Steward's Lodge, House in Phoenix Park, Dublin, Ireland

Steward's Lodge is a single-storey house with pale rendered walls, a grey pitched roof and two red-brick chimneys, set on White's Road in the western part of Phoenix Park. Tall hedges and trees screen most of the facade, which has a central door under a small canopy and white-framed sash windows.

Built in the 19th century as the steward's house for the Guinness-owned Farmleigh estate, the lodge passed to the Office of Public Works after the state bought the estate in 1999. It was renovated in 2005 at a cost of nearly €600,000 and set aside for the taoiseach's temporary use, though it is not an official residence.

The lodge takes its name from the estate steward who managed Farmleigh for the Guinness family. It is not an official residence: taoisigh use it only occasionally, and Leo Varadkar held Christmas parties there for staff at his own expense. Under OPW rules a taoiseach staying overnight pays €50 per night.

The property is not open to the public as it is a secured government location. Visitors can explore the outer grounds of the Farmleigh estate while respecting the restricted areas.

Leo Varadkar stayed at Steward's Lodge during the COVID-19 pandemic, using its secure offices and video-conferencing equipment rather than treating it as a permanent residence. He otherwise lived in his own apartment in Castleknock and held occasional parties at the lodge at his own expense.