From first point of contact (with Karen in reception) this hotel stood out. Karen listened to the type of break I was looking for and recommended a package to suit. The room was fab, great view overlooking the city. THe highlight throughout was the food in Zac's, we ate both nights there, great wine list and very helpful staff. Will definitley go back. There are cd players in rooms and a selection to chose from in reception and a well stocked library to browse. Only one gripe, the double room was twin beds pushed together which is never as comfy as a double but all in all this gets 9/10 from me.

I won a voucher to stay at the Athenaeum House. I wish I had won a few more!! I really enjoyed my stay. Ok it isn't exactly ideally located but think of it as a hidden gem...because that is exactly what it was. On arrival we were greeted by a very friendly receptionist. We checked into our room, and it was fab. The decor was finished in a dark purple decor and the bathroom was very spacious. Overall a very modern finish! We had a stunning view of the River Suir & Waterford city. We ate in Zak's restaurant that night, the food was very tasty and the waiter was helpful and not over bearing.It was a Mid Week stay and I really needed a relaxing stay, which I got, except on the second night, when I was rudely awakened by a drunk eejit, but in all fairness, it wasn't the staff's fault. Athenaeum House has was a lot of what Hotels & Guest Houses are missing..... Charm & Hospitality Overall, I would recommend this to My Best Friend

As someone else mentioned, the approach to the Athenaeun is a bit...well..."unwelcoming". Persevere though - it's worth it,. The service is among the best we've ever received. The staff are, without exception, friendly and helpful. They manage to be attentive but without becoming your annoying second shadow. The rooms are very good - clean, spacious and comfortable. They are named after various artists which lead us to expect that they would be decorated with some "link" to the artist they were named after. We stayed in the Da Vinci room, and unless Leonardo shared a love of purple cushions with Picasso and a few others that we sneaked a look into, the naming convention is merely a meaningless gimic. The food was superb. The baked egg with smoked salmon starter might sound a bit pretentious but it is fantastic. The steaks were tender and flavoursome, and cooked to perfection. The desserts deserve a review of their own, or at least the cheesecake does. We were advised it was a speciality of the chef's - this chef know's his stuff. The wine list was comprehensive and a Milton Park Shiraz was the perfect companion to the steaks. While the approach was a bit grim, our room had a lovely view in over Waterford city. Overall, excellent service, comfortable rooms, delicious food, and reasonable rates. We will be recommending this hotel.

Across the river from Waterford, lovely view. Great food at Zak's. Clean and well appointed.

I stayed in the hotel from the 13th to the 15th October 2007. I have to say that from the check in to the check out everything was fantastic. Staff is wonderful, rooms beautiful and management present at any time. The german manager has a perfect attitude and you can feel like at home! GO THERE!!!!