Tuesday, April 30, 2013

The Marker Hotel, Dublin, Ireland



We knew about the building the Marker is located at for a few years now. Originally it should have been a Park Hyatt. The plans fell through, so we were excited when we heard it was finally opening as a hotel. It opened on the 2nd of April 2013.

The architect was Manuel Aires Matteus. The building looks unusual, because it is inspired by Irish landscapes, like the Giant's Causeway or the Cliffs of Moher.

The Marker is located at Grand Canal Dock, just opposite the Bord Gais Energy Theater, a short walk from the IFSC and the O2 Point Depot, another venue for concerts.

We walked from the city center to the Marker. I guess it takes with brisk walking fifteen minutes. If you stroll, it's more likely to take twenty to twenty five minutes. My better half took photographs, so it took longer than that.

If you want to use public transport the 77a bus stops at nearby Pearse Street. The easiest way is probably to get in at the Central Bank on Dame Street.

Otherwise taxis are also easily available.

There was still some building work going on and the already infamous Rooftop Lounge hadn't open yet. It should be ready by the beginning of May.

At the entrance we were warmly greeted by the doorman. 

The lobby is interesting because it is designed like a cave, but the windows - the whole front is glass - let in enough light, so it doesn't feel gloomy. Instead it's quite airy.

 The whole hotel is design driven and contemporary.

The reception is located a little bit to the left. If you go further down, you end up at the Brasserie or if you turn right after the entrance you are already at the Marker Bar.

We checked in on the fifth day of operation and had booked a Corner Suite for the price of a Deluxe Room. It was the opening rate.

The Marker has joined Leading Hotels of the World and since we are Leaders Club Members we played a little game. Would we be further upgraded or not?

Check in was smooth and efficient. It was a bit surprising, because we had been willing to give the hotel some leeway, since it was newly opened.

The receptionist was aware what Leaders Club Benefits we should receive and advised us about free internet, breakfast and a room upgrade.

A nice lady accompanied us to our Luxury Junior Suite and explained all the features.

Our suite was large and unusual shaped with a small hallway. The wardrobe was located there. It contained the safe and iron, ironing board.

A small annoyance is the safe. It has been installed that the door opens up towards you, so it is in the way if you want to store items or remove them.

We had a small coffee table, a sofa, a chair, two benches, a writing desk and a huge bed. The Flat Screen TV has a system that allows you to read all about the hotel and its facilities. In case you don't like to use that, there is also a print out available on high quality paper. The same goes for in room dining. The TV channel selection was good. Only CNN was missing.

On the writing desk was a welcome letter by Charlie Shiel, the general manager.

The mini bar was discreetly hidden behind what looks like another cupboard or wardrobe. It can be easily overlooked, because it is very well integrated, and at first I thought it contained some security/electricity related stuff until my better half enlightened me.

On the small table were our welcome gifts - sweets from the kitchen (blondies, strawberries covered in chocolate - they looked they were wearing a suit - and chocolate mousse), a fruit basket with fruits we really love, a large bottle of still water and a newspaper. The plate containing the sweets was decorated with chocolate, reading "Welcome to The Marker" and a tree topped with a raspberry. It was a very nice touch.

The bathroom has under floor heating. It can be individually regulated like the air conditioning, and both worked well.

The bathroom was large with a sink, enough storage space for all of our cosmetic, luxurious Malin & Goetz amenities, shaving kit, full dental kit, toilet, scale, separate bath tub and large shower with a squared rain shower head. Material used was white and black marble.

The Color scheme in the bedroom was white, grey, yellow and lilac.

There were also tea/coffee making facilities, and the mini bar contained some interesting local snacks and drinks.

The room was very comfortable and the views romantic over the Grand Canal Square.

The hotel has also a gym, spa with products used by Kersin Florian and indoor pool. This time around we didn't manage to use those facilities, but we went to the bar.

There was quite a buzz going on. It wasn't loud, just very full. We found a comfortable sofa and enjoyed people watching.

The waitress handed us menus and was soon back to take our order. We had a Drumbuie and a Kahlua, the House Terrine with sourdough bread and a side salad and two portions of the blondies. All was delicious. The service was prompt and attentive. The cost was a bit under 30 Euro (ca. 40 USD).

