Long time readers probably know about my love-affair with Dublin, so it’ll come as no surprise that I went back recently with my cousins. Considering I spent three months in Dublin at the beginning of the year, I’ve stayed in countless hotels in the city – many of which I’ve reviewed here. This time, we decided to book a two-night stay somewhere different; at the InterContinental Dublin.
On arrival, we were greeted with a warm, friendly welcome in true Irish style. On first impressions, it doesn’t get much more luxurious than this to be honest!
The lobby is incredibly grand; with polished floors, plush rugs, deep grey marbled walls, twinkling chandeliers and a lavish, bold fresh floral display in the centre.
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We had an early flight and so our room wasn’t ready on arrival, which was understandable. Instead, we headed to the public bathroom to freshen up and the decor in here blew us away. It was serious #bathroomgoals!
There’s a large mirror and dressing table area on one side, glossy marble sinks and cubicles that are large enough to comfortably get changed in. As I’m sure you can imagine, we spent far too long in here getting ready!
We stored our luggage at the hotel and jumped in an uber to head into the city for breakfast and a wander.
A few hours later, we got a call to say our rooms were ready. We’d been upgraded to executive rooms each as there was a slight mix-up with our booking on arrival. We even managed to bag interconnecting rooms which was brilliant!
As we unlocked the first door and stepped inside, our jaws dropped..
Not only was this the most spacious room I’ve ever seen in Dublin, it was by far the most elegant too.
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An opulent theme of cream and taupe ran through the room, with pops of muted teal.
There were two queen beds in my room and the bed linen looked so crisp, plump, clean and inviting. I was so tempted to dive right in, given our wake-up call at 3am for the flight!
We had all the mod cons you’d expect; a Nespresso machine, kettle, ice bucket, mineral water, robes, slippers, turndown service, air-conditioning and room service.
We were also greeted with a large platter of fruit in each room too.
I should point out that the room service menu was awful. Not only was the food extortionate (€6 for a small side of fries), but vegan/vegetarian options were extremely limited.
We’d gone out for drinks one evening and came back to the hotel quite late, and hungry. The only vegetarian option on the night menu was a blueberry and spinach salad for €18 – not exactly the type of food you want after a few drinks! Luckily we found a pizza place on deliveroo that was open past midnight and able to deliver to the hotel! We got some unsavoury looks from the night staff when we went down to collect our takeaway – but I mean, it’s not like we had any other alternative!
Each room had a Juliet balcony which looked over courtyard and other rooms in the hotel. I’m sure there were rooms with better views available, but this didn’t bother us.
The courtyard itself has multiple seating areas, a dining area and a fountain. In the sun, it’s a beautiful, tranquil little spot to relax in.
We all gasped when we saw the bathrooms – they are the height of luxury!
Well lit, a large open space, decked out in glossy Italian marble, a bath and a proper shower sporting L’Occitane toiletries – what more could you ask for? The toilet was in a separate room within the bathroom, which is a thoughtful touch for couples sharing a room.
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While the Intercontinental is beautiful and set in a quiet location, the location itself was a let-down for us. The city centre is a 10-15 minute taxi ride away (traffic dependant) and the nearest railway station; Sandymount is a 10-minute walk away.
If you’re only visiting Dublin for a couple of nights, like we were, time is of the essence so we didn’t want to waste time travelling into the city and back. Needless to say, it’s costly too if you’re getting taxis back and forth.
This hotel is perfect if you’re looking for impeccable five-star luxury in spacious surroundings, and away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
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The spa features a large pool and hot tub, that we made full use of. It was a lovely treat that you wouldn’t usually expect from a city break in Dublin. There is also a gym and relaxation area with herbal tea, fruit and newspapers on offer; plus treatment rooms, a sauna and steam room.
However, due to the location of the hotel and lack of food available both within the restaurant and in the area, I’m not sure I’d stay here again. The Morrison continues to be my favourite place to stay (review, here and here). While it’s a four star hotel, I found the service there was just a cut above the rest. Nothing beats a friendly, personal touch over formal, impersonal service.
The Intercontinental Dublin is however the perfect choice for couples in need of a little pampering for a weekend away.
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