I can’t believe this place exists and I didn’t know until I checked into the resort. If this restaurant was based in a city you’d never get a table. Everything from the food to cocktails and service from the knowledgeable staff was flawless. I’ve been in hospitality for many years, eaten and worked at some great fine dining establishments in various parts of the world and these guys are doing everything right. We loved the sharing concept because we got to try some more plates but would suggest some kind of chefs choice menu option maybe? Might allow guests a set price menu that isn’t as costly but also works from the business end. I think that’s also because having tried some of the food, that everything on the menu is worthy of its place there and your team could have served us anything from the menu and I’m sure we would have loved it.Our favourite plate was the Chicken served with XO sauce, unbelievable. Great work Chef and the FoH team!
William Ryan
Vegetarian menu was amazing, wine also amazing recommended by waiterVegetarian options: Amazing
CF Calloway
We're vegetarian, we're from New York, we're used to spending money when we dine out and came to dinner ready to be impressed. It didn't seem like that would be a problem. The staff said the restaurant was fantastic and boasted a full vegetarian / pescatarian menu. We booked a reservation after our time in the spa, came very hungry and left very disappointed. The plates were ridiculously small for the price (think four coin-sized rounds of zucchini with some bits of pickle for £16) which would have been fine had they been spectacularly flavorful. But the elaborate plating felt like a sleight of hand as soon as you took a bite: bland sauces, limp, unseasoned vegetables, a pile of cold squash with tasteless feta. There were four slices of bread that came with the bread plate, each one half the size of a credit card and stale. The sprigs of broccoli were overwhelmed with sauce, the mushrooms had no flavor, the cronuts were cold and had clearly been sitting out for the majority of the day. We wanted very much to love this place, but even the cocktails lacked balance: some were high on sugar, low on acid, others had no flavor at all, and we noted that most are made by infusing low quality alcohol. The speech they give you when you sit down is almost comical in retrospect: "we have an ethos of sharing so our plates are very small". An ethos of sharing does not go with a plate that contains a total of three bites of food you have to force yourself to finish. Just say "Our ethos is to extract as much profit from the people who are incredibly hungry after the spa and stuck here with no other dining option by tricking them into thinking our food is exquisite because it's expensive and tiny. Our ethos is the jokes on you". The restaurant staff could tell we weren't enjoying our meal and the same server rarely returned to our table to check in. No one asked us how we liked the dishes, even when we sent plates back half-eaten. Perhaps it's a problem with the vegetarian menu - some chefs aren't well-versed at feeding vegetarians. We did notice that the table next to us - a French family - was ordering off the vegetarian / pescatarian menu as well, and were agitated enough to complain. That provided a bit of catharsis. We asked a few other couples we met how they enjoyed the food and they said it was fantastic - worth noting they were locals (UK food is notoriously bad) and they all ordered meat. We left the spa wanting to gift visits to friends and family, but we can't send anyone here to stay the night if this restaurant is the only option. I would advise Finn Lough to take a cue from Korean spas: When people have lost a lot of sweat in a sauna they need salt, starch and sweet and spicy flavors. Up the prices if you need to, but make it delicious and filling and you'll have a more consistently happy clientele. We may come back just to use the spa, but we'll bring our own food.
