1. The Merrion
2. Four Seasons
3. The Shelbourne - A Renaissance Hotel / Conrad
My Number One is the Merrion, because it offers the perfect hotel experience. Even though we stayed there over the very busy Christmas weekend, everything went flawless. The hotel has the only 2 Michelin Starred Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud in Ireland, the Cellar Restaurant (see also review) and Bar, Bar No. 23, the Drawing Rooms for Afternoon Tea and 24 hours in room dining. It has an E-Spa and an indoor swimming pool. The romantic garden and the artwork are inspirational. The entrance rooms are large, comfortable and show no wear and tear. The staff is accommodating, attentive, efficient and friendly. The food is of outstanding and priced accordingly. The location is also a plus. It's located in Georgian Dublin and just opposite Government Building.
The Four Seasons is only Number Two, because the rooms need an urgent renovation. Unfortunately it's not always as smooth running as we would like it, but first to the positives. The location is in Ballsbridge - a very affluent area of Dublin, near the RDS. It's a little bit outside the city center, but can be easily reached by taxi or public transport. The garden is beautiful with its fountain and interesting sculptures placed around the hotel. The food is very good. The staff is friendly and approachable. The rooms are large and comfortable. Its not that important, but there are no flat screen TVs on the rooms. I don't think there has been a renovation since opening. There are other small things we noticed. For example, in front of the public toilet was always a chair. Ideal for my better half, when he had to wait for me. Since our last visit its gone. Twice I tried to order a specific glass of Champagne on the menu, but it was on both occasions not available. Another time we ordered hot chocolate, which is one of the best and most lavish in town, it arrived in pots (2 to 3 cups) after waiting for a bit a and were poured a cup each. The waitress took the rest of the hot chocolate away without considering we would want to have the rest too.
The Shelbourne is the grand dame of Dublin, located in the heart of the city just across the road from St. Stephens Green Park. It's very beautifully restored and renovated. The staff is warm, helpful and knowledgeable. The food is very good. Because it's the social hub in Dublin, its very difficult to get a space, for example at the Lord Mayors Lounge or the Saddle Room without reservation, and I wouldn't recommend to arrive without one.
There is a club lounge/concierge lounge available, but it has only open during the week, and there are no free alcoholic beverages served.
The entrance rooms are small and dark. The layout can be odd too or the room difficult to find (due to the age of the hotel). The hotel has also downgraded the in room dining, bath room amenities and TV channels over the years. We visited the hotel on an open day and were impressed what a wide variety was available on the in room dining menu, astounded they had Ermenegildo Zegna products and CNN. When we returned a year later and at subsequent stays the in room dining was smaller (quality is good, though, and has an Irish touch), Emenegildo Zegna was gone, changed to White Company and then to an English company Pit Sniff (love it). CNN is also not available.
When staying here, I would recommend you book at least the Deluxe Rooms.
The Conrad is opposite the National Concert Hall. What can I say? It's a very solid hotel, the staff is friendly and efficient. It has one of the best breakfasts in town, huge choice of juices, smoothies and so on. Overall the quality of the food is good. When staying there I feel immediately at home and valued. They have Conrad merchandise for sale. The rooms again are comfortable, no flat screen TVs here either. I wouldn't recommend the entrance rooms (classic). They have the same problem as the Shelbourne's in regards to size. We had also a Junior Suite. I loved it. It had a king sized bed, a seating area with biographies of Warren Beatty and Helen Mirren, loads of storage space and Acca Kappa bathroom amenities.
©2012
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