When we passed reception on our way back to the room, we asked for a late check out and requested a wake up call. The late check out was granted without quibble.

We were also offered a newspaper. Unfortunately only the Irish Times was for free. We prefer the Irish Independent. There was an additional charge of 3 Euro. I hesitated a bit, because I didn't see why we should pay extra for this, if we could simply go home the next day and read the newspaper for free online. I consulted with my better half. Since he wished to have it, I agreed.

We were about to make ourselves comfortable in the suite, when Housekeeping arrived for turn down.

I advised the two ladies they could go ahead. It took only a couple of minutes. We received two pieces of mint chocolate each.

Housekeeping also asked if I wanted the carpet hovered. It was spotless anyway, so it wasn't needed. I received an apology for disturbing me, but that wasn't necessary.

Later in the evening I requested more soap and bath gel. It arrived promptly and was again more than we expected. In fact there were two full sets of Malin & Goetz amenities. We already know the company from our stay at the Klaus K hotel in Helsinki and love them.

The Marker is the only hotel on the whole island, which offers Malin & Goetz.


We had room service later in the evening. We ordered hot chocolate, roast beef sandwich, salmon fillet and chocolate mousse. The gentleman from room service advised it would take around twenty five to thirty minutes. I was surprised when room service showed up after fifteen minutes. He told me they weren't very busy, so they could deliver earlier.

I soon realized why it had been so early. Somehow our order got mixed up. Instead of salmon fillet we received smoked salmon. It looked appetizing, but was still wrong, so with an apology the item was removed and the correct one freshly made. Another fifteen minutes later room service was back and brought the fish and a second pot of hot chocolate [ which was offered complimentary ] in case the other one was cold by now.

We were also offered to replace the dessert, because the ice cream had melted. I didn't want another disturbance and wanted to enjoy dinner with my better half, so I did forgo it.

I wasn't too upset about the glitch. It had happened to us before that we received the wrong meals in hotels that had longer open than The Marker. As it was a cold sandwich, it didn't make a difference. The dinner came in at slightly under 49 Euro (ca. 64 USD).

The food quality was excellent and the dishes delicious. We enjoyed the views and a good conversation while having dinner. It was dark by now and the markers outside [ after which the hotel is named ] were lighted. There was also a colorful arrow directly showing to the hotel.

We have been told we have been given the best room in the house [ beside the full suites ] and that it had been the show room before opening. Based on the beautiful views over the theatre and the Grand Canal Dock, it is easily to believe.

By the way the windows aren't made from mirror glass, so if you want privacy, close the curtains.

We had our five minutes in the spotlight earlier in the day. A lady had seen us, standing in our pajamas at the floor to ceiling windows. She waved at us, and I returned the favor. Her companion took a photograph of us. Which we found funny. [ and NO, we aren't celebrities ]

Before we could settle into bed, we had fun with the curtain. The suite had three windows. One was located in the corner of the building. The curtain was following the corner. We tried very hard to get it around the bend, but it wouldn't budge. We feared we were going to ruin it, so we called reception to send somebody up to close the curtain for us. If the request was odd, the receptionist wasn't showing it.

The member of staff arrived within minutes. He had at first also issues getting it closed. We found out, when you go behind the curtain and pull at the handle it functions. Problem solved, we went happy to bed and slept through until the punctual wake up call.

I checked if there was any newspaper. There wasn't.

When we were ready to leave for breakfast an International Herald Tribune was waiting for us at the door step. There wasn't any charge for that. The member of staff has been receptive, and it was the right choice for us. It is in the details that makes the difference between a good and an excellent hotet, and this hotel is excellent.

The breakfast was served at the Brasserie. We were brought to our table by the host. It wasn't very busy, only a few other couples. We had a window seat. Soon our waiter arrived and took our order for hot beverages, juice and toast. The jam was already on the table. There is a buffet breakfast, including some hot items, like grilled tomatoes with mushrooms, scrambled eggs, bacon and so on, cold cuts, local cheese, artisanal yogurt, cut fruit and fruit salad as well as three juices and much more. The quality was excellent. There are also a la carte items available, some with a supplement charge, like French Toast (5 Euro / ca. 6.50 USD) or free of charge, like the Bircher Berner Muesli.

