Right in the heart of Georgian Dublin, opposite Government Buildings, this luxurious hotel comprises four meticulously restored Grade 1 listed townhouses built in the 1760s and, behind them, a contemporary garden wing overlooks formal landscaped gardens.
Luxurious public areas include two interconnecting drawing rooms with log fires and French windows (giving access to the gardens), which are immensely popular for business meetings or afternoon tea, and an attractive cocktail bar for evening time. During the spring and summer months, guests can enjoy the tranquillity of the Garden Terrace.
Discreet, thoughtful service is an outstanding feature of the hotel and staff, under the excellent direction of General Manager Peter MacCann, are exceptionally courteous and helpful. There's a pervading sense of comfort and warmth that's especially welcoming and appealing: every guest is made to feel like a VIP from the moment of arrival and, passing through the magnificent reception rooms, buzzing with chatter, tinkling china and crackling fires, a sense of immediate calm takes over. In a world of identikit hotels with bland service, The Merrion feels incredibly special.
Irish fabrics and antiques reflect the architecture and original interiors with rococo plasterwork ceilings and classically proportioned windows - and the hotel owns one of the most important private collections of 20th-century art.
Bedrooms in the Georgian townhouses are most prized, though each guest room and suites is beautifully furnished with the best of everything. All have sumptuous bathrooms (all with separate bath and shower) and all the extras expected in a hotel of this calibre, including broadband, cosy bathrobes, Nespresso machines and Asprey toiletries.The hotel's Tethra Spa, with its Romanesque styled pool and marble steam room is predictably luxurious, and offers a compact gym and extensive treatment menu using E'Spa products.
Dining options match standards elsewhere in the hotel: choose between the new Garden Room (see below) and Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud (see separate entry), which is also on site.
Breakfast is now served in the bright and modern Garden Room and is outstanding for its range, consistency and seamless service. One of the best breakfast experiences in any top Irish hotel, highlights include superb baked goods (freshly baked breakfast rolls and traditional Irish brown bread, as well as treats such as fresh fruit Danish, croissants, pain au chocolat and muffins); an impressive charcuterie board showcasing both Irish and international meats and artisan cheeses; a fine rendition of 'The Full Irish' including 'The Merrion Breakfast Sausage' and eggs cooked to your liking - and a comprehensive beverage list that includes the hotel's own house coffee, The Merrion Blend.
*The Merrion Hotel was our Hotel of the Year in 2008.
Conference/banqueting (60/96). Broadband wi/fi (free); garden; fitness room; spa; steam room; swimming pool; guides available for walking.
The Garden Room
A bright, fresh and modern addition to The Merrion, The Garden Room is a beautiful dining space that offers all day dining, from excellent breakfasts to an extensive dining menu that includes salads, snacks, pastries, desserts and Irish cheeses alongside more filling mains. Perfect for a mid-afternoon snack, work lunch, formal dinner or late night bite, the menu has been thoughtfully designed by Executive Head Chef, Ed Cooney who has always been at the hotel’s food helm.
Dishes like Liscannor crab sliders, native oysters in your preferred style, 28-day dry aged Irish rib eye, Caesar salad and crab linguini demonstrate a lighter, more contemporary style of food that’s perfect for this new space.
High backed marl grey banquettes and botanical print chairs make for handsome and comfortable seating in a room that enjoys considerable natural light. There’s a relaxed elegance to the space that translates well from morning to evening, and from casual to formal dining. Lunch in summer with the doors open is as memorable as a winter dinner looking out on the gardens twinkling beneath fairy lights.
True to form the staff are friendly, welcoming and expertly trained, with extensive knowledge of the food and drinks offering. A vast wine list includes an impressive amount of wines by the glass and an excellent range of bottles to suit all occasions.
The Cellar Bar
Much more than an ordinary bar, this atmospheric series of vaulted rooms is everything you could wish for in the bar of an outstanding hotel.
In an interesting reverse of the usual procedure, an exciting wine list offering a remarkable range of wines, sherries, champagnes and dessert wines by the glass or bottle is the inspiration for lunch and evening menus devised by the hotel's Executive Chef, Ed Cooney.
