The golden lion door knocker and the gentleman in the top hat will be your first clues that you are entering a gentle and refined hotel. From the moulding to the kind staff to the extensive art collection to the exquisite linens on the plush bed, you are in for a treat. Now, if you expect "modern perfection" please stay elsewhere. There is history in this building. The creaks and cracks are called character. Aka soul. And I wouldn't want it any other way. The icing on the cake is that the Merrion is part of the Leading Hotels of the World Collection. That seal is another indicator of excellence. Be sure to visit the Bar No. 23 and sit by the fire with a cocktail. And bring a swimsuit for a dip in the indoor pool, sauna and steam room. read more

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What an amazing place! I felt like royalty coming here. The staff was wonderful, our bartenders made delicious cocktails. When we checked in, we were in a hurry to make our dinner reservation. When we returned, my clothes were folded perfectly. Thank you so much for the hospitality. read more

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Unbelievable experience at a gorgeous hotel in a lovely part of Dublin. As you will see when you book, it is a pricy hotel. As you will read in all the reviews, it's worth every single euro. Every staff person will greet you and be affable and accommodating. The rooms are beautiful and comfortable -- had I not wanted to see Dublin, I would have been tempted to just stay in my room and in that delicious bed! But if I had done that, I wouldn't have had the distinct pleasure and honor of having breakfast each morning in the hotel restaurant, where Fiona greets, chats with and makes every single hotel guest feel welcome and like they are in their home away from home. I was there with a group and we met in the lovely bar for drinks before dinner at night -- great selections, beautiful atmosphere. The Merrion is a truly exquisite experience. If you have the means, I highly recommend staying here. Say hi to Fiona for me! read more

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Pros: Great location and walkable to most sites Excellent, top notch service Beautifully appointed rooms and lobby Multiple restaurants All employees are friendly and professional Cons: We asked about sticky toffee pudding and the concierge reserved us a table at a local restaurant. When we got there, we were told they don't have this on the menu :( Pro tip: It's on the pricier side, but well worth it! They even turn down your bed at night and give you slippers! read more

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The Merrion is one of my favourite dublin city wedding venues. The hotel is stunning, the rooms are elegant, and the gardens are such a peaceful escape right in the middle of the city. The staff are super welcoming and professional. It is a brilliant choice for couples planning a wedding in Dublin because it has that mix of classic style and warm hospitality that makes the whole day feel special. read more

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Writing review for my parents who stayed at the Merrion in October 23 on my dad's last international trip. My dad had dementia and spent time on that trip in a wheelchair and the team at the Merrion were angels to him and my mom. They were helpful and sincere and we are very grateful for their assistance and kindness. Because he was not very mobile they ate in the hotel restaurant for several meals and praised the food and service and raved about the dessert part of an afternoon tea and how they should have had a tray each! Thank you for your comfort and kindness. My Dad passed this month and we were looking at photos of him and once again remembered how special the Merrion is. Thank you read more

The Merrion Hotel - Dad with the lovely Merrion staff! - Hotels Near Me - Dublin, D

We stayed here for a night on our trip and OMG. It was the most luxurious hotel we've ever stayed at. Now, we're Hilton kinda people so I'm sure some people are used to this level of care, but to us, it was amazing. They are so detail oriented and helpful, and all amenities are literally right there. The bartender was fabulous and such a sweet character. They had chocolate and fruit in the room with unlimited water, they helped us get into a booked up Michelin restaurant same day, and even prepped the bed with bedside waters, slippers, and fluffed pillows while we were out. We were literally treated like a king and queen. It's a bit of a splurge but worth every penny!! read more