Google user
We're vegetarian, we're from New York, we're used to spending money when we dine out and came to dinner ready to be impressed. It didn't seem like that would be a problem. The staff said the restaurant was fantastic and boasted a full vegetarian / pescatarian menu. We booked a reservation after our time in the spa, came very hungry and left very disappointed. The plates were ridiculously small for the price (think four coin-sized rounds of zucchini with some bits of pickle for £16) which would have been fine had they been spectacularly flavorful. But the elaborate plating felt like a sleight of hand as soon as you took a bite: bland sauces, limp, unseasoned vegetables, a pile of cold squash with tasteless feta. There were four slices of bread that came with the bread plate, each one half the size of a credit card and stale. The sprigs of broccoli were overwhelmed with sauce, the mushrooms had no flavor, the cronuts were cold and had clearly been sitting out for the majority of the day. We wanted very much to love this place, but even the cocktails lacked balance: some were high on sugar, low on acid, others had no flavor at all, and we noted that most are made by infusing low quality alcohol. The speech they give you when you sit down is almost comical in retrospect: \\\"we have an ethos of sharing so our plates are very small\\\". An ethos of sharing does not go with a plate that contains a total of three bites of food you have to force yourself to finish. Just say \\\"Our ethos is to extract as much profit from the people who are incredibly hungry after the spa and stuck here with no other dining option by tricking them into thinking our food is exquisite because it's expensive and tiny. Our ethos is the jokes on you\\\". The restaurant staff could tell we weren't enjoying our meal and the same server rarely returned to our table to check in. No one asked us how we liked the dishes, even when we sent plates back half-eaten. Perhaps it's a problem with the vegetarian menu - some chefs aren't well-versed at feeding vegetarians. We did notice that the table next to us - a French family - was ordering off the vegetarian / pescatarian menu as well, and were agitated enough to complain. That provided a bit of catharsis. We asked a few other couples we met how they enjoyed the food and they said it was fantastic - worth noting they were locals (UK food is notoriously bad) and they all ordered meat. We left the spa wanting to gift visits to friends and family, but we can't send anyone here to stay the night if this restaurant is the only option. I would advise Finn Lough to take a cue from Korean spas: When people have lost a lot of sweat in a sauna they need salt, starch and sweet and spicy flavors. Up the prices if you need to, but make it delicious and filling and you'll have a more consistently happy clientele. We may come back just to use the spa, but we'll bring our own food.
Aaron Treacy
The whole experience was fab. The food was delicious and the service was exceptional. It’s was our second visit and we look forward to the third.
johY5628UA
Beautiful place so relaxing We stayed in a bubble pod which had the most amazing view of the stars. There was a game and some stargazing books and a radio in the room to connect to your Bluetooth so was lovely and relaxing. Food was excellent and the spa was lovely although freezing running between the pods so would love to come back in the summer. My only suggestion would be to offer the buggy drives back from the restraint to the pods at night as it is pitch black walking back
Sherpa66528453142
My sister and I treated ourselves to a spa trip for our birthdays. The service was brilliant from the moment we arrived, couldn't have been looked after better. Having the spa to yourself was great, and we loved being able to take a dip in the lake after some time in one of the saunas. We ate at The Barn restaurant, again the staff were excellent and the food was delicious! Would highly recommend!
LeonVQuinn
You should only visit this place if you have money to burn as its damn expensive! You would literally, as we have this year, get a week or a few days at least abroad for the same price as one night and one meal here but you pay for the luxury or the unique experience so it's not a complaint. It takes some getting used to living in a see through bubble and hoping no one is watching but once you get used to it it's a class experience. Possibly a little daft for Ireland as you rarely get to see the sky but we got some glimpses of stars. The highlight for me was dinner in the Barn restaurant. I've never seen a menu or had a dining experience like it. If you're hungry you have no choice but to order multiple dishes from their funky and expensive tasting plate menu. As I said to my girlfriend after ordering our 8 shared dishes at a cost of nearly €200, if this food isn't some of the best we've ever had then we'll be robbed. But it was!
jenberry19
5 stars !!!. We were a group of ladies who stayed for 2 nights. From the moment we stepped foot into the place we were greeted with a warm welcome and staff who couldn’t do enough for you. We stayed in a lakeside house which had everything we needed, it was clean and comfortable. We went kayaking on the lake, ate dinner in the barn both nights. Did a cocktail masterclass and the Elements spa. All of which surpassed our expectations. Breakfast was still warm when delivered. We had everything we needed on site, simply a perfect retreat into the forest. Keep doing what your doing Finnlough your amazing - And into the forest I go to loose my mind and find my soul !!
derrycalling
Myself and my husband did an overnight stay at Finnlough for my birthday. The bubble domes were booked out so we stayed in a Sky Suite which was first class. We had an absolutely lovely time, the highlight being the spa trail. Loved the outdoor aspect. Swam in Lough Erne and had a Prosecco in the outdoor hot tub, among the trees and overlooking the water. The sun came out as well! Perfect. All the staff were great. We loved the vegan menu in the Barn Restaurant and the bar experience afterwards. Breakfast too. Will definitely be back.
