Amy Adejokun
Section editor
It is not hard to see why the Merrion Hotel has been awarded the Leading Hotel of the World label! It is installed in a superb set of interconnected Georgian houses in perfect condition, and offers guests a luxurious, stylish, and comfortable place to stay at the heart of the capital. With a spa and a swimming pool, it also boasts the only restaurant in Ireland with 2 Michelin stars.
The Merrion Hotel - © Carlos Rodrigues / EASYVOYAGE
The Merrion Hotel - © Carlos Rodrigues / EASYVOYAGE
The hotel occupies a row of Georgian houses on a very quiet street. It is opposite the large residence of the Prime Minister, in the heart of Dublin.
All in all, the hotel has 143 guest rooms, 110 of which are in the new wing. Half of the rooms have a balcony and are furnished with tall king or queen size beds (super king size in the suites) covered with fine bed linen. The rooms are also equipped with a large plasma screen television, mini bar, tea and coffee-making kit (on request), an electronic safe, individual air conditioning, and a telephone. The 33 guest rooms in the Georgian wing are all unique! You cannot help but admire the way all the Georgian features that have survived up to the present day are maintained as though they were articles in a museum. The ceilings are high, especially on the ground floor! As for the views, you can choose between the gardens and the most important buildings in the country. Every little detail is eye-catching: coloured walls, hand painted porcelain lamps, superb and highly comfortable sofas, mouldings, etc. The bathrooms are equipped with a bathtub and separate shower, a hair dryer, 'Merrion Hotel' hospitality products, etc.
The hotel opened in 1997 and its facade rises to 5 storeys, the last of which is taken up by the penthouse. Square forms are the common theme in the design of the building. The hotel conceals a large inner courtyard with a fine formal garden at the heart of the city. Everything is measured out between little bushes and ponds. A small section of this space is taken up by the lounge terrace, where tea, coffee, and afternoon tea can be enjoyed. Another part of it has been designed as a miniature green labyrinth. A fine glass corridor links the two wings of the hotel, giving you a view of the garden and the new wings of the establishment. The latter were built to coincide with the hotel's opening and are, needless to say, much less aesthetically pleasing than the Georgian parts of the building. After the Georgian entrance, a concierge service is available, followed by the reception, with its superb counter and checked flooring. The eye is then drawn towards the highly sophisticated settings of two softly coloured lounges. Light pours into these comfortable spaces through large attractive windows. The mouldings, roaring fireplaces, and a superb chandelier provide the final touches to these exceptional rooms. It doesn't get much better than taking afternoon tea here. At the far end of the hotel, businessmen can settle in at the bar, N°23, which takes its name from the Georgian house found at this address. The furniture is magnificent, consisting of various articles from all over Europe that were selected by a designer. Throughout the hotel, and even in the rooms, superb artwork by Irish artists (including Martin Mooney) adorns the walls. This is no coincidence, as the owner of the hotel has Ireland's largest private art collection, and it is just your luck that he chooses to share it with his guests. A stylish catalogue lists all the artwork on display. In the basement, the decor features Greek influences, in particular monochromatic bas-reliefs. It is here that the 18m long swimming pool is housed, bathed in soft light. Guests can either visit one of the two treatment rooms or request a massage in their own room. The gym is equipped with 10 'Cynex' exercise machines and a television.
The hotel's main restaurant, 'The Cellar Restaurant', is quite literally in the cellar. No natural light filters down into here, and the ambience is quite unique because the tables are set out beneath handsome low vaulted ceilings that date back to the time when the Duke of Wellington was born at this address. The lights are dotted high up on the columns. Diners are seated on beautiful high-backed chairs set out on the stone slab floor, and the cream colour scheme marries everything together into a well matched setting. The 3 meals of the day can be taken here. Why not try the ever-popular 'Merrion Fish and Chips'! The bar area is superb, with its leather armchairs nestling in the little alcoves, a long wood counter, and big fireplace. More than 80 different wines can be ordered by the glass. You can also enjoy your lunch and dinner in this captivating room.
Prepare to be impressed, as you are entering Ireland's best restaurant. The 'Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud' is the only establishment in the country to have been awarded 2 Michelin stars. After savouring an (innovative) cocktail in one of the lounges, diners are invited to take their seats in the main dining room. The exquisite cuisine here features local products and seafood in the classic style. The house speciality is pig's trotters. Wild crab is another delicacy on the menu. It is not a dish often seen on menus, partly due to the perilous fishing conditions and partly due to the scarcity of the creature. The dishes on the menu are changed every two and a half months.
The restaurant's wine cellar is overseen by two sommeliers, and about 70% of the 800 wines are from French producers. Almost all of the staff here are French.
The Georgian buildings now housing the hotel used to be government offices. The hotel has received many awards for the quality of its facilities and the services it offers. A Wifi connection is available throughout the hotel.
hammam, Turkish bath, beauty salon, spa, massage, wellness, keep fit, sauna
tennis, aerobics, beach volley, golf, fitness, sports, gym
The Conrad is a contemporary hotel just across the street from Dublin's National Concert Hall. It is ideal for its business clientele but will also please tourists with its quality service and because it is generally spacious and comfortable. A particular emphasis is paid to service, which is much appreciated.