OUTSTANDING. If I could give this property stars to infinity, I would. This review is long, but please read it-it's worth it I pro use! I want to start by saying that I have stayed at many "5 star" properties and that I have taught Customer Service training courses for years; it is with that background that I state that the Merrion could teach all other hotels aspiring to give 5 Star service; they are simply THE Best. I traveled solo to Dublin from the US in Feb 2024 to celebrate a milestone birthday. I was unfamiliar with the property, it was a recommendation from American Express where I am a platinum member and I asked for a property on their superior category. They delivered. Having never traveled to Dublin prior, even though it was a last minute trip, I wanted to plan out what I could in advance. The hotel was wonderful in this regard; AmEx couldn't find me airport transport to the hotel at a reasonable price, so I called the hotel concierge who took my info and scheduled the trip, providing me back up instructions on what to do if I ran into any issues. A full service property, I was able to book spa, dinner and even my high tea (more on that later). From the moment I pulled up to their front door I was treated as if all the attention of the staff was focused on ensuring I felt welcomed and had every desire met. And they did. I was met promptly at the airport and was given a narrated drive to the hotel. Upon arrival my car door was opened and I was greeted with " Welcome Dr Nottingham! We've delighted that you're here!" I received the same greeting from the bell captain and at the front desk! You would think I was wearing a name badge -but I was not. They just were prepared to impress: and they did. The hotel is stunning: a wonderful mix of historic and modern and filled with art! The design is a square surrounding a beautiful garden courtyard. The rooms are spacious and well appropriated; I received an upgraded room, but had requested a garden view; one was not ready my first night, but they graciously moved me to an even larger, gorgeous mini suite the next day! At every turn service exceeded in this way: I had bought a small bouquet of flowers that didn't make the room shift-they responded by getting me a beautiful vases arrangement. I noted that I was celebrating a birthday when I made my reservation and I was greeted with "Happy Birthday" everywhere I went; I even received a gift bag of items from the spa and glasses of champagne at my meals. While all my service was extraordinary, I must relate one of the most impressive: I had booked a spa package that included high tea. I left the spa and rushed to change to arrive on-time only to find they had no booking for me! I was devastated and thinking "well the run of great service just took a hit". The maître de promised that they would get to the bottom of the issue and asked that I not worry (they were clearly booked with not a single available table) they would make it right! She ran off and 3 min later a table was brought out from no where and they began to set up this extra table not in a back corner, but in front of a window looking into the center courtyard! The maitre de then returned to inform me that she had solved the mystery; I was in the wrong place!! My reservation was in another resturant on-site!!! I was mortified!! She simply laughed, told me they wanted me to stay (whispered their High Tea was more fun), and seated me at the table they had created just for me-which included a cookie that read 'Happy Birthday'! This is soo long, but I promise I have many more examples of The Merrion's 'Customer's First' orientation and service! (How they made me feel safe as a solo traveler with their personalized greetings each day when I left the property, asking where I was going and wishing me a safe journey the recommendations to enhance my day) I'll (finally) end as they did: with how -as I rushed out at 5 am to catch my early morning flight home, I was handed a beautiful to-go box filled with my favorite breakfast and a hot tea so I would have my included breakfast, even on my last day! Dublin was beautiful, I filled my days with tours, shopping, the theater; but what made my stay extraordinary was the extraordinary service provided by the amazing staff at the wondrously amazing Merrion. If you read my other reviews you'll see I'm no flatterer -the Merrion earned EVERY BIT of the 5 stars I have awarded in this review. If you are planning a trip to Dublin, STAY NO WHERE ELSE BUT THE MERRION. I know I never will! read more

Wonderful service. Very thoughtful and lively rooms with fresh fruit and great chocolates Good breakfast buffet with fresh honey . Good exercise room read more

Lovely good , Great Service, Friendly staff ! Beautiful surroundings . Lovely place to spend an afternoon ! Recommended !!

Absolutely perfect from top to bottom. The Merrion Hotel's team is top notch--incredibly warm, kind, attentive, and knowledgeable. The room is gorgeously appointed. And the hotel is perfectly located within walking distance of Grafton Street, St Stephen's Green, and the National Gallery. I couldn't have chosen a more perfect hotel to kick off our Ireland Trip. We arrived very early in the morning, and The Merrion's team led us to the parlor where we had a little privacy to go through our suitcases and pull out what we needed for the day until the room was ready for check-in. While waiting, we explored Dublin and came back for a little rest in the courtyard. The room was small but extremely comfortable with everything you could possibly need. We enjoyed breakfast at the hotel on the second morning and it was incredibly tasty, generous, and elegant (as someone who tries to steer away from hotel breakfasts, this is one I would happily return to). Many thanks to the very kind team at The Merrion Hotel. They took such wonderful care of us and made us feel so very welcome. EDITED TO ADD: Don't snooze on the pool. It was so nice to be able to come down here for a quick swim on my second day. I was able to borrow goggles as I had left mine at home. I took a peek at the fitness center: super small but enough there to satisfy someone looking to get a traditional workout in before venturing out into the city. read more