One of the heaters didn't close or only with great difficulty, but I hope this issue is solved by now.

The tables are on the smaller, but stylish side.

The staff was very attentive. Shortly before we left we received the bill. It only showed the 5 Euro for the French Toast my better half had ordered, so it was correct.

Unfortunately way too soon it was time to check out, which was quick and friendly.

I hope we can go back this year, other commitments allowing.




©2013

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Domini & Peaches Kemp @ The Restaurant, Brown Thomas, Dublin, Ireland

Before checking into the brand new Marker Hotel we had breakfast at The Restaurant @ Brown Thomas, a famous department store in Dublin. Brown Thomas is owned by Galen Weston, a Canadian Tycoon.
The Restaurant is managed by Domini and Peaches Kemp and located on the third floor. The interior is contemporary.

When we arrived there was quite a buzz. Fortunately we didn't have to wait for a seat and were brought immediately to our table.
Having informed ourselves online about the menu, we already knew what we were going to order.
We had the Toffee-Nut-Latte, a cappuccino, two orange juice, one French Toast with bacon and maple syrup, smoked salmon and scrambled eggs, the raw fruit salad and two slices of toasted sourdough bread with butter and jam.
We were told by our waitress that we had ordered quite a lot, so she pushed our and the neighboring empty table together to make more space. I didn't appreciate the comment. More space was definitely needed. The tables were on the smaller side.
The meal was very enjoyable and the quality high. I only wished my salmon portion would have been slightly larger. One slice more would have been nice. The eggs and chive were plenty. Maybe I was spoiled from the breakfast at Wilde's a week earlier, where I had a similar dish.
The French Toast was yummy too. The fruit salad was fresh and ideal to share, because the portion was large. The bread and jam was of high quality too.

Even though the staff was very busy, they were attentive and quick to respond.

The bill came in at slightly under 50 Euro (ca. 66 USD).

We spent around an hour at the Restaurant and were ready to walk to the Docklands for our stay at the Marker.

Of course we are going to return.


©2013

Monday, April 22, 2013

I will show them!

Coldham Fintan Noose III wanted to go out, but his parents told him no. It was a school night and Coldham and Beverly believed it wouldn't be wise to let Fin visit his friend.
The light ash blond boy was disappointed and seethed with anger. He thought his parents hated him and tried everything to take away the fun in his life. They had refused previously visits. He was going to show them! A rebellious streak awakened in Fin, as the boy was nicknamed. The fourteen year old sneaked out, spent a few hours with his friend and returned home. He hadn't calculated in his parents would miss him. When he opened the door they were already waiting for him. They "invited" him for a brief discussion in the living room. Fin knew how this was going to end and wasn't looking forward to it.