The Burlington stands in a quiet residential area on the outskirts of Dublin and is one of the few hotels of its size in the city, with no fewer than 500 comfortable rooms. It also has a large conference room, ideal for business clientele.
This little hotel occupies a nice Georgian residence and belongs to the Manor House group. Ideally situated, it enjoys a central location but in quiet surroundings! The common areas are full of charm and in some cases boast a lovely Georgian style. Obviously, one would expect to find the same elegance in the rooms, but unfortunately this is not the case.
The Davenport hotel is housed in a former church which dates back to 1863 and enjoys a central location not far from Trinity College and St. Stephen's Green park. Needless to say, its façade is unique, and the fine interior decor is impeccable as the hotel was renovated at the end of 2008. Basically, this is a good place to stay for those who like to keep it simple!
Located on Temple Bar's busiest street, this very popular hotel is ideally situated for all revellers. It even boasts a favourite weekend clubbing haunt. Others are more likely to be put off by the noise.
This large, handsome and classic hotel is partly housed in the building of a former bank opposite Trinity College. Some wonderful traces of its past are still present in parts of the hotel, like the great hall where events are organised and the bar in the former strongroom, where guests can sip on award-winning cocktails. The delicious afternoon tea is another unmissable aspect of any stay in this highly comfortable establishment.
The Trinity Capital, bang in the city centre and opposite Trinity College, has a few surprises hidden up its sleeve. You can forget about any ideas of elegance and refined style; here, the decor is exuberant, elaborate, out of the ordinary, and full of contrasts. Although the communal spaces are full of curiosities, the rooms are quite the opposite!
Behind the big, tall bay windows of the luxurious and comfortable Fitzwilliam Hotel, a member of the "Preferred Hotels and Resorts" group boasting an ideal location in front of St. Stephen's Green, lies a very stylish and contemporary interior, replete with designer fittings. Apart from it's beautiful and cosy guest rooms, the real advantage of the establishment is its restaurant, which is run by Ireland's top chef from 2009.
Verdant countryside stretches for miles around. The Carton House's estate also stretches over two superb and very popular golf courses. This large Palladian house, Irish in style, blends old and modern features perfectly. The original building was actually the Duke of Leinster's summer residence, but now houses 18 magnificent suites.
Tucked away in a posh residential area in the south of Dublin, the Four Seasons lives up to the group's famous reputation for luxury. While there is not much to do in the surrounding area, the hotel itself has plenty to fill both guests' days and evenings, whether it be in the restaurant, one of the three bars, or the superb spa and swimming pool. Unless you're in Dublin on business, in which case note that the hotel has no fewer than six meeting rooms.
A DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, The Morrison was not built in honour of the famous rock singer Jim Morrison, but it does pay tribute to Irish musicians, bands and artists. Reopened in February 2013 after 10 weeks of refurbishment, The Morrison now boasts a designer interior - a rare choice of decor in this city where most hotels are decorated in a more classic style. Add to this the delicious restaurant and the art gallery, and The Morrison is unquestionably a safe bet in Dublin.
Behind the big, tall bay windows of the luxurious and comfortable Fitzwilliam Hotel, a member of the "Preferred Hotels and Resorts" group boasting an ideal location in front of St. Stephen's Green, lies a very stylish and contemporary interior, replete with designer fittings. Apart from it's beautiful and cosy guest rooms, the real advantage of the establishment is its restaurant, which is run by Ireland's top chef from 2009.
This "Small Luxury of the World" is a charming hotel, very well located in a calmer area at the heart of the city. The rooms are romantic and very comfortable, the welcome is friendly, the food is delicious, the concierge is keen to please and the whisky bar is classy. All of this makes for a very popular establishment.
The beautiful 5-star Dylan Hotel was not built in honour of the famous rock star. No, the Dylan simply chose to take up residence in the street of the same name. Now a small hotel with 44 guest rooms, the Dylan was first a hospital, then a hotel, before becoming the Dylan Hotel. It has been welcoming guests into its entirely unique, modern and elegant interior since 2007. Far from being a chain hotel, the Dylan has a bar, restaurant and lounge, but unfortunately no well-being centre.
The Clarion, opened in 2001, is a pleasant modern hotel without much character. It is ideal for fans of hotel chains or, more generally, those looking for a good well-being centre! Apart from the massage rooms, sauna and hammam, the hotel also has a lovely large swimming pool, which is quite rare for the Irish capital. Neither too big nor too small, the Clarion Hotel enjoys a privileged location at the heart of the city centre, on the banks of the River Liffey.
The Radisson Blu Royal Hotel opened its doors in the Irish capital in 2007, a stone's throw from Dublin Castle and the shopping haven, Grafton Street. With its architecture and contemporary decor, however, this 4-star luxury hotel looks like it was opened just this year. Although the Radisson is designed for both business travellers and tourists, there do seem to be more businessmen. Indeed, the hotel has 17 meeting rooms but no relaxation facilities.