Hotel stay was wonderful, this may be one of my favorite hotels. The staff was accommodating, the rooms comfortable, and the food wonderful. Good location, we saw must things by walking around the area. We used the car very little while staying here. We enjoyed the Afternoon Tea, which is a little different since the pastries are inspired from the art collection in the hotel. This was interesting and fun. read more

The Merrion Hotel - Art inspired pastries at Afternoon Tea - Hotels Near Me - Dublin, D

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The location is excellent, within walking distance to Grafton Street, tour buses, a Catholic church, pubs, restaurants, a park and shopping. The hotel has beautiful indoor and outdoor spaces, the staff was friendly and accommodating, the concierge was extremely helpful in answering all our questions and requests, and the food in the hotel restaurants was amazing! The room we stayed in was beautiful, with a great view of the courtyard. Evening turn down service was an excellent touch! read more

Can we live here? The Dublin people are lovely. The food is filling. If visiting Ireland and you want to stay at a top hotel that is unique and not cookie cutter like most hotels. Service was amazing and friendly. Highly recommend read more

Just stayed here for three nights. Place is awesome. Great location,great rooms great staff. Everyone was very helpful. Irish breakfast was great. concierge made great recommendations on places to eat. I couldn't recommend it more. read more

Hands down, this is the best afternoon tea experience I have ever had. The food and tea were amazing (please try the chai and puh er if you get the chance), and the service was even better. My husband and I felt so well taken care of. We will definitely return the next time we are in Dublin again. read more

The Merrion Hotel - Matcha mocktails - Hotels Near Me - Dublin, D

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The Merrion Hotel was a wonderfully luxurious hotel to stay at during our first two nights in Ireland. Prior to our 8am arrival we knew our rooms would most likely not be ready so we were dreading walking around the city after spending the night on an airplane. The Merrion was kind enough to offer us access to the hotel's spa so that we could shower before exploring Dublin. I cannot express how much this small gesture was appreciated! Once our room was available at 3pm we could not have been more pleased. Our rooms were gorgeous and stocked with plush bedding and towels, high-end bath toiletries, and comfortable bath robes. Everything was very crisp and clean, yet the room had a very welcoming feel. The lounge is open 24 hours for all hotel guests so if you are in the need of a cocktail or a snack at any hour the hotel is available at your beck and call. We had the pleasure of enjoying cocktails by the fire one evening and it was wonderful. The service is so friendly and attentive. All of the staff was so friendly during our stay and would always go out of their way to say hello or offer help. Besides the amazing rooms and service we also enjoyed the location of our hotel. The Merrion Hotel is a few minutes (walking) from Merrion Square Park, Stephen's Green, Trinity College and Grafton Street. The bars in Temple Bar were about 10 minutes away and St. Patrick's and Christ Church were a 15 minute walk. The only time we took a taxi was to go to The Guinness Storehouse. Would definitely book a room at The Merrion Hotel in Dublin again! read more

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Everything has been beautiful. Service standards are high. Centrally located. Live music in the cellar bar. Lots of little 'snugs' ... looking forward to trying the food! I think very important for a hotel- the rooms are large, beds very comfortable and well decorated. read more

The Merrion Hotel - Beautiful grounds - Hotels Near Me - Dublin, D

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Stayed here for a week on a business trip to Dublin. Located in a great area of Dublin, everything is a short walk away. Directly across from the Department of the Taoiseach (High Government Building) on Merrion Street. Service was impeccable throughout my stay. The room had all the necessary accoutrements one could need. Clean, well kept and maintained throughout. Turn down service each night. The staff is extremely helpful and polite. If you're not adventurous or just plain tired, the hotel offers several restaurant options. The hotel also offers a health club, pool and spa. The sitting rooms look awesome to catch up and enjoy afternoon tea. The wood fireplaces add to the ambience. The Merrion is the choice for visiting diplomats and politicians. One night during my stay, Angela Merkel was in town, along with her motorcade, a hovering helicopter and security detail. I was kindly escorted to my floor that night. read more