"A caning is warranted in this case. Young man, you can't simply take off, not telling us where you are going to! We are responsible for you and need to know where you are at all times!" His father and name sake told him. "I am ashamed. You are old enough to understand rules and obey them." His mother Beverly added. Fin was resigned. He wasn't going down without a fight, though. "Maybe the rules are shit." He suggested. His mother's eyes blazed at him. She nearly shouted: "Mind your language!" Fin stared back at Beverly as angry as she did. "Let's get over with your punishment. I guess you don't want to wait." Coldham suggested calmer. "It's unfair!" Fin protested. "Why?" asked Coldham, pretending to be seriously interested. "I haven't been warned I would be punished if I go out." "Fin, that was to expect, don't you think?" Beverly replied. "No, would it be darling Mike, he would escape with a warning." Mike was Fin's younger brother and their parents' favorite son. "That's not true!" Beverly shot at Fin. "He would be punished like you." confirmed Coldham. Fin snorted. Coldham didn't accept disrespect, lost his temper and slapped Fin across the face. "Now touch your toes, Coldham Fintan." Beverly ordered Fin. Her son obeyed with a smarting cheek and soul. "Five strokes." Fin's father added. "I'm going to deliver them." Beverly said. The cane was already lying on the coffee table. Fin was surprised he was allowed to keep on his pants and didn't have to bend over the armrest of the sofa as he had done a few times before. He obeyed, knowing there was no escape anyway. His mother picked up the three foot long can and swished it through the air. Fin barely kept from shuddering. Even if he was getting caned on his fully clothed behind it was going to hurt a lot. His trousers tightened over his backside, showing a clear outline where Fin's underpants ended. The cane tapped softly, once, twice on his buttocks. Fin braced himself. The cane was removed. There was another whistling sound. The cane made contact with the center of Fin's behind. The strength of the cut pushed Fin a bit forward. He regained his balance and with gritted teeth was back in position. "Stick your butt out a bit further." The sting was incredible. With trepidation Fin complied. Beverly took measurement for a second time, and soon the cane whooshed again through the air, landing right on target just a few inches above the first cut. Fin exhaled loudly. He wasn't going to cry out. The third cut made Fin's eyes fill with tears. He fought them back. His pride kept him from showing emotions. He wasn't going to give his parents any satisfaction.
The pain had been building up and was nearly unbearable. It felt like Fin had sat on a hot oven. There were still two more lashes to come.
The next stroke hit Fin on the sit spots and made him fall forward. It had been harder than the previous ones. Fin bit hard on his lower lip to prevent a cry.  The tears threatened to overflow. "Fin, back in position." His father reminded him. Gathering the last bit of courage he had left, Fin touched his toes and made sure his buttocks offered the perfect target. Beverly took her time. She wanted to make sure Fin felt every stroke. Fin hated the wait. After what seemed like ages Fin felt the cane tapping on his already inflamed behind. He took a deep breath and squeezed his eyes shut. Fin tried to concentrate on something else. His thoughts went to a recent windsurfing event his grandmother had taken him to. It had been fantastic to see all his heroes performing. Remembering it, took the edge off the last stroke. It still hurt a great deal. Fin shot up, clutching his buttocks. Normally Fin had himself better under control, and it was rare he got out of position before his parents told him, he was allowed to move. Beverly smirked a bit, still slightly disappointed she hadn't been able to make Fin cry or show much emotions. Coldham addressed his son: "Did we say anything you are allowed to get up?" Fin was fighting with his tears, so it was difficult to answer. He shook his head and replied with a quivering voice: "No, Dad." He hated himself for sounding so weak. Coldham had stood during the whole procedure beside Fin. "Turn around." Coldham ordered Fin. His son obeyed, Fin feared Coldham was going to use the cane on him again for getting up. He was lucky Coldham thought a light smack was enough to remind Fin to stay in position. "Next time you might not escape so easy, so you better have yourself under control." "Yes, sir." Fin answered, hating every moment. His mother had another question. "I hope you understand why we thought it is important you learn a quick, sharp lesson..." Fin didn't. In fact he was angry, nearing an explosion, and still felt he had been given a raw deal. He thought it was better to keep his feelings to himself. Fin wouldn't have been able to stand another round with the cane, so he nodded. "If you ever leave without permission, you can expect to be caned on you underwear and one stroke more. Is this clear?" Beverly's voice was hard. "Yes, Ma'am." Fin was struggling to keep up his composure. "Okay, everything is forgiven. You can go now." "Thank you, sir."
Fin managed to keep his tears at bay until he was on his room. He was sad, angry, full of hatred and hurting. He let off steam by undressing and throwing his clothing against the wall. Fin shed a few tears, but stopped crying soon.
He had his own bathroom and checked in the mirror what his behind looked like. Fin could see ridges, some were higher raised than others, especially the one covering his sit spots and the one in the middle of his behind. He thought there were going to be bruises surrounding the tramlines. He had already some dark splodges. Fin took a cold shower to ease the pain and maybe stop some of the bruising. His bottom had been throbbing, now Fin felt a dull aching. One thing was for sure he was going to sleep on his stomach tonight.
His anger was still there, but Fin was sadder than anything. He hurt from feeling absolutely unwanted and unloved. No matter what he did, he never received a word of praise or approval. Instead he had to listen how perfect his brother was. He was frustrated and punched his pillow.
He was lonely, knowing exactly his parents wouldn't understand if he tried to broach the subject. Fin could have talked to his grandmother Lil, who lived in Boston, but he was too ashamed to admit he was physically punished. There was nobody else whom he trusted.
After thinking about it Fin decided to call Lil. He got his most pressing issues off his chest. He left out the caning, though. Lil was supportive as always and talking to her calmed him.
The stripes healed within a week.
It took Fin a while to forgive his parents.