Restaurantji Recommends
JPBrod1
We had a most wonderful experience at Finn Lough. One abiding memory is how happy all the staff seem to be. The team at the Barn restaurant is fantastic, and I hope Chef Farrel is well renumerated as his food is exceptionally good and creative. I wouldn't be surprised to see awards coming to the Barn. Same tapas style menu both nights, and we were still able to try new things. There is a great team spirit in the restaurant and a nice ambience. Thanks to everyone, from Isabel & James at reception, to the two girls at the Spa trail, the breakfast delivery guy who came back promptly with teabags. We were very lucky with the weather, too, we got to see the sun rise after seeing the moon and stars while in the dome and lake views as we ate our breakfast in bed on 2nd day. I thought before I came that it might be gimmicky, but it's anything but...
karl fitzharris
The best meal I have ever eaten. .Faultness from start to finish. Service was excellent, effortlessly hospitable and efficient. Food was faultless. Menu conception and execution was perfectly matched to the beautiful woodland setting.Genuinely the most compete restaurant experience I have had in a very long time. This team deserve higher recognition than I can provide ? ?
MBru20
Greatly enjoyed every minute of our time at Finn Lough! Incredibly friendly and helpful staff, amazing views and brilliant food. We stayed in one of the lake side cottages and it was like staying in a fairytale. Just the getaway my wife and I needed!
cathaloh23
I attended FinnLough with my partner for his birthday at the start of March. We booked a SkySuite, Spa Trail, Gin tasting and Dinner in ‘The Barn’ restaraunt. The whole experience was great. The staff at FinnLough were extremely welcoming and helpful. The SpaTrail was fantastic. For the whole duration you felt relaxed and a great part of it was that you didn’t bump into others during it (where I’ve heard other venues the spa venues are crowded). It was very relaxing. The gin tasting was very enjoyable and a great thing to do in the evening before dinner. The dinner in the barn was lovely however slightly on the more expensive side. The morning breakfast brought to the room was lovely and we were able to enjoy free coffee and pasty later that morning too. Something I was very pleased about was as a gay couple it was a place where we felt very welcome.
Swerv101
Stayed here back in early February. Loved the Spa. Hotel was clean and comfortable. However it could do with some TLC around the interior and exterior. Especially with the bad lighting and dead flowers and fauna. The old breakfast room was closed, and breakfast delivered to your room in a picnic basket, reminiscent of the lockdown era that seems not to have been consigned to the past. We were given a time for Breakfast to arrive which was between 9 and 10am! It arrived at 9.58am., with no coffee or tea! There was no one about to ask for a coffee pod or a Tea bag! It was lacklustre to say the least. Dinner was fanciful. Though I'm not really a fan of the small plates. The food was a little too rich for my liking. Staff were attentive and service was good.
I can’t believe this place exists and I didn’t know until I checked into the resort. If this restaurant was based in a city you’d never get a table. Everything from the food to cocktails and service from the knowledgeable staff was flawless. I’ve been in hospitality for many years, eaten and worked at some great fine dining establishments in various parts of the world and these guys are doing everything right. We loved the sharing concept because we got to try some more plates but would suggest some kind of chefs choice menu option maybe? Might allow guests a set price menu that isn’t as costly but also works from the business end. I think that’s also because having tried some of the food, that everything on the menu is worthy of its place there and your team could have served us anything from the menu and I’m sure we would have loved it.Our favourite plate was the Chicken served with XO sauce, unbelievable. Great work Chef and the FoH team!
Vegetarian menu was amazing, wine also amazing recommended by waiterVegetarian options: Amazing
We're vegetarian, we're from New York, we're used to spending money when we dine out and came to dinner ready to be impressed. It didn't seem like that would be a problem. The staff said the restaurant was fantastic and boasted a full vegetarian / pescatarian menu. We booked a reservation after our time in the spa, came very hungry and left very disappointed. The plates were ridiculously small for the price (think four coin-sized rounds of zucchini with some bits of pickle for £16) which would have been fine had they been spectacularly flavorful. But the elaborate plating felt like a sleight of hand as soon as you took a bite: bland sauces, limp, unseasoned vegetables, a pile of cold squash with tasteless feta. There were four slices of bread that came with the bread plate, each one half the size of a credit card and stale. The sprigs of broccoli were overwhelmed with sauce, the mushrooms had no flavor, the cronuts were cold and had clearly been sitting out for the majority of the day. We wanted very much to love this place, but even the cocktails lacked balance: some were high on sugar, low on acid, others had no flavor at all, and we noted that most are made by infusing low quality alcohol. The speech they give you when you sit down is almost comical in retrospect: "we have an ethos of sharing so our plates are very small". An ethos of sharing does not go with a plate that contains a total of three bites of food you have to force yourself to finish. Just say "Our ethos is to extract as much profit from the people who are incredibly hungry after the spa and stuck here with no other dining option by tricking them into thinking our food is exquisite because it's expensive and tiny. Our ethos is the jokes on you". The restaurant staff could tell we weren't enjoying our meal and the same server rarely returned to our table to check in. No one asked us how we liked the dishes, even when we sent plates back half-eaten. Perhaps it's a problem with the vegetarian menu - some chefs aren't well-versed at feeding vegetarians. We did notice that the table next to us - a French family - was ordering off the vegetarian / pescatarian menu as well, and were agitated enough to complain. That provided a bit of catharsis. We asked a few other couples we met how they enjoyed the food and they said it was fantastic - worth noting they were locals (UK food is notoriously bad) and they all ordered meat. We left the spa wanting to gift visits to friends and family, but we can't send anyone here to stay the night if this restaurant is the only option. I would advise Finn Lough to take a cue from Korean spas: When people have lost a lot of sweat in a sauna they need salt, starch and sweet and spicy flavors. Up the prices if you need to, but make it delicious and filling and you'll have a more consistently happy clientele. We may come back just to use the spa, but we'll bring our own food.
