laps in the 20-meter pool, or enjoy the jacuzzi.

The Johnstown Estate pool is popular with both guests and locals. (Lots of local kids learn to swim here!)

The hotel offers fitness classes as well, from spinning to aqua classes. I didn’t participate in those, but I did use one of the rooms for doing Zumba on my own. (Zumba is my favorite type of exercise, and I have classes from my favorite instructor recorded to take along with me on my travels!)

The ‘public’ thermal rooms include a variety of heated zones (including a laconium, which I’d never run across before). My favorite room is the one with heated ceramic loungers. I enjoyed relaxing here with my Kindle after a long day. It’s the perfect way to wind down!


Grounds and Property

The grounds at the Johnstown Estate are spectacular. I don’t know how many gardeners they have on staff, but they do an excellent job maintaining the property!

I loved the rainbow assortment of tulips in the spring, and every week new flowers were in bloom. Just gorgeous.

With these beautiful surroundings, it’s no surprise that Johnstown Estate weddings are so popular. I think there were weddings being held nearly every weekend day that I was there — and even sometimes mid-week!

There is a lovely flower-lined arbor and a picture-perfect walled garden, the perfect backdrop for stunning wedding photos!

Behind the garden area is a forested area with trails that borders a stream. Look closely and you’ll see some fairy houses on the trees as you explore the shady trails.

Sheep can usually be seen grazing on the grassy slopes across the stream, checking the last box for the “Wow, I’m in Ireland!” feeling.

One day I even spotted this swan gliding serenely across the water.

Swan swimming on a stream in front of grassy hills.
Take a walk by the stream at the Johnstown Estate and see sheep or even a swan!

Service

Now, I’m sure that most of you won’t choose a hotel based on the people that work there.

But maybe you should!

As I’ve said, I lived in one of lodges at the Johnstown Estate for four months. I was working abroad solo, with my husband (and dog!) back in the US. And it gets kind of lonely being apart from your family for so long. I wasn’t expecting that.

At the end of the day, if the weather was nice, I’d go walk around the property and into the neighboring town. And then when I got back, I’d swing by reception and have a chat with whoever was working that evening.

The reception staff were soooo nice. They never once told me to buzz off. They may have been thinking it, but they never said it. (Just kidding guys, I know you miss me.)

We talked and joked and I honestly felt like they were my family away from home. I certainly spent more time talking with them during my 4-month stay than I did with my real family, due to time zone challenges.

They even chipped in and bought me chocolates on my birthday which was a sweet surprise. And supported me during a difficult personal time, which I will always appreciate.

The managers were also very supportive during my stay with resolving issues to enable me to successfully be able to work from the hotel. This included getting me access to a stronger wifi network and getting extra lighting for my workspace.


Location

The Johnstown Estate Hotel is the perfect place to stay in Ireland and is definitely one of the best hotels in County Meath!

The hotel is located about 45 km west of Dublin and it’s easy to get here via the M4 motorway.

Since it’s close to the motorway, it’s easy to use the Johnstown Estate as a home base when exploring Ireland.

There are a lot of great day trips you can take from the hotel, whether you’re interested in visiting popular cities such as Dublin or Belfast or Galway.

If you’re a fan of the movie Braveheart, take a quick trip over to explore Trim Castle. The movie was filmed in Trim Castle and its grounds. (And it’s only 30 minutes away!)

If you love medieval cities, you should put Kilkenny at the top of your must-see list in Ireland. You’ll love exploring famous attractions in Kilkenny, such as its historic castle and cathedrals. It’s about a 90-minute drive from the hotel to Kilkenny.

If you want to spend a day in Dublin, it’s easy to take the train from the station in nearby Enfield. There are several trains per day, so it’s a great way to avoid the stress of driving in Dublin.

I took the Enfield to Dublin train several times during my stay in Ireland. There are several trains per day, so just keep the schedules in mind as you’re sightseeing.

I certainly didn’t want the hassle of driving on the ‘wrong’ side of the road in a busy international city!


The Johnstown Estate Hotel: FAQ

What is the Johnstown Estate address?

The Johnstown Estate address is: The Johnstown Estate, Enfield, Co. Meath, Ireland A83 V070.

How to get to the Johnstown Estate from Dublin?

The Johnstown Estate is located about 45km (28 miles) west from Dublin. It’s a straight shot along the M4 motorway from Dublin to the hotel. The Estate is at exit 9 on the M4 motorway.
(If you take exit 8 and take the back roads, you can save yourself the M4 toll.)

How many rooms are in the Johnstown House?

The Johnston House has 128 rooms and suites in the main hotel building. There are also lodges that are great for families or extended-stay guests. The Johnstown House lodges are separate buildings behind the hotel proper.

What is the Johnstown Estate check in time?

The Johnstown Estate check in time is 3:00 for rooms in the hotel, and 4:00 for the lodges.


Is there free parking at the Johnstown Estate?

There is ample free parking at the Johnstown Estate Hotel. The Johnstown Estate even has charging stations for electric vehicles.


Final Thoughts..

The Johnstown Estate Hotel in County Meath is perfect for a romantic couples weekend or a fun girls getaway. Its location and amenities make it a great home base for your trip to Ireland!

The food is fantastic and the staff is happy to do anything they can to make your stay a wonderful one.

So what are you waiting for? Book your room at the Johnstown Estate today!

Are you ready to book your trip to Dublin?


Looking for the top picks for your trip to Dublin? Here are some of the best tours and day trips to help you plan the perfect vacation in Dublin!

Top Tours and Experiences in Dublin

  1. Skip the Line Guinness Storehouse and Jameson Distillery Tour (Sample Ireland’s most famous beer and whiskey!)
  2. Fast Track Book of Kells and Dublin Castle (Early access to avoid the crowds!)
  3. Nearly all of Dublin in 5 hours Walking Tour (See Dublin’s highlights on this top-rated private tour!)
  4. Dublin Walking Food Tour (Skip lunch and sample traditional Irish favorites!)

Top Day Trips from Dublin

  1. Cliffs of Moher and Wild Atlantic Way (Best seller! I loved my trip to the breathtaking Cliffs of Moher!)
  2. Northern Ireland: Belfast and Giant’s Causeway (Iconic Black Cab tour in Belfast plus a trip to the stunning Giant’s Causeway)

Pin this for later! The Johnstown Estate is the perfect place to stay near Dublin!

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You might also enjoy these posts about my favorite places in Ireland:



Lisa Garrett

Lisa Garrett is the founder of Waves and Cobblestones. She has taken 21 cruises ranging from a multi-generational Caribbean cruise to solo Alaska cruises to fabulous Mediterranean cruises.

She lived in Ireland for 4 months and has taken over a half-dozen multi-city vacations in Europe (primarily relying on train and public transit). Lisa helps people plan amazing vacations to Europe and popular cruise destinations.

Learn more about Lisa!

Me, traveling in Venice by gondola

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