e Shelbourne Hotel, Dublin

The Shelbourne Hotel, Dublin

BACKGROUND The hotel first opened in 1874 when Martin Burke, a Tipperary man, leased three townhouses and transformed them into a fashionable hotel. Since then, it has played host to U.S. President John F. Kennedy and actors Paul Newman, Elizabeth Taylor, and Clark Gable. Today it’s an Autograph Collection property, part of Marriott Bonvoy.

WHAT’S IT LIKE? The hotel screams historical architectural feats with hints of the Georgian period in the high ceilings and detailing. It’s quintessentially British in design, given its history, but truly Irish in spirit. The lobby features a magnificent, chequered floor, and in winter, an open log-fire roars with warmth and welcome.

LOCATION St. Stephens Green, an a luent area of Dublin, surrounded by historical buildings and a 30-minute ride from the airport. Grafton Street, Dublin’s shopping area, is a three-minute walk and most attractions and landmarks are less than a mile away, including The National Museum of Ireland, the Gaiety Theatre, the National Library, the National Gallery of Ireland, Temple, Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, and Abbey Theatre.

ROOMS The rooms are traditional, but homely and extremely

BEST FOR Business meets vacation

DON’T MISS Afternoon tea in The Lord Mayor’s Lounge

PRICE From $595 in May

CONTACT Tel +353-1-663-4500; theshelbourne.com

comfortable, and overlook St. Stephen’s Green or the city. I stayed in a Heritage Parkview Room (pictured) featuring a king bed and a marble bathroom with a deep bathtub and a separate shower. Every room has been individually decorated and thoughtfully furnished in keeping with the grand, historic heritage of the hotel. Modern conveniences include a digital LED flat-screen TV, iPhone/iPad docking station, alarm clock, complimentary high-speed internet access and individual climate control. For a great night’s sleep, the beds have a feather-top mattress and 300-thread-count Egyptian cotton linens.

FOOD AND DRINK The room service menu was good, o ering high-quality dishes such as a club sandwich, fish and chips, and the Shelbourne burger served with tru le fries. My order was delivered within 20 minutes. At The Saddle Room, dishes by Executive Head Chef Garry Hughes are inspired by the hotel’s history and made from local produce. They include saltbaked celeriac with Cashel blue cheese and hazelnut dressing and seared fillet of Castletownbere salmon, spinach, and lemonand-chive butter sauce. Don’t eat here without trying an Irish dessert – namely, a caramelised bread-and butter pudding. Chef Hughes has paired it with crème anglaise, pear purée and rum-and-raisin ice cream.

BUSINESS Meetings and events space is grand and elegant with an overwhelming sense of history. Private dining is available too. The Terrace, an indoor-outdoor space, is a great place to remote work.

LEISURE A health club with PTs on hand; a dance studio; an 18-metre indoor heated swimming pool with thermal suites; a spa and a salon.

VERDICT This place to stay in Dublin, The Shelbourne is luxurious and homely, and the sta are always on hand to help. It’s an urban sanctuary with historical grandeur where you experience heartfelt Irish hospitality. Allyson Portee

It’s quintessentially British in design, given its history, but truly Irish in spirit