©2013

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Easter Cocoa Atelier Afternoon Tea, The Gallery @ The Westbury Dublin, Ireland

he day after checking out from the Westbury Hotel we returned for the Easter Cocoa Atelier Afternoon Tea.

Cocoa Atelier is famous for its outstanding and award winning chocolates and macaroons. They have also a small shop in Drury Street opposite Blazing Salads, selling the above stated goods and a very excellent range of their ice creams, sorbets and Alain Milliat juices, nectars and jams. It's a real treasure trove for gourmets. The produce isn't cheap, but the quality and flavors speak for it.

Try definitely the Coffee Ice Cream. In my opinion it's one of the best we had in a longer time or the delicious macaroons. The meringue is so fragile, even a light touch of the finger can make a dent.

During Easter there was also a large Easter Chocolate Egg of the company on display at the hotel.

Our host found our reservation immediately and brought us to our table. We were seated near the fire place on a comfortable sofa.

We were handed the menu and chose our favorite tea - Granny's Garden. I had an orange juice, while my better half had a special Easter cocktail, the Toblerone.

The beverages arrived first, followed by the sandwiches. The savory selection was the same as we had at the Traditional Afternoon Tea. The ham sandwich seemed to have changed slightly, because it was more flavorful. They were served in a black hat box and delicious.

Soon afterwards the scones, jam and clotted cream arrived. The scones were warm. Two were plain, the others were with raisins.

We couldn't wait for the highlight - the sweets. There were different types of cakes and macaroons. The small cakes were presented in a black hat box and placed on a "lawn". They were elaborately decorated with even smaller details, like flowers, lady birds or bees. Some items were the same, but most were only once available. It made sharing a bit difficult, so we halved each delightful piece.

Maybe it would be better to have from each available cake a second one, like it is with a Traditional Afternoon Tea.

Our bill arrived, but unfortunately there was a small mistake, but it was rectified immediately and we received a big apology. The corrected amount was slightly under 90 Euro (ca. 119 USD).

We enjoyed the two hours very much. The tea was rare, beautifully and unusual presented as well as delicious.

The staff was very attentive. Beside the glitch with the bill the experience was flawless.

We are going to return definitely to the Gallery and the Westbury.

 
©2013

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Just Checking

Fin is planning a new heist and is incognito working as a driver.

Patsy Loesing was intrigued by the new driver. She had tried to find out more about him by asking him questions, but he was a bit evasive, so to get a feeling about his character, she decided to "borrow" the spare keys for the old carriage house, where all their drivers had lived and the new one wasn't an exception.
She asked Kris, the gardener, to drive her to the driver's accommodation. Since he was as curious about the new guy as Patsy was, he was a suitable accomplice.
Patsy knew Coldham F. Noose III wasn't at home, because he was on an errand that should take a while.
The house was small. There was a hallway with doors leading off to different rooms. Patsy chose the kitchen first.
The new driver kept the kitchen immaculately clean. On the rustic table lay a mobile phone. She checked the brand and hadn't expected to find a VERTU phone. She switched it on, but didn't get much further, because it was protected by a password. Disappointed she switched it off again. The fridge contained sushi, yogurt, milk, cheese and fresh juice. The pantry was a big surprise too. It was stuffed with fresh fruit and vegetables, eggs, Extra Virgin Olive Oil and vinegars, soy sauce and other high quality ingredients. Most came from the local farmers market, the best delicatessen in town or Whole Foods Market. Patsy found out that Mr. Noose liked organic produce. The freezer was minimal stocked with luxury ice cream and sorbets. The cupboards revealed spices, herbs, Ethiopian and Colombian coffee, Assam, fruit and Japanese green teas. There was also a wok - unbranded. It looked old and well used and was sturdy. The pans, pots and kitchen knifes were all professional grade and very expensive. Patsy couldn't identify the cutlery, but was sure it was branded like the Rosenthal plates, bowls and mugs.
There was also a Radio/CD player on one of the shelves. The radio was tuned to a local pop channel. There was also a CD in the player. It was an album from Bobby Darin. Again Patsy hadn't expected Mr. Noose would know the singer and song writer. Bobby Darin had died before Mr. Noose had been born.