We're vegetarian, we're from New York, we're used to spending money when we dine out and came to dinner ready to be impressed. It didn't seem like that would be a problem. The staff said the restaurant was fantastic and boasted a full vegetarian / pescatarian menu. We booked a reservation after our time in the spa, came very hungry and left very disappointed. The plates were ridiculously small for the price (think four coin-sized rounds of zucchini with some bits of pickle for £16) which would have been fine had they been spectacularly flavorful. But the elaborate plating felt like a sleight of hand as soon as you took a bite: bland sauces, limp, unseasoned vegetables, a pile of cold squash with tasteless feta. There were four slices of bread that came with the bread plate, each one half the size of a credit card and stale. The sprigs of broccoli were overwhelmed with sauce, the mushrooms had no flavor, the cronuts were cold and had clearly been sitting out for the majority of the day. We wanted very much to love this place, but even the cocktails lacked balance: some were high on sugar, low on acid, others had no flavor at all, and we noted that most are made by infusing low quality alcohol. The speech they give you when you sit down is almost comical in retrospect: \\\"we have an ethos of sharing so our plates are very small\\\". An ethos of sharing does not go with a plate that contains a total of three bites of food you have to force yourself to finish. Just say \\\"Our ethos is to extract as much profit from the people who are incredibly hungry after the spa and stuck here with no other dining option by tricking them into thinking our food is exquisite because it's expensive and tiny. Our ethos is the jokes on you\\\". The restaurant staff could tell we weren't enjoying our meal and the same server rarely returned to our table to check in. No one asked us how we liked the dishes, even when we sent plates back half-eaten. Perhaps it's a problem with the vegetarian menu - some chefs aren't well-versed at feeding vegetarians. We did notice that the table next to us - a French family - was ordering off the vegetarian / pescatarian menu as well, and were agitated enough to complain. That provided a bit of catharsis. We asked a few other couples we met how they enjoyed the food and they said it was fantastic - worth noting they were locals (UK food is notoriously bad) and they all ordered meat. We left the spa wanting to gift visits to friends and family, but we can't send anyone here to stay the night if this restaurant is the only option. I would advise Finn Lough to take a cue from Korean spas: When people have lost a lot of sweat in a sauna they need salt, starch and sweet and spicy flavors. Up the prices if you need to, but make it delicious and filling and you'll have a more consistently happy clientele. We may come back just to use the spa, but we'll bring our own food.
The whole experience was fab. The food was delicious and the service was exceptional. It’s was our second visit and we look forward to the third.
Beautiful place so relaxing We stayed in a bubble pod which had the most amazing view of the stars. There was a game and some stargazing books and a radio in the room to connect to your Bluetooth so was lovely and relaxing. Food was excellent and the spa was lovely although freezing running between the pods so would love to come back in the summer. My only suggestion would be to offer the buggy drives back from the restraint to the pods at night as it is pitch black walking back
My sister and I treated ourselves to a spa trip for our birthdays. The service was brilliant from the moment we arrived, couldn't have been looked after better. Having the spa to yourself was great, and we loved being able to take a dip in the lake after some time in one of the saunas. We ate at The Barn restaurant, again the staff were excellent and the food was delicious! Would highly recommend!
