22 St. Stephens Green Dublin − Ireland
Cliff Townhouse, Dublin – the only restaurant-with-rooms on St Stephen’s Green – has one of the most prestigious addresses in the capital. It occupies a late 17th-century house on the square’s north side, originally the home of the Earl of Shelburne.
Throughout the 18th century, the house was owned by a number of Ireland’s most prominent families, with John Pratt (Paymaster General), the Ormsbys and St Ledgers among them.
The St Ledgers kept the house until 1790, when it was sold to Thomas Leighton – a modest Ulster trader and shopkeeper who went on to make his fortune with the East India Company. Later knighted, he demolished the existing house and erected two new homes, numbers 22 and 23, selling the latter.
Number 22’s next significant incarnation occurred in 1884, when it became the headquarters of The Friendly Brothers of St Patrick for the county of Dublin Knot, making it the oldest private members club in Ireland. The organisation’s chief concern was to abolish duelling, a grave problem during the Ascendancy period.
Samuel Beckett spent some time writing here. In its more recent history, chef Richard Corrigan established Bentley’s restaurant at the townhouse in 2008. The O’Callaghan family took over the entire property in 2010.
Since 2010, CLIFF’s Executive Chef Martijn Kajuiter has been at the restaurant’s helm, with Sean Smith working as Head Chef. The nine individual guestrooms have been renovated to create a modern restaurant-with-rooms within this classically beautiful building. Cliff Townhouse is managed by Valerie Bracken, who instils the property with warm Irish hospitality.
CLIFF is a privately-owned hotel, restaurant and lifestyle group founded upon authentic Irish values in design, hospitality and cuisine.
In a world of repetitive luxury experiences, CLIFF stands apart — a capsule collection of privately owned venues for overnight stays, dining, weddings, meetings and events.
Each location is distinguished by its individual style, by its heart and soul, but also shares the group’s passion for quite simply getting it right.
We embrace the eclectic and the enigmatic, even the slightly eccentric. We challenge the rules. Tradition often collides with the cutting-edge. But always for a reason — to deliver a truly memorable experience, satisfying your adventurous spirit. We have an eye for detail while adding a little magic along the way.
CLIFF offers coastal chic in Cliff House Hotel, Ardmore, Co. Waterford, city glamour in Cliff Townhouse, St Stephen’s Green in Dublin and now a country retreat in Cliff at Lyons, Celbridge, Co. Kildare.
Everything we do is modern in look and feel. At the same time we believe in a classic service ethic while retaining a love of Irish heritage.
A Kildare cookery school
Cliff at Lyons is home to Cliff Academy, our state-of-the-art kitchen occupying the lower floor of a stone-made house in the central courtyard. Cliff Academy is available for groups to book evening and weekend cooking courses, presided over by Nathan Dimond, Head Chef at Cliff at Lyons. It is also home to our Chef School.
The first privately certified professional cookery school in Ireland
At Cliff Academy we host our Chef School, Ireland’s first school offering City & Guilds qualifications in addition to an exciting programme of Masterclasses delivered by renowned Irish Chefs.
Our striking red-brick façade sets the tone for the restaurant’s classic wood-panelled dining room and marble-topped Oyster & Champagne Bar.
The food, created daily by Head Chef Sean Smith, delivers modern fine dining in Dublin. Our reputation stands on impeccably-sourced seafood cooked with simplicity and elegance.
While seafood lies at the heart of our restaurant’s seasonal menus, meat and vegetarian dishes are also featured, as well as light bites, and hearty salads – ideal for pre- or post-theatre refreshments.
+353 1 638 3939 Fax: +353 1 638 3900 info@theclifftownhouse.com
Official website: http://www.theclifftownhouse.com