Sophie's Restaurant @ The Dean Hotel Dublin, Ireland

Sophie’s Restaurant is located on the rooftop of The Dean Hotel, Dublin, Ireland.

We had heard only good things about it from Hotel Chatter and after checking the menus online, we decided to reserve a table for brunch, dinner and breakfast during our stay at The Dean. Please see also our review.

Arriving at the landing on the 5th floor we were intrigued by the swings.

When entering the restaurant the rest rooms are to the right and the open kitchen to the left.

The interior design was modern. The bar was the center piece with some bar stools to sit around it, booths to the left and tables at every floor to ceiling window, which covered three sides. 

The views were stunning. 

There is also a heated rooftop terrace, where cocktails are served for those, who don’t want to have a meal.

Our brunch

The Maître d’ welcomed us, but had at first problems finding our reservation. We learned it had been booked under my fiancé’s name. As soon as it was cleared we were brought to our table.

It was buzzing on the Sunday afternoon. There were families with small children, a birthday party and couples. The noise level was amazing, but conversations could be still had.

Sometimes it was difficult to get the attention of the waiters, because they were so extremely busy. When we got hold of them they were friendly and accurate.

We ordered two carrot, ginger, apple and kale juices, two cappuccinos, two Eggs Benedict, one homemade granola with Glenilen natural yogurt and honey and one French Toast with Canadian Buckwud maple syrup.

The syrup came in a squirt bottle – a good idea, because customers can decide how much they need.
The coffee and tea are from Clement & Pekoe. The cappuccinos were smooth and milky, just as we like it.

All was very delicious. 

We also liked that the Eggs Benedict came with a grilled tomato and herbs. 

The cost for our brunch was 49.15 Euro (ca. 51.95 USD).

Our dinner

The atmosphere was different when we arrived in the evening. The music was upbeat and the lightning reduced. It might looked like you wouldn’t be able to see what was on your plate. The lightning was cleverly placed, for example over the bar, creating a bright island and over the tables too.

This time around the guests were couples and a small group, celebrating a birthday. 

A waiter soon arrived and took our order.

We had a large bottle of water, a Capone cocktail, an orange juice, the corn fed chicken with charred leeks, potatoes and chorizo foam, the baked hake with kale, brown shrimps, potatoes and tomato dressing, an avocado salad to share, the pana cotta with blueberry jelly and the frangipane with rum raisin ice cream and prunes. 

The cocktail was refreshing and similar to the one I had at the Merrion’s Cellar Bar during brunch there earlier in the year (See also our review).

The chicken and the fish melted in the mouth. The flavors of each dish were very balanced, light and healthy. 

Of course the highlight was the dessert. The pana cotta wasn’t sweet at all, but tasty. The frangipane was fragrant and the contrast between hot cake and cold ice cream was nice.

The staff was attentive and always there when needed. Somehow dinner seemed slightly better organized than brunch. 

We enjoyed our experience and thought the meal was a good value at 82 Euro (ca. 87 USD).
The meal had very high standards and was comparable to our dining experiences at other hotels in Dublin, like The Merrion or the Westbury.

We believe Sophie’s management team has higher ambitions and there is maybe a Bib Gourmand on the horizon in the future.

Our breakfast

After a good night’s rest we arrived for breakfast. Originally we had reserved a table for 08.00 hours, but were running late. It wasn’t a problem. We were the only ones at this early hour on a Monday morning.

In room dining was also in high demand, though, and by the time we left the restaurant had filled up a bit, but wasn’t that busy.

We were given the best table in one of the corners of the restaurant, allowing an at least 180 degree view over Dublin including Dame Street, the Central Bank, St. Patrick’s and Christchurch Cathedral amongst others.

We had also “spies” during brunch and breakfast. Curious seagulls flew by, looking what we humans were up to.

The breakfast and brunch menu were identical. They offered enough choice to try something new.
In this case we had two cappuccinos, carrot, ginger, apple and kale juices, two bagels with cream cheese and smoked salmon, two bowls of fruit salad and a pancake stack with orange butter. Originally we had intended to have a portion of porridge each, but felt this would stuff as too much, so we shared the pancakes. There were three and they were big. The orange butter was melting and all smelled delicious. Buckwud, which means maple syrup in native Canadian, was supplied again.

The juice this time around contained more carrot and ginger than the day before. 

The bagels were delicious and easy to eat. The amount of salmon was just right and the presentation was creative.

The bowls, where the fruit salad came in, were vintage looking with chipped enamel. The other plates, cups and saucers were by Ras Al Kheimah Porcelain. The crockery fit well with the ambience.

Our waitress was one of the members of staff we had the previous afternoon. She recognized us immediately, which was a surprise and pleasure, considering how many guests she had encountered. She was very attentive and took good care of us.

Breakfast came in at 45.45 Euro (ca. 50 USD).

Our take: We liked the contemporary interior, the friendly staff and the different atmospheres during our meals, plus the wonderful views over Dublin from the rooftop.