In the living room Kris found a small collection of Jazz, Swing and Pop CD's. He recognized the usual suspects like Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra. He had never heard of David Benoit, Paul Hardcastle, Phil Perry or Madeleine Peyroux.
Kris realized he and Coldham had totally different tastes. Kris liked Country music and the Beatles. Coldham had a few albums from the Rolling Stones and Queen.
There were photographs as well. One was showing Coldham having his arms draped around two ancient Asian ladies. Another one had captured a young Hispanic girl, looking like she was far, far away in her thoughts. She was attractive. Kris knew Coldham had a girl friend so maybe that was her. In another was a group of young people. The majority was white, but three of them were African American. One lady was especially sticking out, because she had huge breasts. The last photograph depicted a portrait in black and white of an older gentleman and his dog, a Yorkshire Terrier.  It was difficult for Kris to figure out where the Asian ladies fit in. The group was most likely Coldham's friends and the older man either his father or grandfather. Kris thought he saw some similarities.

Patsy and Kris met in the hallway. They compared what they had found out. Patsy moved on to the bath room. Kris wanted to have a look at the kitchen himself.
Patsy's eyes popped out. She had never seen so many male grooming products before. There was a whole set of Aramis face wash, scrub, toner, facial cream with SPF factor, shaving cream, aftershave and shaving oil. There was another set from Kiehl's in the drawer, two facial masks, besides Sisley's Ecological Compound and three bottles of perfume.
The toothpaste and cream was fairly normal. The hand soap smelled very good. Patsy couldn't identify what brand it was.
Coldham seemed also to have a preference for bath salts over gel. In the shower stall was a bottle of Frederic Fekkai shampoo and an Armani body wash.
Patsy's husband Baxter had been a men’s man and believed in soap and water. He would have believed Coldham was a sissy based on the bath room amenities.
Patsy wasn't so sure, if the new driver was straight.

After Kris had satisfied his curiosity in the kitchen, he also checked out the bathroom.

Patsy had moved on to Coldham's bedroom. A laptop was resting on the writing desk. It was from Alienware, a very rare and expensive company.

Beside the bed was a stack of books. Some were technology and security related, others were biographies. There was also a small collection of poetry, a book about Ethiopian fables and some foreign language books. Patsy thought one was in Chinese or maybe Japanese, the other one was Spanish or Italian.
The wardrobe contained clothing Patsy had seen Coldham wearing while on the job. The other third was clothing he wore in his free time, the last was completely Armani. If it would have been some t-shirts and pants from Emporio Armani, Patsy would have understood, but this was from the main line Giorgio Armani and something a normal driver could never afford.
She also found a box that was normally used to store expensive watches on the top shelf of the wardrobe. Baxter had owned a few Tag Heuer and Breitling watches, so Patsy knew how they were stored. Her eyes popped nearly out, when she saw a Rolex Oyster Perpetual Sea-Dweller 4000, valued at around 10.000 USD. It was normally used by divers, and made famous thanks to a James Bond movie. The second watch was Ulysse Nardin Freak Blue Phantom and cost nearly ten times as much as the Rolex. It had come out only the previous year. Something was definitely wrong with Mr. Noose. He wasn't simply a driver.

Patsy asked Kris not to mention anything to Mr. Noose. She was going to investigate. Based on the Social Security Number she was able to gather some information and found out Mr. Noose owned a security company, specializing in protecting goods and people. He was very successful. Tax filings showed since founding the company his earnings had climbed steadily, and profits had been 35 Million USD the previous year.
Patsy guessed her son Kenneth had engaged Mr. Noose to protect the family from a threat, so she kept quiet.



©2013

Thursday, April 11, 2013

The Westbury Dublin, Ireland

We wanted to do something special for the Easter weekend, so we decided to have a night at the Westbury. It was our third stay.

The Westbury is located just off Grafton Street, opened in 1984 and belongs to the Doyle Collection, Global Hotel Alliance (GHA) and Leading Hotels of the World (LHW).

