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Overview

As you arrive at the K Club the sense of arrival is dramatic. The estate wall leads you up to the gate lodge entrance and onto the tree lined avenue which takes you up to the main hotel and reveals the K Club entrance which does not disappoint.

 

This is a unique 5-star golf resort, located in Straffan Co. Kildare, 30km from Dublin city centre and 38km from Dublin International Airport. The 5-star K Club is set on 550 acres in the lush countryside of Co Kildare with a 1.6km private stretch of the meandering river Liffey passing through the hotel gardens and the Arnold Palmer designed golf courses on site.

 

‘Straffan House’ was originally built in the 6th century by local noblemen. It passed through the hands of the Fitzgerald’s during the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland. In the early 1830’s the property and land were purchased by Hugh Barton a very successful wine importer, providing inspiration for naming the hotel’s fine dining restaurant. Barton decided to make Straffan House his family home. He designed and modelled his Kildare residence on a magnificent Chateau just outside Paris.

 

In the late 1980’s Dr Michael Smurfit of the Jefferson Smurfit Group purchased Straffan House and surrounding lands. Among the renovations that the organisation undertook was the development of the K Club resort and the two Arnold Palmer designed championship-calibre golf courses. The Palmer course at the K Club became the chosen venue for the incredibly exciting 2006 Ryder Cup the first and only course in Ireland to host this world-famous golf tournament.

 

The current owner Michael Fetherston has built on the K Club legacy. Adding new investment to bring this 130 bedroom 5-star property to an elevated experience and a destination of choice for exceptional hospitality, a warm welcome and an offering that includes some great on-site activities and experiences.

 

The resort has been updated with the addition of facilities for conferences, events and weddings. The facilities include the newly developed Legacy Suite styled to complement the main hotel and the newly renovated Palmer Suite.

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Dining

Visitors to the K Club can expect a wide and varied choice of dining options both formal and in-formal all delivered with creativity and passion. The ethos at the K Club is a dining experience that delivers superb taste, Irish produce led dishes and service with quality and attention to detail.

The New Barton Grill Restaurant, brings a fresh perspective to casual fine dining. Blending the refinement of a high-end culinary experience with an effortlessly relaxed and welcoming atmosphere, Barton Grill has been created as a destination for hotel guests, keen golfers, and local diners seeking classic favourites elevated with contemporary Irish finesse.

 

At the heart of the kitchen is a commitment to exceptional Irish produce, sourced from trusted suppliers across the country. The ingredient-led menu reflects the combined experience and distinctive flair of Executive Chef Gary O’Hanlon and newly appointed Head Chef Adam Leahy. Having worked alongside O’Hanlon for the past decade, Leahy now steps confidently into his next chapter, bringing depth, continuity and a quietly assured creativity to the restaurant.

 

Rooted in classical technique and inspired by The K Club’s French heritage, the cooking balances comfort and sophistication, finished with a modern Irish touch. Signature dishes such as Beef Wellington, tableside Dover Sole, freshly-shucked Oysters and juicy Scallops celebrate the grill tradition, while timeless favourites including Dublin Bay Prawn Cocktail and French Onion Soup offer reassuring familiarity.

 

The drinks experience forms a central part of Barton Grill. Guests enter through a softly illuminated wine wall lined with bottles from The K Club’s own cellar — a quiet tribute to the Barton family, one of the longest-established Irish families in the Bordeaux wine trade. An extensive and carefully curated wine list is complemented by the opportunity to enjoy a pre-dinner tasting in the hotel’s historic cellar, guided by the hotel’s knowledgeable sommeliers, led by Lisa O’Doherty. A tempting cocktail menu completes the offering, featuring chic classics alongside handcrafted K Club signatures.

 

Named after Hugh Barton wine merchant and one of the former owners of Straffan House, Barton Grill’s visual identity further reflects the restaurant’s strong sense of place. The logo draws inspiration from the native Straffan snowdrop, discovered on the estate in the 1850s, symbolising a deep connection to the landscape and heritage of The K Club. The inclusion of grapes subtly references the Barton family’s historic association with wine, while the iconic 1830s Straffan House, illustrated by Tara Fetherston, anchors the brand in its architectural and familial history.

 

This connection to place continues throughout the restaurant in a curated collection of 20 original artworks, commissioned by The K Club’s owner Michael Fetherston from Dublin-based artist Jean Lowndes. Inspired by features of the grounds and the Barton family story, the collection adds another layer of depth to the dining experience.

 

With its blend of exceptional food, considered design and rich heritage, Barton Grill represents a confident new chapter for dining at The K Club.

 

The Drawing Room  

Is located in the main house and serves afternoon tea on a daily basis from 1.30 pm – 4.30 pm. This is a real special occasion treat. The classical Afternoon Tea service is matched in style and atmosphere by the comfortable, elegant and authentic K Club Drawing Room. Visitors can expect a roaring fire in the winter and beautiful views onto the garden. A perfect foodie present experience.

 

The Henry Lounge

The Henry Lounge is the casual all day dining option located in the main house. Food service is daily from 12 noon – 5 pm and a full bar service continues until 11 pm.

 

The Henry exudes a clubby and cosy atmosphere, a perfect choice for a snack lunch or a pre/post dinner drink. The Henry has fabulous views of the sweeping lawns and woodland areas.


Rooms & Facilities

The K Club offers a wide choice of accommodation facilities and room types in all 130 guest rooms. The common theme is lavishly appointed rooms, and spacious and luxurious appointed facilities guaranteeing guests staying at the K Club a good night’s rest.

The K Club has an unrivaled collection of Rooms and suites:

  • Standard rooms
  • Deluxe Rooms
  • Deluxe Rooms Woodland views.
  • Deluxe Rooms River views
  • Liffey, Kildare and Barton Suites.
  • Presidential Suite East.
  • Presidential Suite West.
  • The Viceroy Suite.
  • The Imperial Suite.

 

The luxurious rooms and suites are decorated and finished to a very high period-appropriate standard including all the modern convenience one would expect. All of the rooms include 24-hour valet assistance, TV, capsule espresso machine, Natura Bissé toiletries and a host of other comforting extras.

 

Included in the accommodation options at the K Club are two private multi-roomed gate lodges.

 

The Palmer Lodge is a perfectly picturesque property and one of the original gate lodges of the estate. The property has been sensitively restored and renovated and features four bedrooms, an elegant lounge and dining area, and complete self-catering facilities.

 

Straffan Gate Lodge provides three king-sized bedrooms making it ideal for families or smaller parties seeking an exclusive bolthole while still enjoying all the amenities The K Club has to offer.


Sustainability

The ethos at the K Club is to REDUCE, REUSE and RECYCLE.

 

The K Club has implemented a Green Hospitality program to manage and measure their current in-house sustainable business practices and to identify their work toward plans. The K Club goal for 2022 is a CO2 reduction of 854 Tons.

 

Current Sustainable Business Practices include, eliminating all use of single plastics. They also monitor plans on minimising waste, water and energy consumption.

 

In the office, they are moving to digital to reduce paper usage while also all takeaway cups onsite are fully bio-degradable.

 

While all bedrooms contain waste and recycling bins, Nespresso pods are fully recyclable. Drinking water is packaged in glass and bio-degradable containers.

 

You will also find on-site four electric vehicle charging points for guests to avail of.

 

Looking to the future and having goals in place, the resort will also move to have all on-site electric vehicles in 2024 while also eliminating all plastic packaging from suppliers in 2023.


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