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It is rate to experience a hotel with such impeccable culture of service. Its more than the service, its that the staff made me, and our entire party, feel at home while there. read more

We stayed in a Garden Wing Superior King Room at the Merrion Hotel in Dublin and it was perfect for the time we were there. The room was beautiful, quiet, clean and was a nice size for two. The bed was very comfortable as well. The public rooms through the hotel and the garden area where you can just relax or have coffee, tea, etc., are very nice spaces and the service is excellent. We had breakfast in the Garden Room, cocktails in the Cellar Bar and dinner at Patrick Guilbaud. All of them were just great. We definitely had a 5 star experience and it would be our choice of lodging any time we are in Dublin. read more

An unforgettable stay! We had the most amazing time while visiting the Merrion hotel during our trip to Ireland. The hotel is absolutely beautiful and well maintained. Our room was spacious and very clean. My favorite part of our stay was the incredible staff. They catered to our every need. From the moment we walked in they made us feel right at home. They gave us some great recommendations to local shops and restaurants and helped us with anything we needed. We had breakfast at the Garden room restaurant and it was delicious. We didn't have reservations for afternoon tea but they were able to accommodate us and squeeze us in and I'm sure glad they did because it was amazing. We also had drinks at the bar 23 and the service was excellent. The bartenders were very friendly and made a wonderful drink called "the flip". If you stay there it is a must try! I can't say enough great things about this hotel. Thank you for the hospitality and wonderful stay! We will be back! read more

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Sometimes the oldies are the best... I'm all for a nice shiny new and modern hotel - but I also appreciate a well established, elegant and luxurious setting just as much! The 5 star Merrion hotel is one of, if not the most famous hotels in Dublin - and famous for all the right reasons. Four Georgian townhouses were restored to offer this beautiful hotel where many of the rich and famous stay on their visits to Dublin... and after an overnight stay, I can see why they chose it! After checking in, we had a wander through the opulent lounges where Afternoon Tea is served... the atmosphere is super relaxed and inviting - the perfect place to curl up with a book to pass some time in the afternoon. Doors from the lounge area lead out to a gorgeous, peaceful garden terrace area... it was a beautiful Summer day and ideal for a glass of wine in the heat. You are literally moments away from Grafton Street but yet it's so peaceful and relaxing here - it really feels like a different world! We had gone for a Bed and Brunch deal, €300 for a stay in a Garden Wing room with a 2 course Brunch the next day each.... it seemed a great deal and I was eager to see the room! While the Garden Wing may be their cheapest option room-wise, it definitely didn't disappoint. The soft earthy tones in the paint and furnishing along with an amazingly soft bed made this room super cosy and welcoming. While we didn't eat at either of the hotel's restaurants (we had dinner at the equally fancy Restaurant 41 around the corner!) we did drop into No. 23, their cocktail bar for a pre-dinner drink... it would have been rude not to :-) Returning to the hotel later that evening the garden was so pretty lit up with fairy lights on the trees! I did a separate review for the Brunch under the Celler Bar at the Merrion on Yelp too if you want to check it out :-) read more

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Top notch! Delicious and delightful :) Had a relaxing few hours sitting in front of a lovely fireplace with yummy scones and beautiful pastry. Many thanks to Bruna and the team for making our visit memorable! read more

The Merrion Hotel - Merrion Tea Dublin Ireland - Hotels Near Me - Dublin, D

Wow!!! What a gorgeous and glamorous hotel. I felt like I was in a Bond film during my stay between the Russian front desk people, the harpist playing in the salon, huge fireplaces ablaze on a rainy evening in March...from the street it looks like a block of row houses until you notice the little square plaques revealing it is indeed, The Merrion. There is no request too small and the staff bends over backward. Over night valet for the car was € 20. Much more affordable than regular off street parking which is insanely expensive in this neighborhood. Oscar Wilde home at the end of the block. read more