We made our way up to the first floor, where the reception is located. It was busy, and we had to wait a few minutes before it was our turn to check in. It was friendly and fast. We were advised we were as Leader Club Members upgraded to a Studio Four Poster Suite from a Deluxe Room. We were also asked, if we wanted a free newspaper in the morning. The options were the Irish Times or Irish Independent.
Our room was located on the 2nd floor nearly directly opposite the elevators. At first we were slightly disappointed, because we had asked for a room on the higher floor and overlooking Grafton Street. The hotel has 6 floors. Our suite was overlooking the back, but we had views to St. Stephen's Green Shopping Center and Tony and Guy Hairdressers opposite.
We overcame our disappointment, because there are only 5 of the Studio Four Poster Bed Suites available, so what we received was very rare. And what is better - a real upgrade or simply the same room on a higher floor with the desired views? I know what I would like to have.
The suite was beautiful with a short hallway and a door leading off to the bath room. In the hallway was a wardrobe, the mini bar, Nespresso machine, tea making facilities and a safe. We had been also told at reception that in the mini bar would be free bottles of water. We completely overlooked them.
The suite was large with two sitting areas. One was furnished with two chairs, a huge ottoman - all upholstered in wine red velvet - and a coffee table with magazines. The other had a small dining table and two chairs. They were Art Deco style and covered with mint green leather. On the table was a welcome letter from the interim hotel manager. The welcome gifts, Jameson's Caramels, Caramel Cups and a box of Butler's Chocolate were also located there. They were all yummy. We appreciated the gifts and the letter.
We had a credenza with more storage space and a LCD flat screen TV on top. The channel selection couldn't have been better.
The king sized four poster bed was very high and huge. There was also a very large brown throw. We both liked the pillows with the flower prints. In front of the bed was a long bench.
Beside the bed to the right was a writing desk with a Leading Hotel of the World catalogue.
I didn't use the writing desk this time around, instead I worked at the dining table to have a nice view to the TV, because the desk was facing a wall.
We also had a large suitcase rack.
The curtains were green with a flower print.
Colors used in the suite were brown, white, beige, grey, green and red.

The bathroom was small with a bath tub and shower combination, a sink and enough space to store our cosmetics. The bath room amenities were by Aroma Therapy Associates and very good. We both enjoy using them.
A small gripe was that the tap was too short, so each time we wanted to wash our hands we banged them on the sink. It wasn't comfortable to use, but didn't cause any major problems.
Materials used were marble and granite.

The room and bathroom were very comfortable. When we had settled down, we received a call from Guest Relations to check if everything was okay. I mentioned the "missing" water. Joseph apologized and sent another member of staff up to deliver them. We expected two bottles, instead we received six. Thank goodness it wasn't also the usual and despised Deep River Rock, but Tipperary water. It was very generous and appreciated by us.

Later we had in room dining with one hot chocolate, two minute steak sandwiches with fries, French pastry selection and a Berry Fool. It looked appetizing, was flavorful and tasty. We were really stuffed, when we were finished. In room dining gave us also a call to check if the food was to our liking. Three times you can guess what our reply was. I think we paid around 75 Euro (ca. 98 USD) including a 5 Euro Tray Charge.

Turn down service had arrived earlier. We found out where the water bottles had been "hidden", because the employee showed me.
We received a little box filled with a "nest", a medium sized chocolate egg and three smaller chocolate bonbons from Butlers.

When we requested an additional body wash, we received two nearly complete bath room amenity sets instead, only the soap wasn't included. We were pleasantly surprised.

Going to sleep was a slight issue for me, because there was some street noise, including singing and music from a nearby night club or pub. It might took me slightly longer than usual, but as soon as I was asleep the noise didn't disturb me.
Light sleepers might prefer a higher floor.

The wake up call arrived on time, and the requested newspaper was waiting for us.
At check in we had received a voucher for continental breakfast, which normally costs 15 Euro per person (ca. 20 USD). We showed the voucher to our hostess. She wouldn't take it and asked us to take a seat at the Gallery Lounge until a table was available. We had to wait around ten minutes.
The continental breakfast was served buffet style, including six different juices, cereals, yogurt, fresh fruit, pastries, fruit salad, cold cuts and much more. Some people would say the choice is too small, but there is also an a la carte menu available against a charge. EW had the pancakes, I had scrambled eggs and smoked salmon. The portions were large, especially the salmon was generous.
There is waiter service for coffee/tea and toast.
We enjoyed breakfast and the view over Jack Wills and Bruxelles, a pub. One of us even managed to get slightly overeaten.
When we left we asked our hostess for the bill. She assumed we simply had the continental breakfast and said it was free. We replied we had some a la carte items, so she quickly printed out the correct bill for us. It was 20 Euro (ca. 27 USD).

