Review
Breaffy House Hotel is just outside Castlebar in Co. Mayo. Although perhaps less well known that some of the big names out west, it is a beautiful period house, tastefully extended, with a friendly welcome and some very good food.
It is very striking, with beautiful brickwork and occupies a raised position giving beautiful views across the surrounding countryside. Outside the magnificent 90 acre grounds provide lots of opportunities for walking and exploring, and the spa is a lovely retreat to relax and reenergize.
The staff are super friendly and long term locals, who take some pride in the welcome, so whether you’re away with the family, doing a girly spa break or being whisked off for a romantic weekend you can’t fail to feel at home and special.
Breaffy has much to offer in the food and drinks stakes. Healy Macs Bar has an extensive all day menu, while the stylish Mulberry Restaurant gives a very good dining experience.
If you are a wine buff, ask for a trip to the wine cellar while you’re there, where you will be pleasantly surprised at the array and depth of the contents, specifically covering Bordeaux and the Loire valley, as well as a selection of new world wines including the excellent Cloudy Bay. This little vault under the hotel is also the scene for time out drinks for brides and grooms on their big, hectic days. Even if you’re not that stressed, it is quite lovely.
The Mulberry Restaurant has had a makeover and the new look room is stylish and contemporary with large circular booths and banquettes finished in brown leather. Copper and frosted glass feature and it’s all very grown up and sophisticated, while the open plan kitchen adds life and theatre.
Head chef Dean Diplock has been here 2 years and is rebuilding the team post Covid. His vision is local and sustainable, and in fairness the produce available down the west coast makes this a very achievable aim
There are two set menus available for dinner, one at €45 and one at €65. In fairness I could have happily eaten off the €45 menu with beef cheeks, goats cheese tart, but on the other hand scallops, black sole on the bone and Achill lamb proved irrisistable. We came to have both of these so that’s what we ordered.
We both started with the scallops. They were served on a shell with their roe still attached and sitting on a disc of delicious white pudding with a cauliflower purée. Perfectly cooked, the pudding and cool cauliflower added different notes and textures and this was an excellent dish.
Main courses brought us the best of land and sea with one black sole served with beurre blanc and wild Atlantic Achill lamb, served two ways. The distinctive flavour of lamb raised on sea grasses and in the spray of the Atlantic is different than the grass fed variety we are used to and is quite delicious.The sole was perfect and a mountain of vegetables and really good mash were fine accompaniements.
We shared a death by chocolate lava Fontana and tea and coffee. The outside terrace was still buzzing as we finished our meal and the sky still bright at 10pm.
Breaffy House is a lovely family friendly resort with over 100 acres of woods and hardens to explore. The spa and leisure centre are top class and as a base for discovering the west it’s hard to beat.
