Waterford and County Wexford - Ireland 2014 - page 243

Ardmore, an hour southwest down the coast, a smaller and more scenic home base (see
here ).
$$ The Granville Hotel is Waterford's best and most historic hotel, grandly overlook-
ing the center of the harborfront. The place is plush, from its Old World lounges to its ex-
travagant rooms (Sb-€80-100, Db-€90-160, Tb-€120-200, possible discounts online, Mea-
gher's Quay, tel. [phone], www.granville-hotel.ie , [e-mail] ) .
$$ Dooley's Hotel, a more modern, family-run place on the harbor with 113 big rooms,
is less expensive than the Granville but still high-quality (Sb-€69-119, Db-€89-169, Tb-
€109-199, even lower prices possible if you book direct from hotel's website, Merchant's
Quay, tel. [phone], www.dooleys-hotel.ie , [e-mail] ) .
$ Mayor's Walk B&B is a well-worn, grandmotherly place that takes you right back to
the 1950s. Bob and Jane Hovenden rent four economical yet pleasant rooms with sincere
humbleness (S-€28, D-€50, T-€75, cash only, Wi-Fi, 12 Mayor's Walk, tel. [phone],
www.mayorswalk.com , [e-mail] ) .
$ Portree Guest House, just across the bridge fromthe train station, combines 24basic
budget rooms upstairs with 14 dorm beds in its basement hostel (bed in dorm-€20, Sb-
€32-40, Db-€59-69, Tb-€79-89, Qb-€119-130, breakfast-€7, Wi-Fi, guest kitchen in hostel
section, parking behind, 10-11 Mary Street, tel. [phone], www.portreeguesthouse.ie ,
[e-mail] ).
Eating in Waterford
For something livelier than tired pub grub, consider these good restaurants found on less-
frequented back streets. They're small and popular with locals.
Emiliano's Ristorante Italiano is the most romantic place in town, hidden on a tiny
lane behind Reginald's Tower. They serve a great selection of tasty pasta dishes and
fine wines (€17-23 two- or three-course early-bird specials before 19:00, open Tue-Sun
12:30-14:30 & 17:00-22:00, closed Mon, 21 High Street, tel. [phone]).
Koliba, a friendly Polish place with a B.Y.O.B. liquor policy, serves hearty Eastern
European fare, including potato pancakes stuffed with pork goulash and topped with sour
cream (two-course early-bird special before 19:00, Tue-Sun 12:00-20:30, Fri-Sat until
22:00, closed Mon, 11a O'Connell Street, tel. [phone]).
The relaxed Bodega is my favorite wine bar, run by laid-back Cormac in a warm-glow
Mediterranean atmosphere (Mon-Sat 12:00-22:00, closed Sun, 54 John Street, tel. 051/
844-177).