Afternoon Tea I was dragged along for afternoon tea with my wallet in hand. 50 euro pp for the champagne art tea. There was no shortage of sandwiches cakes pastries and the tea was endless. The tea selection is great and you can swap and try something else. The scones imo were not up to scratch but the others made up for this. The final course was excellent with a wonderful macaroon and each based on an art work in the hotel. Not a big cake / sweet person but this is worth a try. Staff v friendly and the dining area equally as enjoyable. read more

The Merrion Hotel - Final deserts themed to the art within the hotel - Hotels Near Me - Dublin, D

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What an amazing art collection!! If you're on your way to the National Art Gallery, pop in here on the way for a look at the private collection. The Merrion Hotel is truly a luxurious experience. I even saw Bono here so it must be good! The lounge area is just gorgeous, soft couches by the fireside and an afternoon tea that serves loose tea (and the waiter keeps topping up your tea). It's too much! I had a sneak peak at one of the rooms once and I was a little disappointed, they're kind of old fashioned. But then, that's the feel of the Merrion. Old school luxury. It's super nice. Go in for an expensive cup of tea or a fancy drink in the evening. read more

The Merrion Hotel - Courtesy of merrionhotel.com - Hotels Near Me - Dublin, D

Lovely hotel with artwork on the walls, amazing service, and afternoon tea. We spent a fantastic long weekend at the Merrion Hotel. The hotel embodies an "old school" style of hotel service, with loaner umbrellas handed to you as you walk out the door on rainy days, turn-down service including fresh slippers next to your bed, and attention to every detail that we requested. Given the artwork featured throughout the hotel and the beautiful afternoon tea, we viewed the hotel as a tourist destination of its own rather than just a place to sleep at night. In short, the Merrion had some of the best service we've ever experienced at a hotel. The lobby and the nearby bar have a "Victorian" period feel with fireplaces, artwork on the walls, and couches for tea or a light breakfast. The basement "Cellar" restaurant has a "hip" medieval feel. There's an outdoor sculpture garden in the middle between the new and old wings, and the new wing has a more modern feel. There's artwork everywhere, and the concierge has a book that guests can use to play "hide and seek" with the art located throughout the hotel. The pool is pretty, and made to look like a Roman bathhouse. It's not the best pool and health club I've ever experienced in a hotel worldwide (my current favorite is Four Seasons Los Angeles), but it's a good pool. There are at least two (possibly three) restaurants on the premises, and the staff was extremely accommodating to every request. They ensured that the afternoon tea was entirely vegetarian for us, and allowed us to pre-pay for breakfast in the Cellar a day in advance (so that upon check-in, our waiter knew that we wouldn't receive a bill afterwards and could just leave whenever we were done). Although the restaurants and bar close around 11 pm or so, hotel guests can still order snacks and drinks afterwards in the tea lounge - I used this to taste a flight of Irish whiskeys. The afternoon tea was a lot of fun. Note that this is not a 30 minute rush - guests should leave at least 2 hours for a relaxed afternoon tea. The first course is savory tea sandwiches, the second course is sweet scones, cakes (some with marzipan frosting), etc., and the "dessert" course is three tea pastries made to resemble artwork in the hotel. Service was great. The sandwiches and cakes were yummy as far as tea sandwiches go, although I won't say that they were foodie heaven. (The enjoyment is more about the presentation, experience, and relaxation over tea, rather than a 5-star quality meal.) Overall, we're happy that we did this at the hotel, although it isn't something we would do more than once in a trip. Breakfast at the Cellar was very good, but extremely expensive. Worth it, if it's included in the hotel package, otherwise just go once during your stay. The cheeses, jams, and yogurts tasted incredible - very different from what we were used to back at home. Dinner here was also good. read more

The Merrion Hotel - "Art tea" at afternoon tea. - Hotels Near Me - Dublin, D

Great hotel with friendly staff. The Merrion Hotel is centrally locates in Dublin. Rooms are nice, and the full Irish breakfast is delightful. Come stay here. read more

