The Parlour at the Meyrick has long been popular as a meeting place for coffee, lunch, or afternoon tea. While the room adjacent to it has been transformed in recent times into The Gaslight, one of Galway’s hottest spots, a vibrant city centre venue for dinner or drinks, The Parlour still retains all of its old world charm.
Located right in the heart of the city, Hotel Meyrick is an iconic venue that really comes to life in the festive season. When the building is festooned with swathes of twinkling garlands, you know that Christmas is on the way. The four star hotel sparkles at this magical time, providing the perfect backdrop to the Galway Christmas Market on its elegant doorstep.
This year, in honour of the festive season, Hotel Meyrick has designed a traditional festive afternoon tea menu, where afternoon tea enthusiasts can enjoy a Christmas-themed experience taking inspiration from the flavours of the season. The menu is available to book from now until January 9 inclusive, and served daily from 1pm to 6pm.
When I tried the afternoon tea in early November, it was just the thing to put you in the Christmas spirit. A perfect place to drop your bags of Christmas shopping and sink into one of the parlour lounge’s relaxing chairs amid the opulently dressed trees, crackling fires, and twinkling lights.
The three tiered stand is topped with delicious pastry creations including cinnamon twirl tea cake, winter berry posset, and mince pies. Along with these festive inspired desserts, the menu features a choice of dainty sandwiches, and warm cranberry scones with Irish butter, cream, and preserves, all accompanied by plentiful tea or coffee from gleaming silver pots. If you are lucky, a live pianist will be tinkling seasonal favourites on the grand piano.
The very idea of afternoon tea is rooted in tradition and synonymous with top quality personal service, and The Meyrick is famous for its exceptionally well-trained and knowledgeable staff. The afternoon tea is priced at €17 per person or €30 for two, with optional add-ons of a glass of Prosecco or a warming Baileys or Royale coffee to warm the soul on these cold afternoons.
Christmas is a magical time of year and if you are dreaming of spending some of it in a picture-postcard perfect setting that seems to have stepped out of the pages of a storybook, The Meyrick offers just such a memorable festive dining experience.
Hotel Meyrick’s festive afternoon tea must be booked in advance. A limited number of bookings is available. On the dates that there are wedding receptions in the hotel, afternoon tea will be served in the Oyster Bar and not in The Parlour Lounge. To reserve afternoon tea or for further information visit www.hotelmeyrick.ie or call (091 ) 564041.