Brunch, dinner and breakfast were of a very high standard.

The value was good.

We will return later in the year.

©2015

The Dean Hotel Dublin, Ireland

When we first heard The Dean Hotel was going to open here in Dublin, we were looking forward to stay there.

Originally we planned to stay at the Intercontinental Hotel Dublin, the former Four Seasons, but thought the Intercontinental still had the old rooms of the Four Seasons, in which we stayed already twice, while the Dean was new and design driven. Following the reviews on Tripadvisor we heard only positive feedback beside the noise levels.

After booking The Dean, we also made reservations for their restaurant for Brunch, Dinner and Breakfast.

We were in email contact with the hotel, asking for an early check in, if possible, and a quiet room.

The email replies were all very quick and friendly. We were advised that the early check in couldn't be guaranteed, but they would store our luggage, should it not be available.

The Dean Hotel is located in Harcourt Street, just a ca. 10 minute stroll from Grafton Street along St. Stephen's Green Park in the heart of Dublin.

When we entered The Dean we found the Dean Bar to the left and the reception/gift shop to the right. The gift shop sold own branded items and other clothing and accessories from a shop located in Temple Bar, called Indigo & Cloth.

It had a sultry atmosphere. We liked the presentation. There were shelves with old cameras and a globe, dim lightning, booths and communal tables.

The elevators were hidden behind the shelf.

The Rotisserie kitchen was also visible from the bar.

On the day of check in we arrived at around 12.30 hours. Our room wasn't ready, though we could do the check in formalities already. Unfortunately we had some issues with the credit card issuer and were allowed to use the phone at reception to solve the problem. A flight we had booked the previous week had been flagged as suspicious and I had to confirm it was really me, who was trying to use the credit card at the Dean. We were happy we could call without being charged and without quibbles. A sign of good service, we felt already at home at the Dean.

Since we were travelling light and we had already a reservation at Sophie's, we didn't need the luggage storage facility, but it is a nice touch.

A more detailed review is going to follow about Sophie's restaurant.

After our brunch the official check in time of 3 PM had passed. We were handed our keys immediately.

At first we were a bit concerned about security. It was unfounded. Even if the elevators can be used by anyone the floors are only accessible at the landing via key card.

The floor to our room was as moody as the reception area. There was artwork on the floors and colorful carpets kept noise to a minimum. Our room was located on the third floor. There are five floors in total, so we were located in the middle. We had to use a flight of stairs to reach our room. The property might not be suitable for wheelchair users or people with reduced mobility.

We had booked a HiFi Room, the category just below a suite. We thought it would suit us best and was the essence of the hotel. Our room overlooked the backside, not Harcourt Street. We could look into other office buildings and a residential area. The Dean is housed in a former office building and has a classic Georgian facade.

The room was contemporary with orange splashes, dark brown wooden flooring, a colorful carpet, a large bed (two beds pushed together, very comfortable) and aqua blue walls with a photograph of a concert and two paintings.

The sitting area in front of the bed was comfortable too and included an octagonal table with a marble top.

We enjoyed sitting there, having drinks and watching Netflix (included in the room rate and can be watched as much as you like without any extra charge) or CNN. There were also regional channels available, but no Business Channel like Bloomberg.

A lot of thought went into the interior design.

Where it mattered the comfort and lightning was good, be it at Sophie’s Restaurant or elsewhere.

Our room had lots of natural day light due to a corner location and panorama windows. The sun heated up the room, but the air conditioning was working fast and cooled the room quickly. There was also a fan, adding some romance.

The storage units were open, so nothing could be overlooked or forgotten. It looked like a large vintage commode. The top could have been a drawing desk or part of a work bench. There were even water rings on it. In one compartment were LPs including one from Sinead O’Connor, called “I’m not bossy – I’m the boss”. A LP player and amplifier were also available, so you could throw your own parties and play the DJ.

Reading material was provided too, a coffee book called American Artifacts, Finnegan’s Wake by James Joyce and a book combining the poem/lyrics of Leonard Cohen’s “Dance me to the end of love” and paintings of Henri Matisse. I love Leonard Cohen’s music and “Dance me to the end of love” is one of my favorite songs, especially the cover by Madeleine Peyroux.

There was also a writing desk with a makeup mirror.

A full length mirror was located near the entrance.

The WiFi was free, reliable and fast throughout the hotel.

Other unusual items were a modern telephone, designed like it came straight out of the fifties or sixties and a Smeg mini fridge or a hot water bottle.

The iconic Smeg was stocked with the usual suspects, i.e. Coca Cola, but had a lot of interesting items, like Irish Pale Ale, Irish lemonade, coconut and vitamin water. The Munchie Box was very tempting with Broderick Brothers bars (Rocky Road with marshmellows), Nic’s & Ali’s Sours or Cola Bottle gummies and much more. We took a few items. The mini bar is reasonable priced, for example water costs 1.50 Euro (ca. 1.60 USD). We were a bit surprised, though, because we didn’t have to pay for the three bottles we took. It’s own branded water, organic and sourced in Ireland. We love the idea of going global and local at the same time, it's more tempting than an average "chain hotel" mini bar.

