The location is excellent as it's a short walk to restaurants, pubs, shops, the sea front, and the harbour. It's also close to the start of the Cliff Walk and the other looped walks on Howth Head. It is a quiet area, so I slept really well. This is a B&B that's not posh but has real charm and warmth, and the hospitality I found here was next to none. Katherine made me feel like one of the family in the space of two days! A great breakfast, and you can help yourself to tea and coffee in the kitchen anytime of the day. Comfy bed, lovely bathroom with a bath, so could have a soak after a long hike. This was easily my best B&B experience in this country for years!

Nothing to dislike! I will be back!

location is great Sean the host has great knowledge off howth could not get a better host its the family home with a warm appeal

the property does need a little modernizing

Sean is a wonderful host. The pinnacle of Irish hospitality. I felt like I was a part of the family! And the bed was very comfortable. He makes a great Irish breakfast too!

Everything was lovely except it’s up a big hill so plan on getting a cab if you’ve got luggage and do not have a car. I was halfway up when a driver took pity on me and brought me the rest of the way! Also, the B&B is right on the corner- the maps app has it down the road a bit but that’s wrong.

Sean was a terrific host who gave recommendations and was super helpful. It was evident how passionate he is about the community. We had a great time and the breakfast was delightful!

Gleann Na Smol is a home from home! Propietor Sean was very welcoming and caring. My room had everything I needed. The bed was very comfortable. Plenty of pillows, plenty of towels and flannels. Showergel was provided. The traditional full Irish Breakfast waa delicious. Sean also provides a generous offering for those preferring a continental breakfast or those with specific dietary requirements. Plenty of coffee and tea is offerred. Gleann Na Smol is ideally located within walking distance of the sea but also very near the Howth village with plenty of very good restarants, shops, markets and pubs.

That I had to go home again.

I felt at home immediately, because of the warm and welcoming host. The first morning I woke up very early, an hour before the BF was planned. I could find my way in the efficient kitchen to prepare me a pot of Irish BF Tea. When the host showed up at the agreed BF time, he was perfectly OK with my kitchen doiings. He prepared a great Irish breakfast! The black pudding, left on my dish he -as a bird lover- fed to the birds outside in the garden. The day of our departure, at 2 pm, the host prepared us a pot of coffee and after we finished that, he brought us, in his car, with all our luggage to the train station, without any problem, just some natural hospitality!

Some maintenance of the facilities could make the experience even better.

I was welcomed immediately upon walking into the property despite showing up slightly later than I had intended to. My room was ready and was as described in the listing. As I was only there for one night, my stay was short. I was going to check-out very early the next day to catch a flight, but my flight was delayed and despite telling the host I wouldn't need breakfast, the host made me a lovely breakfast since I didn't have to depart as early. Though the accommodations are a bit worn and dated, it still felt homey and everything worked as expected (shower, toilet, etc.).

I wish shampoo was provided along with the body wash, but this wasn't a big problem as I had my own. This is just to note for those who may expect all toiletries. This isn't related to the accommodation, however I walked from the train station to the Bnb, which was difficult at times due to the uphill parts. I would recommend getting a taxi if possible.

Great staff and breakfast, superb location

Unfortunately, my bad luck that some renovation/roof work was being performed when I arrived. My room's window was open and electrical extension cords for the power tools from the construction crew were plugged into the sockets in my room, some mess and dirt from the construction in my room. Would have expected that my room would have been closed and cleaned up before my confirmed arrival time. Instead, I had to be the one to unplug and remove the extension cords and clean up the mess on the floor and bed. Furthermore, the bathroom was also being renovated with several large tiles laying on the floor. Not a big deal but a bad first impression of the place.

Sean the owner is so on top of everything when you are his guest. He is there to greet you in the morning and again at night or anytime during the day. Always willing to help make your stay the best. He cooks an amazing breakfast and had the best coffee my whole stay in Ireland! Great conversationalist and part of me wanted to stay just to hang out and chat. He is a walking historian. He works very hard but I can see he enjoys what he does and he said he loves meeting people and it makes his life interesting. I hope to return to his place some day. The location is perfect for walking safely to town day or night and this is important to me as a single female. The town of Howth is great! Thank you Sean and hope to see you out California way!

That I had to leave!

Everything Sean is a fantastic friendly host with great local knowledge, plus he makes a delicious full Irish breakfast and lets you come and go as you please and also says to treat the place like home for making yourself tea and using the sitting rooms etc. The location is great, a 20-minute walk to the centre of Howth and the DART Station, although there is a bus stop for the H3 bus from Dublin that cuts that walk down to 6 minutes. There's a Centra shop and a great pub McNultys just round the corner also. One I'm definitely going to return to when returning to Dublin!

Nothing, everything was great at Gleann Na Smol..