A five-star hotel situated in the heart of Georgian Dublin, The Merrion is the ideal spot for those wanting to delve into the history and culture of the city centre.
On the doorstep of the hotel, fans of art and history will find the National Gallery, the National Museum of Ireland and The Little Museum of Dublin as well as a number of government buildings.
The city's famous shopping district, Grafton Street, is only a five minute walk away, and there are numerous restaurants and pubs to choose from alongside a refreshing patch of nature in St. Stephen's Green.
In terms of transport, the hotel is just a few minutes walk from St. Stephen's Green Luas Stop which provides an easy and inexpensive way to travel around the capital. For overseas visitors, Dublin Airport is only around 25 minutes away.
In terms of the hotel itself, thanks to staff member Marie's encyclopedic knowledge of all things Merrion, I discovered that Arthur Wellesley, the first Duke of Wellington and 25th British Prime Minister, was born at Mornington House where the hotel is now situated.
Former President of the United States Barack Obama and his wife Michelle are also among the well-known figures to have stayed the night.
Thankfully, as I soon discovered, you don't need to be a Duke or President to feel like a VIP during your stay at this welcoming establishment.
The stay
The Merrion offers guests the choice of staying in deluxe rooms or suites in either the main house or garden wing of the hotel.
For my visit, I stayed in a speciality suite, located on the second floor of the main house. This suite offers a breath-taking view overlooking government buildings and is undoubtedly one of the finest suites to be found anywhere in the country.
The door to the suite leads into a spacious sitting room which is home to a dining room table, a sofa and two armchairs, a minibar and a decorative Georgian marble fireplace.
Robert West's restored original rococo plasterwork is visually striking while the natural outside light coming in through the large windows brightens up the whole room.
The bathroom is elegantly designed with Italian carrera marble and contains two sinks, a separate bathtub and power shower, a bidet and Asprey toiletries.
The bedroom's king-sized bed is instantly comfortable and a Nespresso machine can also be found in the room.
Everything about the suite was of the highest calibre and it would compare well with anything found in other hotels around the world.
The meals
On the evening of my stay I had dinner in the hotel's Garden Room Restaurant. All-day dining is on offer here with each dish made using fresh, quality Irish ingredients.
All the staff working that evening, including my server Anna, were so welcoming and made me feel at home from the moment my jacket was taken before being shown to my table.
I ordered one of that day's specials which was polenta crusted monkfish with potato and leek purée, braised leeks and squid ink tuile. Each of the plate's components complemented each other perfectly to bring out all of the dish's delicious flavours.
Executive Chef Ed Cooney and all his team deserve high praise for the top quality food they offer up with some particular favourites of guests being grilled black sole with garlic baby spinach and lemon beurre noisette, roast Thornhill duck breast with maple baked apricot, Florence fennel and duck jus and dry aged, grass fed Irish fillet steak, with chips, onion rings, watercress and peppercorn sauce.
Located within The Merrion's surroundings is the world renowned Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud. This restaurant, which opened in 1981, was Dublin's first ever two-star Michelin restaurant and is Ireland's most award-winning restaurant. Here you will be treated to a dining experience like no other.
Other food and drink options are available at The Cellar Bar (located in the original 18th century wine vaults of the Main House) and No.23 (an intimate cocktail bar also offering a varied selection of champagne and wine).
The Merrion also offers a unique two-hour Art Afternoon Tea experience. This takes place in the hotel's Drawing Rooms on the ground floor and serves customers a luscious selection of treats to enjoy while they are browsing through The Merrion art collection catalogue.
I also have to mention the fabulous breakfast which was served the following morning in the Garden Room.
The Merrion's cooked Irish breakfast consisted of two Irish free range eggs (cooked any style), Tommy Doherty's black pudding and pork sausages, Irish bacon, grilled tomato, sautéed mushrooms and a potato scone. Also on offer were a wide range of fresh fruits, cereals, yogurt pots, fish, cheese, cold meats and freshly made breads and pastries.
The facilities
The Merrion Spa & Health Club, situated in the lower ground floor of the hotel, is an oasis of calm and serenity. The 18 metre infinity swimming pool, with its hand-painted mural backdrop, is one of the health club's best features and one of the most relaxing swimming pools I have been in.
There are six treatment rooms, a steam room, a sauna and a gym also located here, with a sense of tranquillity emanating throughout the whole area.
The spa offers an extensive range of facials, massages, body treatments, manicures, pedicures and beauty services. The Merrion also has a hair salon that offers a full array of services.
The verdict
Albeit expensive, a stay at The Merrion is one that you will remember forever. The staff provide a first-class service, while the food, art, architecture and facilities are of the highest standard.
The hotel is a perfect location for celebrating a special occasion as you'll no doubt be thinking about coming back as soon as you leave.
A huge thanks to Marie and to Fiachra for making me feel so welcome.
The details
I was invited to stay at the Merrion for purpose of review. An August overnight stay in the Merrion in the speciality suite costs €1,950. However, other rooms are available starting from €495.
For more staycation inspiration, check out this review of a rustic retreat in Wicklow and this chaotically fun trip to Galway.
- Written by Mark Casserly
