The stunning Kildare Hotel, at the K Club is Ireland’s first AA 5 Red Star Hotel. It is situated within 550 acres of beautiful Irish countryside on the banks of the River Liffey in Straffan, Co.Kildare. Built in 1832, the original house was modelled on a French Chateau and still retains many of its original architectural features, art work and antiques. It opened as a luxury hotel in 1991. Located only 30 minutes from Dublin, this long standing member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts Worldwide boasts 69 luxurious guestrooms and 9 suites. Each room has been individually decorated and features original paintings and antiques. The bathrooms, meanwhile, incorporate hand-painted murals. The K Club is home to two incredible Championship Golf Courses – The Palmer Ryder Cup Course and the Palmer designed Smurfit Course. The K Club was the chosen venue for the 2006 Ryder Cup and host to the European Open from 1995 to 2007. The hotel offers three superb dining options, from fine dining to more informal dining. The River Restaurant provides vibrant, yet relaxed, dining in an informal atmosphere. The restaurant overlooks the extensive landscaped gardens and the River Liffey and offers a traditional menu. Legends Bistro offers casual dining in an elegant atmosphere and enjoys spectacular views across the Palmer Ryder Cup Course. The K Thai & South East Asia Restaurant in the Smurfit Clubhouse offers a range of delicious fusion dishes. It mixes the best of Thai and Asian recipes with Irish produce to create delicious meals, many with great health benefits. Guests can enjoy Afternoon Tea in the K Club’s opulent Chinese Drawing Room, which overlooks the outdoor terrace and beautiful manicured gardens with open log fires. The K Spa is an oasis of calm and features a secluded outdoor hot tub, aromatic herb garden, seven luxurious treatment rooms, two private suites, a Hamam, a Hydrobath, a Vichey Shower and an exotic Rasul Chamber. There is also a fully-equipped gym, weights room, Pilates studio, a state of the art 16.5-metre resistance pool with hydrotherapy jets, a Jacuzzi, saunas and steam rooms. Residents can enjoy a drink in the hotel’s cocktail bar or in the Media Puzzle Lounge, which features large windows and French doors to the gardens