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DUBLIN
Situated a stones throw away from the famous St. Stephen's Green - the inspiration behind the structuring of New York's Central Park - up the steps and through the grand oak doors is The Shelbourne Hotel. The grand opulence of The Shelbourne does not stop upon entry of the magnificent two-hundred year old establishment. There is a glamour in entering the hotel, which may be situated in the beautiful red-brick exterior, or the sleek Bar No. 27 situated next to the entrance. Yet it may also be down to the five-star service that is provided by their welcoming staff, who are available to account for your every need.
Overview
Situated amongst the classic Georgian Dublin townhouse exteriors, the Autograph Collection hotel comprises of 265 luxury rooms, two restaurants, three bars, and a beautiful intimate terrace situated in a courtyard on the mezzanine level of the hotel.
If you are lucky enough to book a front-facing accommodation, you will be met with the beautiful sweeping view of Dublin's heart, where the hubbub of city life meets the luxury of Dublin's finest hotels. An almost historical experience occurs as you gaze out of the big bay windows, and if you manage to catch a horse and carriage rolling past, you are transported back to Dublin's roots. If you are looking for prime location, The Shelbourne is within walking distance of the city's shopping district, Grafton Street. Encompassing luxury in all facets, The Shelbourne meets every expectation of luxury travel.
Heritage Premium King Room
My guest and I stayed in the Heritage Premium Room with a king-sized bed. Upon entry we were met with a gorgeous contrast of subtle grey and elegant turquoise interior. As a favourite colour of mine, I was delighted with the aesthetics of the room they provided, as a plush blue ottoman and pillows focalised the central colour palette of the other interior. There also featured a subtle nod to the hotels established history, with perfectly draped curtains and traditional lampshades. The modern merged with classic furniture created an excellent cohesion of old and new, which was further exhibited in the tones of the wood; the classic wooden bed frame met with the chic grey panelling behind made a stylish complementation. However, the eclectic mix does not stop there; the artwork within the room was comprised of beautiful water colours, with traditional landscapes and modern portraits of esteemed Irish celebrities.
The bathroom exuded luxury with floor and wall marble tiling, in a classy monochrome variation. Paired with this, the large vanity area provided every comfort needed using Elemis skincare. A small note to add, but a perfect touch, the complementation between the Elemis bottles and the bathroom's glassware was a beautifully refined addition to the room's interior, as was the rose-shaped tissue formation. Fully stocked with shower gel, conditioner, shampoo and body lotion, it was everything needed for a wind down following a day of exploring Dublin city centre.
Plush white robes and slippers with the embossed symbol of The Shelbourne provided the utmost comfort following a relax in the magnificent marble bath. It was everything and more needed from a hotel bathroom - all the essentials, with the added touch of luxury and comfort.
Images courtesy of Jennifer Chee
The Spa at The Shelbourne
Images courtesy of Jennifer Chee
Out of the doors and a few steps down the road from the hotel itself, is The Spa at The Shelbourne - a luxury spa and wellness centre. Guests gain access to the swimming pool, steam room and sauna, as well as the fitness centre located in the main building. The spa uses Elemis products for their treatments, which are offered to guests at a discounted price following their experience. Upon arrival, I was provided with a personalised care sheet, determining the focal points of my treatment and the pressure provided. I was then escorted in for my treatment, the 50-Minute Bespoke Back Massage.
Accompanied by my masseuse, Patricia, the ambience was immediately met as I entered the treatment room. Natural interiors and relaxing music set the mood for the entire afternoon. Following a personal consultation, my treatment was refined but not limited to the back and neck areas, a thoughtful and appreciated touch.
The treatment as a whole was invigoratingly intense - as per my option - as Patricia applied deep-tissue pressure to recharge fatigue in the muscles. Focusing on the back and neck areas, they received some much-needed TLC. The Elemis Muscles Active Body Oil was used across the entire massage, a muscle relaxing body oil comprised of sea fennel extract and rosemary essential oil. The herbaceous aroma of the rosemary paired perfectly with the fresh, citrusy sea fennel and enhanced the grounding experience. It is safe to say I left feeling renewed and revived.
Following my treatment, I was welcomed into the Relaxation Room. Upon entry, I was immediately immersed in the dappled sun shining through the floor-to-ceiling bay windows giving the room an almost glow alongside the glorious golden wallpaper. Looking onto St. Stephen's Green, it provided the perfect setting to continue serenity upon one of their plush chaise lounges. Sipping citrus and mint infused ice water, it provided the perfect rejuvenating end to the experience.
Breakfast at The Saddle Room
Images courtesy of Jennifer Chee
After rising early, we quickly got ready and made our way down to breakfast - which is served in The Saddle Room or, alternatively next door in the adjoining Bar No. 27, which displayed a cold buffet with yoghurt over ice, bakery goods and more. We were met with a decadent display of food to feast our eyes upon, essentially everything you could imagine in a breakfast buffet. The buffet-style food ranged from traditional cooked options, bakery items, Continental, fruit and even a salmon and lox station adorned with capers and sliced onions. We were then escorted to our seats - we sat in No. 27 - and provided with coffee and tea upon seating. Whilst à la carte dishes were available upon request at additional pricing, myself and my guest wasted no time in testing out the options available.
Both myself and my guest immediately found ourselves at the juice station. which provided an array of juices, from crisp, sweet apple juice, tart orange and a deliciously bitter grapefruit juice.
My guest opted for what could be described as a full Irish breakfast, including black and white pudding, a sunny-side up egg, sausage, bacon, hash brown, grilled mushroom and tomato, and the famous Irish Guinness bread - as well as the not so traditional pancake. The hearty Guinness bread made for the perfect pairing with an egg-celently runny yolk and smoky mushroom. The grilled bacon was a noteworthy addition for the subtly sweet pancake, combining sweet and salty in a classic American combination. Whilst creating an eclectic mixture of flavour combinations, my guest took advantage of the variety of choice and in doing so, created a thoroughly enjoyable meal courtesy of The Shelbourne.
I myself opted for a similar ensemble with less components comprised of black pudding, a sunny-side up egg, sausage and a hash brown. The crispy hash brown was perfectly fried and provided the ultimate dipping experience with that runny egg yolk. The rich and hearty black pudding was a fond reminder of Irish cuisine, along with a deliciously baked sausage to finish the ensemble.
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Address: 27 St Stephen's Green, Dublin, Ireland | Phone: +353 1 663 4500 | Website: marriott.com/en-us/hotels/dubdt-the-shelbourne-autograph-collection | Email: guestservices@theshelbourne.com | Instagram: @theshelbournedublin | Facebook: @theshelbournedublin
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