You should only visit this place if you have money to burn as its damn expensive! You would literally, as we have this year, get a week or a few days at least abroad for the same price as one night and one meal here but you pay for the luxury or the unique experience so it's not a complaint. It takes some getting used to living in a see through bubble and hoping no one is watching but once you get used to it it's a class experience. Possibly a little daft for Ireland as you rarely get to see the sky but we got some glimpses of stars. The highlight for me was dinner in the Barn restaurant. I've never seen a menu or had a dining experience like it. If you're hungry you have no choice but to order multiple dishes from their funky and expensive tasting plate menu. As I said to my girlfriend after ordering our 8 shared dishes at a cost of nearly €200, if this food isn't some of the best we've ever had then we'll be robbed. But it was!
5 stars !!!. We were a group of ladies who stayed for 2 nights. From the moment we stepped foot into the place we were greeted with a warm welcome and staff who couldn’t do enough for you. We stayed in a lakeside house which had everything we needed, it was clean and comfortable. We went kayaking on the lake, ate dinner in the barn both nights. Did a cocktail masterclass and the Elements spa. All of which surpassed our expectations. Breakfast was still warm when delivered. We had everything we needed on site, simply a perfect retreat into the forest. Keep doing what your doing Finnlough your amazing - And into the forest I go to loose my mind and find my soul !!
Myself and my husband did an overnight stay at Finnlough for my birthday. The bubble domes were booked out so we stayed in a Sky Suite which was first class. We had an absolutely lovely time, the highlight being the spa trail. Loved the outdoor aspect. Swam in Lough Erne and had a Prosecco in the outdoor hot tub, among the trees and overlooking the water. The sun came out as well! Perfect. All the staff were great. We loved the vegan menu in the Barn Restaurant and the bar experience afterwards. Breakfast too. Will definitely be back.
Restaurantji Recommends
We had a most wonderful experience at Finn Lough. One abiding memory is how happy all the staff seem to be. The team at the Barn restaurant is fantastic, and I hope Chef Farrel is well renumerated as his food is exceptionally good and creative. I wouldn't be surprised to see awards coming to the Barn. Same tapas style menu both nights, and we were still able to try new things. There is a great team spirit in the restaurant and a nice ambience. Thanks to everyone, from Isabel & James at reception, to the two girls at the Spa trail, the breakfast delivery guy who came back promptly with teabags. We were very lucky with the weather, too, we got to see the sun rise after seeing the moon and stars while in the dome and lake views as we ate our breakfast in bed on 2nd day. I thought before I came that it might be gimmicky, but it's anything but...
The best meal I have ever eaten. .Faultness from start to finish. Service was excellent, effortlessly hospitable and efficient. Food was faultless. Menu conception and execution was perfectly matched to the beautiful woodland setting.Genuinely the most compete restaurant experience I have had in a very long time. This team deserve higher recognition than I can provide ? ?
Greatly enjoyed every minute of our time at Finn Lough! Incredibly friendly and helpful staff, amazing views and brilliant food. We stayed in one of the lake side cottages and it was like staying in a fairytale. Just the getaway my wife and I needed!
I attended FinnLough with my partner for his birthday at the start of March. We booked a SkySuite, Spa Trail, Gin tasting and Dinner in ‘The Barn’ restaraunt. The whole experience was great. The staff at FinnLough were extremely welcoming and helpful. The SpaTrail was fantastic. For the whole duration you felt relaxed and a great part of it was that you didn’t bump into others during it (where I’ve heard other venues the spa venues are crowded). It was very relaxing. The gin tasting was very enjoyable and a great thing to do in the evening before dinner. The dinner in the barn was lovely however slightly on the more expensive side. The morning breakfast brought to the room was lovely and we were able to enjoy free coffee and pasty later that morning too. Something I was very pleased about was as a gay couple it was a place where we felt very welcome.
Stayed here back in early February. Loved the Spa. Hotel was clean and comfortable. However it could do with some TLC around the interior and exterior. Especially with the bad lighting and dead flowers and fauna. The old breakfast room was closed, and breakfast delivered to your room in a picnic basket, reminiscent of the lockdown era that seems not to have been consigned to the past. We were given a time for Breakfast to arrive which was between 9 and 10am! It arrived at 9.58am., with no coffee or tea! There was no one about to ask for a coffee pod or a Tea bag! It was lacklustre to say the least. Dinner was fanciful. Though I'm not really a fan of the small plates. The food was a little too rich for my liking. Staff were attentive and service was good.