Soon it was time to check out. There was a small queue, but the wait wasn't too long. Check out was with Joseph from Guest Relations. A nice touch was the offer of a free bottle of water for each of us. He already knew we don't like sparkling water, so it was automatically still, but he asked if we wanted it chilled or at room temperature. It reminded me of our check out at the Langham Hotel in Hong Kong, where we had limousine service to the airport and could choose a soft drink, ranging from water to Coca Cola to mango juice.

Overall impression.
Our stay was really great. We felt valued and spoiled from the beginning to the end. The room, bathtub and bed were very comfortable
The staff was courteous, warm and knowledgeable. A flawless experience in this regard.
This is definitely one of the best hotels in Dublin and the whole island. It deserves to be a member of the Leading Hotels of the World.
As soon as our budget allows, we're back again.






©2013

Friday, April 5, 2013

The Exchange Restaurant & Bar, Westin Hotel, Dublin, Ireland

Shortly before Easter we received an email from the Exchange Restaurant and Bar at the Westin Hotel about an Easter Sunday Lunch. It was a three course meal, costing 39 Euro per person (ca. 50 USD). It was a good offer in our opinion, so we emailed them to book a table for two. A confirmation arrived on Sunday morning.

It was after a longer time that we were back at the Exchange. Normally we frequent the Mint Bar or the Atrium Lounge at the Westin. We had reserved for 1 PM and were on time. We were greeted by the restaurant manager and brought to our table. Our jackets were taken from us.
The manager also pulled out the chair for me and handed us the menu when we were seated. She offered us water. It was tap water, something we normally don't drink. It was okay, though.
We were given the wine list as well. We weren't in the mood for wine, so we asked for the cocktail menu instead.
The decision which drinks to take wasn't easy. In the end my better half had the Manuka Espresso Martini, while I had The Last Word - a gin based cocktail from the Prohibition era.
His cocktail was strong flavored, but not too sweet. Mine was refreshing and crisp. The presentation of both was pleasing to the eye.

Soon after our cocktails a bread basket and butter arrived. The basket was a rustic looking metal bucket. The inside was covered with a cloth. The bread was very tasty indeed.

Our starters were Chicken Liver Parfait with Sourdough Bread and chutney and Minestrone. The parfait was very smooth and mild flavored. The chutney was fruity and tangy at the same time and provided a good contrast to the bread and parfait.
My Minestrone contained very small pieces of vegetables and orzo pasta. The dish was light, but warming and satisfying.

While we were waiting for our main courses, we discussed how the restaurant had changed over the years and admired the mural, depicting a phoenix or dragon. We were sitting just below it. We also tried to figure out what the most ordered items were.
There were other guests, but the restaurant wasn't completely full. The fellow diners weren't loud, so we could also hear the piped music, a mix of jazz, opera and swing.
There was a single lady and two families. Later another couple and a group of three (two men and a woman) arrived. Most liked wine - the trio had rose wine, while the single lady had two glasses of white wine.
The prawn cocktail - another appetizer - was a hit as well as the lamb shank.

EW's main course was a Boilie goat’s cheese, shallot and fig tart, while I had salmon, green asparagus, prawns and potatoes. Both were delicious.

Our waiter asked us, if we wanted to have our desserts served now or later. We were quite full and thought waiting a bit would be good. When we were ready, we easily caught the attention of the waiter.

My better half had lemon curd tart, I chose the Pear Tart with pecan nut ice cream and chocolate crème anglaise. Both were outstanding, and it was tempting to lick the plates clean. Of course we know how to behave and didn't anything like that.

The staff was attentive and friendly.

Since we are SPG members we received a 20 % discount on the food, when we presented our card. The bill came in at 85 Euro (ca. 110 USD) including tip.

Overall it was two hours well spent. We enjoyed being together and share a great meal. We plan to visit again soon.




©2013