Beside the Munchie Box were cups, Barry’s Tea Gold Blend and a Nespresso Coffee Machine with four capsules.

The kettle, hot water bottle and iron were kept in one wooden box underneath the Munchie Box and the hair dryer in another one. It was a professional Remington.

When entering the room the bath room was off to the left.

There was one large white sink with a black tap, a shelf to place our own beauty products, toilet, a heated towel rack and a power shower with a large rainfall showerhead, white and black tiles and a glass divider with The Dean logo printed on it.

Some of the tiles were dark, honey comb shaped which created a nice contrast to the white ones.

The floor in the shower was slightly sloped, so when taking a shower, it didn’t flood the bath room.

There was another shelf for personal items and a mirror, convenient if someone wants to shave.

All amenities were by Grafton Barber. The shower gel, shampoo, conditioner and soap came in metal dispensers. The size was large. We liked the products, but missed the body lotion.

The power shower worked well – the pressure was fantastic - and the water came constantly hot without any problems.

The bed room was quiet as requested and we weren’t disturbed by any noise from surrounding night clubs.

There were ear plugs on the night stands, just in case.

Unfortunately check out approached too fast.

Our take? This is one of the best hotels in Dublin and the 4 Star Superior is rating well deserved.

It’s a beautiful design boutique hotel with 52 rooms, where the design doesn’t go over substance. Our stay was friendly and flawless.

The location is perfect to explore Dublin or stay in, depending what room type you have booked (Punk Bunks are on the smaller side.), binge watching your favorite Netflix show and enjoy a cocktail or a meal and grandiose views over Dublin from the rooftop restaurant and bar. We would highly recommend the HiFi rooms at the Dean.

The food is excellent and the staff is exemplary – friendly, very anticipating, helpful and good looking.

We are missing the hotel already and plan to stay there again in our future.

©2015

Crowne Plaza Northwood Dublin, Ireland

We have stayed before at the Crowne Plaza Northwood, but preferred the neighboring Holiday Inn Express, because the property offered 1000 Bonus Points per stay. Now the bonus points were not available at our favorite property, but at the Crowne Plaza. We were collecting points at IHG's loyalty program, so we booked a night at the property during a weekend in November 2014.

We took the Airlink bus 747 from the city center to Dublin Airport and changed to the Crowne Plaza/Holiday Inn Express free shuttle bus. We had heard there was a new bus, but unfortunately we had on each occasion the older one, which wasn't that comfortable.

Check in was pleasant and we were recognized by a member of staff from previous stays at the Holiday Inn Express. She was delighted to see us and it made us happy too. Since we had achieved gold status within the IHG Rewards Club we were upgraded to an Executive Room with club lounge access, which we appreciated.    The lounge has a Happy Hour during the week, but serves only non-alcoholic drinks and hot beverages during the weekend. Unfortunately it wasn't regularly re-stocked, so when we wanted still water it was already gone on Sunday morning.

Our room was on the 4th floor.

It was large and held mostly in red, brown, white and black with some Asian touches. There was a chair and ottoman. It was comfortable, but didn't face the TV, a slight inconvenience. Even though the room was large, it felt a bit cramped.

The bed allowed for a great night's sleep.

The bathroom was inspired by the Burren.

The amenities were from Temple Spa London, Gilchrist & Soames, a first for us. We liked these upscale products.

The bath tub and shower were separate. The water pressure was very good.

During our stay we also went to Touzai on the ground floor for dinner. There was a special offer available, which we used. We had one two course meal and one three course and a bottle of water for 50.15 Euro (ca. 62.65 USD). The cuisine is Asian (For example fish mouoli and chicken assado were our main courses.) and was good quality and delicious, but the portions were way too large.

The staff was attentive.

Afterwards we went to the bar for hot chocolate, because we received a voucher, which could be only used at the Cinnabar, for a free drink. The bar was extremely busy and under staffed. Our waitress was stressed out and for some reason thought we believed we were entitled to two free drinks. Having cleared we were aware of the voucher was only valid for one drink, she took our order. The hot chocolate was slightly too sweet for our flavor, but otherwise good.


Breakfast was the worst we had in a longer time. There was somebody at the front, but the person only asked for the room number and left us to our own devices. The restaurant was full; there were some uncleared tables and it wasn't obvious which ones were in use and which ones weren't.

The restaurant manager advised us a table would be available soon, so we had to wait, disturbing other guests on the way to and from the buffet.

Finally we received our table and from there it went okay. Again the quality of the breakfast buffet and how it had been treated by other diners, was a letdown.

After breakfast we went for a walk in the park opposite the hotel, it's called Santry Demesne. We do that always, when staying either at the Crowne Plaza or Holiday Inn Express, weather and time permitting.

Check out was done quickly and efficient.

Would we stay here again? Maybe if we need points or have a purpose driven stay before or after a flight.


©2014