A luxurious sister getaway to Dublin comes to life at The Shelbourne, where historic grandeur, spacious rooms, indulgent afternoon tea and an unbeatable St. Stephen’s Green location make it a five-star stay worth savoring.
- Five-star historic hotel in a prime St. Stephen’s Green location
- Spacious, quiet rooms with luxe amenities—great for girlfriends’ trips
- Standout dining, especially the Lord Mayor’s Lounge afternoon tea
A few months ago, I went to Dublin for the first time with my sister for a girlfriend getaway. We spent about half of our time in Ireland in Dublin and wanted to stay somewhere that was close to the center of the city and also luxurious and upscale. As I did my research, I came across The Shelbourne which is a five-star hotel and part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection. It’s located next to St. Stephen’s Green (a historic park and garden in Dublin’s city centre) known for its top-notch hospitality, customer service and rich history.
Editor’s Note: The writer was hosted.
Pros:
- Spacious and luxurious rooms ideal for large travel parties
- Convenient location in the heart of the city
- Numerous on-site restaurants and bars
Cons:
- Rooms can be far to get to, depending on location
SheBuysTravel Tip: Ask the front desk for bottles of water before you head out for the day. They have complimentary bottles of water for guests that you can take on your adventures or up to the room for the night.
Are you ready to explore more? Let us inspire you!
History of The Shelbourne
The Shelbourne, also known as ‘The Grand Dame of Dublin’ was founded in 1824 by Martin Burke whose goal was to create a lavish property in the city. It was the hotel of choice for many celebrities back in the day such as Charlie Chaplin, Paul Newman and Elizabeth Taylor to name a few and continues to be a landmark for locals and visitors alike when visiting Dublin.
Rooms at The Shelbourne
There are several different room types at The Shelbourne whether you’re looking for a smaller room or a large suite with multiple bedrooms — the property houses 265 guest rooms and 19 of them are suites.
I stayed in a Heritage Parkview room, which had an amazing view of St. Stephen’s Green. The room had a decent-sized entryway to get into the bedroom and it was equipped with two double beds, a sofa and lounge chairs. I was impressed with the room’s amenities, which included:
- A safe
- Wardrobe
- Coffee machine
- Mini refrigerator
- A desk
- Flat screen television
- Free WiFi
The beds were very comfortable and despite being so close to the busy street below I couldn’t hear anything from my room. The bathroom was very spacious and had a shower and a tub which was a nice touch. My sister and I didn’t feel crammed for space at all — we actually felt there was more than enough for both of us. There could have been two more people in our room and we still would have been comfortable.
Plus, I loved how housekeeping came multiple times throughout the day to make sure the room was tidy and in order — I’ve never had that happen before at any other hotel I’ve stayed at in the past.
Amenities at The Shelbourne
If you plan on spending a lot of time at the hotel on your girlfriend’s getaway, there’s so much to do in the property itself. Some amenities you’ll want to take advantage of during your stay include:
- The spa, equipped with seven treatment rooms and a relaxation lounge
- The Health Club — filled with state-of-the-art equipment and classes
- An 18-metre indoor pool
- Valet dry cleaning
- Barber shop
- Concierge desk
I wasn’t able to look inside of The Health Club due to safety policies implemented by the hotel, however, I did take a peek inside the relaxation lounge. For the few minutes I did sit back and relax, they were incredible. I was instantly at ease on the reclining chairs where I flipped through some magazines while I enjoyed some snacks and tea. I’d highly recommend it if you’re looking for a quiet place in the hotel to take a load off and kick your feet up.
Dining at The Shelbourne
The rooms aren’t the only impressive component of the hotel — there are also a handful of on-site dining options to experience when staying at The Shelbourne. Whether you’re in the mood for a posh afternoon tea or want a signature dining experience for dinner later in the evening, you’ll find what you’re looking for at the hotel. Here are a few of the options you’ll find on the property.
Lord Mayor’s Lounge
My favorite dining experience at The Shelbourne was the afternoon tea in the Lord Mayor’s Lounge. Here you’ll find sweets (chocolate cake, pistachio slice, banana mousse cake, caramel eclair and citrus macaroon) and savory finger sandwiches (oak smoked salmon, classic egg mayonnaise and cress, roast chicken and chive mayonnaise and feta and tomato) alongside a variety of herbal, green and black teas.
It was a great way to take in the beauty and splendor of the hotel while enjoying delicious bites and talking with my sister. As someone who does afternoon teas often, this was the best one I’ve ever done due to the quality of the food and the fact that we were offered seconds on sandwiches we particularly loved.
The Saddle Room
For a more upscale fine dining experience, you’ll want to head to The Saddle Room. On the menu, there are a plethora of options from slow-braised pork belly to smoked cheese ravioli. I had the ravioli and it was rich, creamy and delicious — definitely a great option for the cheese enthusiasts. For dessert, I ordered the warm chocolate fondant which was a gooey and rich lava cake which was a chocolate-lover’s dream. The service was a bit slow, however, I think that was intentional so you had time to converse and savor your meal.
1824 Bar
I don’t drink so I didn’t spend much time in this bar, but I wanted to take a peek inside since it’s reserved exclusively for hotel guests. It’s a small, quaint space to enjoy a drink while surrounded by murals from artist Paul Slater — one of England’s greatest artists whose work was commonly featured in British newspapers and winner of the Association of Illustrators ‘Illustrator of the Year’ in 1996.
The menu is filled with specialty crafted spirits, cocktails, wines and champagnes so you’re bound to find something you’ll enjoy as you take in the artwork and tall bookshelves.
Things to Do Near The Shelbourne
No girlfriend getaway is complete without a packed itinerary and luckily there is a lot to do near The Shelbourne whether you’re interested in going on a walk through St. Stephen’s Green or want to visit the Dublin Castle. Other popular activities include:
I used the GoCity pass during my trip and it was convenient to see everything I wanted while saving money.
My sister wanted to check out Temple Bar and listen to live music while we were in Dublin. The Temple Bar isn’t super close to The Shelbourne (approximately a 20-minute walk) from the hotel but it’s definitely doable and an ideal post-dinner activity if you’re feeling up to it.
SheBuysTravel Tip: Get your tickets to popular tourist attractions such as St. Patrick’s Cathedral and the Guinness Storehouse in advance to avoid long wait lines or possible sell-outs.
Getting to The Shelbourne
The Shelbourne is located directly next to St. Stephen’s Green in the center of Dublin, so popular tourist attractions are easily accessible. If you’re flying into Dublin Airport, it’s about a 35-minute drive without traffic. The fare can be pricey with Dublin’s Freenow rideshare service, ranging from €25-€40, depending on the time of day.
For a cheaper alternative, The Dublin bus has a stop near the hotel and only costs €2.60 per person.
Leave a Reply