Bates in Rathdrum

04/02/2025: This review covers both the hotel and its restaurant. My family and I enjoyed a wonderful long weekend stay. Our room was spotless and had a fresh, clean scent (perhaps it had been recently painted). It was comfortable, and the beds were excellent. The restaurant and pub are located downstairs. We booked a room that included breakfast, and I was pleasantly surprised by the extensive menu. Instead of the typical continental breakfast, they offered a wide variety of options, from porridge and a full Irish breakfast to toast, pancakes, and much more. We also dined in the restaurant both evenings, and the food was consistently delicious. The chicken goujons were particularly tasty. The Guinness was also excellent. I appreciated the thoughtful children's menu, making it a very child-friendly place. A staff member named Aoife (I believe) took great care of us, always greeting us and finding us a table when we'd walk in. She was consistently friendly and polite, as was everyone we met. The hotel has live music on weekends, which can make it quite noisy (we could hear it from our room). However, they do warn you about this during the booking process, which I appreciated. If you're a light sleeper and prefer a quiet environment, this might be a consideration. But if you're not bothered by noise, or even want to join the party, then this hotel offers excellent value. The staff was universally lovely, the food superb, and the beautiful natural surroundings make it all the more worthwhile. Whether you're looking for a place to eat in Wicklow or a place to stay, this is a fantastic choice. Thank you Aoife, and thanks Jacob's Well Hotel!

21/01/2025: This is such a popular & busy place. The food is plentiful but I do wish (when you book a large party/table, there was more choice for a vegetarian- I have veg stir fry everytime and it's nice but unimaginative and rather boring - lol). Note, there are other tasty veggie options, just not when there is a group / party booking. The service is good considering how busy they are and the staff try to have a craic with you (again difficult when it's so busy). Credit to all. We definitely return. The entertainment is always good.