Sparkling chandeliers, lavish floral displays, and large windows set the scene as you step through The Shelbourne’s revolving wooden doors. Dating back to 1824, this eternally elegant Grande Dame Hotel has been a cultural catalyst over the last 195 years, playing an integral role in Irish literary, political, and artistic traditions.
The Shelbourne’s heritage meets with modern-day luxury for a contemporary take on the past. With a timeless location overlooking St. Stephen’s Green, walk along the city’s most elegant streets and to Dublin’s famous landmarks which include Trinity College, Dáil Éireann, and the National Gallery which is filled with both Irish works and iconic European pieces. The largest five-star hotel in Dublin that has been recently renovated, to this day it confidently maintains its reputation as one of Ireland’s most iconic places to stay.
Hotel
The hotel is the embodiment of Irish luxury; however, its namesake is linked to British roots. Taken from the 2nd Earl of Shelburne (a British Prime Minister who once owned a house on the same site) since its inception back in 1824 when a local man had the vision to create the city’s most exclusive hotel for the most discerning guests – The Shelbourne has been a magnet for elite locals to meet and mingle with the city’s VIP guests.
A leader in Irish hospitality from its early days, The Shelbourne was the first hotel in Dublin to be lit by gaslight, whilst its private drawing rooms hosted real-life Bridgerton scenes for renowned families who visited the city hotel each season with their eligible daughters in tow. Considered a national treasure with a distinguished address, here is a hotel that proudly welcomes new and returning guests as part of the next chapter of its illustrious memoir.
Rooms and suites
Many of the 265 bedrooms and 19 suites have been named after the renowned guests that have contributed to the hotel’s storied past. The most famous is the Princess Grace Suite, which sits alongside those named after John F. Kennedy, Michael Collins and Eamon De Valera and of which showcases views across the Green. The go-to place to stay, from the drafting of the Irish Constitution in room 112 back in 1922, and visits during the golden age of Hollywood from John Wayne and Elizabeth Taylor, today it is the national rugby team’s hotel of choice when visiting the city.
Up on the sixth floor, with faraway views of the rolling Irish hills, was the Heritage Junior Suite I checked into for our elegant Irish weekend away. High ceilings, chandeliers and plush furnishings honour the property’s profound heritage with a sage green colour scheme that subtly nods back to Ireland’s legacy. Two sofas sat in the centre of the suite’s living room, and acted as the perfect spot for an early evening drink in our robes. Whilst next door two indulgent double beds allowed us to spread out, leading onto a monochrome marble bathroom, complete with both a rain shower and deep bath.
The Heritage One Bedroom Suites are associated with some of the hotel’s most notable guests over the last two centuries, whilst the Signature Suites have large sash windows with generous views over the green. The Princess Grace Suite is The Shelbourne’s most spectacular. Celebrating one of their most exceptional guests, this suite has elegant furnishings and a library of books that reflect Grace Kelly’s life. Complete with two bedrooms, this presidential suite features two marble bathrooms, a separate living room, and a dining room which can host up to eight people for a suitably private soirée.
In keeping with the heritage of the hotel are the collection of rooms. Each set with five-star details including digital LED flat-screen TVs, iPhone/iPad docking stations, alarm clocks, complimentary high-speed internet access, individual climate control and notably 300 thread count Egyptian cotton bed linens.
Categories include Heritage Parkview rooms which offer leafy views over the green, Heritage Premium rooms with an added touch of decadence, and the 25 square metre Deluxe King Guest Rooms. Meanwhile, there are the ‘Double Double’ Guest Rooms with (as the name hints) two double beds, the naturally lit Balcony Guest Rooms, and lastly the luxurious Queen Guest Rooms.
Food and drink
Irish culture is synonymous with its love for drinking. This is most certainly reflected at The Shelbourne with the generous collection of bars guests can choose from. Our personal favourite we visited for early evening cocktails was the 1824 Bar, situated on the first floor of the grand staircase. Echoing the hotel’s rich heritage, with open fireplaces and a library of ancient books, it has a refined sense of laid-back luxury stocked with high-end whiskeys, fine wines, and a handpicked list of cocktails unique to the bar.
The hotel’s main restaurant, The Saddle Room, is one of Dublin’s leading fine-dining offerings. A steak and seafood restaurant, the culinary team reinvent old Irish classics in modern ways using the finest local ingredients. We started with a plate of local oysters (available on request) foie gras on toasted brioche and crab served on a nori seaweed cracker.
Unveiled from shining silver cloches, main courses included a rich and tender cut of roast centre fillet of Charleville beef with a bourguignon jus, and a fresh white fillet of Atlantic cod, served delicately with violet artichoke and smoked oyster with a Laurent Perrier Champagne sauce. With a wine sommelier on hand, each dish was paired with recommended wines – with Champagne to welcome the oysters, moving onto white and red to complement our chosen main dishes.
Other bars include the hotel’s distinctive Horseshoe Bar, a meeting point over the years for politicians and journalists, sportsmen and film stars which has recently been resorted to its original design, and the Lord Mayor’s Lounge, (moments from the marble entrance hall) which blends comfort and glamour lit by extravagant chandeliers for an elegant afternoon tea. One of the most popular for many daytime visitors is No. 27 The Shelbourne Bar. With tall windows overlooking the green, and a series of specially commissioned artworks echoing the views outside on the walls, it is a place for style and sophisticated fun.
Spa and wellness
The Shelbourne’s Spa and Salon has seven treatment rooms. This is complemented by a steam room, sauna and 18-metre indoor swimming pool. Natural treatments include signature rituals and treatments for both men and women, from facials, purifying body wraps, intense body scrubs and intricate hand and foot care. Set around the swimming pool is also The Shelbourne’s large Health Club gym, which offers regular classes and PT sessions from the in-house team.
To do
The Shelbourne’s unparalleled heritage graced by the city’s most important guests over the last two centuries has been certified by its adored central location. Enjoying the most elegant and convenient location in the centre of the Irish capital, guests can leisurely stroll around the corner to the National Gallery which features works from Picasso, Pierre Bonnard and Monet, and also visit the famous Trinity College. Whilst just ten minutes towards the river are the countless bars and restaurants that line the streets of the famous Temple Bar region.
In a nutshell
Behind its smart red brick façade, The Shelbourne has accumulated almost two hundred years of history. A significant part of Dublin’s heritage, it was then, and remains today the city’s most poignant five-star hotel for the famous, distinguished, and sophisticated.
Factbox
Double rooms from €260 (£231) in low season; and from €380 (£340) in high. Breakfast excluded (€21/€29) Free Wi-Fi.
Address: 27 St Stephen’s Green, Dublin, Ireland
Phone: +353 1 663 4500
Website: theshelbourne.com
