Menlo Park Hotel

Owned by an Irish family, the Menlo Park Hotel was built in 1998 with 44 rooms and has been growing steadily since. The lobby and lounge, fully renovated after our visit, includes a sleek front desk, plush mid-century modern furniture,and recessed lighting. During the week, the hotel is fairly quiet, but it livens up on the weekends with live music in the bar, which draws both locals and guests. The on-site restaurant, Bia Beo, continues the elegantly classic motif, with leather seating and oak tables across a patterned carpet. The space was expanded in 2017 to include a stylish new bistro space. Weddings and other celebrations frequently take place at the hotel as well. The hotel is popular with couples and draws a steady flow of tours during the week, and it's also convenient for business travelers, both domestic and international. 

The hotel is located on Terryland Road and is mostly surrounded by residential homes, though there is a small shopping center with a restaurant, a convenience store, and other small businesses just across from the property. Terryland Retail Park, which has a few shops and several food outlets, is a five-minute walk away as well. Those looking to experience all of Galway's trendy and traditional charms will do best with a car, though, as walks to the city center will take at least 20 minutes. The hotel is on the edge of the city on Kirwan Roundabout where main arteries into Galway meet -- a drive to the city center takes less than 10 minutes. There are plenty of gastro-pubs in town, and the city is home to some of the most innovative dining in Ireland. Pubs and bars with traditional music are also popular with travelers to Galway, and many can be found in the Latin Quarter. The Shannon Airport is a little over an hour south by car, while the train to Dublin will take just over two hours.

Rooms are exceptionally clean and tastefully decorated with dark wood modern furniture, though the look is fairly traditional overall. Standard Rooms feature earth-toned color schemes and minimal decor, with neutral carpets, striped taupe accent walls, and pops of muted color in soft furnishings. Suites and Superior Rooms step up the color factor a notch with contemporary floral carpeting and bed runners accented with bright hues of hot pink or blue. All rooms come with a desk and chair, two armchairs, 30-inch flat-screen TVs, electric kettles, and free Wi-Fi. Tan-and-white tile bathrooms are fairly basic, but clean, and come with heated towel racks, hairdryers, makeup mirrors, and toiletries. Junior Suites have a separate tub and rainfall shower, and the Bridal Suite has a two-person jetted tub with candles and a potted orchid.

A full buffet breakfast with hot and cold items is offered in Bio Bea restaurant each day, and the homemade breads and jam are especially popular with guests. Breakfast is only included with some bookings. The restaurant also serves dinner, with a focus on local products, and its menu extremely accommodating for guests with gluten-free diets. Bar Beoga serves drinks and bar fare all day, along with a buffet for lunch. There is indoor seating that includes sofas and wing chairs lined up by the windows, plus outdoor seating on the terrace, or a cozy bar area with booth seating, sofas, and a fireplace and big-screen TV for watching sporting events. A stylish bistro area with parquet wood flooring was added to the space in 2017. Events space can accommodate up to 300 people, and smaller rooms are available as well, with audiovisual equipment included. The hotel is a popular spot for weddings, and it offers a variety of wedding packages. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel; parking and daily newspapers are also free.