This is a review about the Afternoon Tea in the Hotel's Drawing Rooms. I've never stayed in the hotel nor used the spa, bar or restaurant, so I solely give 5 stars for the Afternoon Tea here which I recommend every tea lover in the world. Even though this is Michael Collin's country, I have to admit that I am a big fan of British culture. Well some aspects of it. I admire their passion for old and custom-built cars, their creativity when it comes to turning Indian food into a Glasgow Tikka Masala (with Lager), their psychotic fascination for German history - but above all I like their take on the tea culture. I've been to Brown's Hotel in London (where Agatha Christie regularly had her tea) and was blown away. I had a Champagne Afternoon Tea in Kensington Gardens (and honestly thought that the best part there were the squirrels). But those (genuine British) experiences are all overshadowed by what I experienced here in Dublin, in the Drawing Rooms of "The Merrion". First, there's this Gentleman at the entrance. I have a theory that his first duty is to make sure that Brian Cowen and the rest of the bandits can't get in (they pretend to work on the other side of the road). Then there is this luxurious entrance section, and a friendly smile on all the faces even though I had long hair and wore a T-Shirt (!). The Drawing Rooms are so cosy, you sink into the carpets. There was a live harp player in one room, and the turfy open fires created a nostalgic and warm atmosphere. The service was fabulous - first, you choose your tea (and you have quite a choice!), which you should choose carefully because that will be the tea you gonna be drinking for the rest of the experience (well I guess you can change but we never bothered). Oh, and you should bring time. 3 hours are easily spend here, sipping tea and eating your way through the selection. First, there's the usual High Tea stuff: scones, clotted cream and jam; sandwiches and some other sweet amuse-gueles. The staff takes the time to talk you through everything you will eat...and if you think after 3 rounds of tea and a full belly that this was it, you'll be wrong. Because this is no ordinary Afternoon Tea, this is The Merrion's "Art Tea". Which means that after the main part, as a special treat, you will get a selection of 3 patisserie - works, which are based on pictures the hotel suites are decorated with. Here, real Art inspires baked art, and a small pamphlet will guide you through the hotel's art pieces as well as explain how the pastries you are eating reflect the picture. What a fabulous idea! I hear that they change the art theme every week, and quite honestly I can't wait to get back. I suppose only royal families enjoy a better tea experience, and even that I am inclined to doubt. An afternoon tea at the Merrion's drawing rooms is the ideal present for someone special... and being around 50 Euros per person it isn't cheap, but the experience is real and authentic (there's a lovely little garden / backyard for the walking pauses you will need), which makes the whole thing unique and totally worth it. read more

Stayed in three 5 star hotels;Lyon, London and Dublin. Merrion, by far, the best of them. Best housekeeping ever, great room on garden. Finally, a value at a 5 star hotel. Ireland is a place with contented, open and friendly people. As different from France as one can get. Now if they had good food thay would rule the tourist business. Still, worht a trip and a stay. read more

Absolutely amazing afternoon tea! Max up on delicious cake whilst sipping on a good, never ending, cup of tea in an absolutely gorgeous scenery. Staff is very pleasant and courteous (I even suspect they are conditioned to answer "you're welcome" at every "thank you" you address them! Loved it! read more

The Merrion Hotel - Hotels Near Me - Dublin, D

Had my first ever afternoon tea there. Shared the 39e sweet and savoury afternoon tea. Everything was tasty with the highlight being the lemon curd and the scones. The afternoon tea ended with 3 different biscuits representing paintings - the details were breathtaking. The staff was lovely. Only drawback was the price to her more tea. read more

The Merrion Hotel - Sweet part - Hotels Near Me - Dublin, D

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I had heard about their afternoon tea so I decided to take my mother here as it was a special for her birthday. Okay the staff are nice and nearly friendly. I did wonder about the concierge welcoming me back as I had never been here before but then I do have a face like another person in Dublin or Dalkey apparently. The afternoon tea was presented nicely enough but the 'art' cakes all tasted the same but they did look pretty. I have wondered about this not just here but in other places where I have found deserts to be disappointing and I have no idea why unless the cook has no idea when it comes to the sweet stuff? Very expensive for what you get and I have been to better places with a better afternoon tea. Next! read more

For a five star, best in the city (supposedly) hotel, I was greatly disappointed. The service is supposedly very good, which it is for the most part but then a few people manage to drop the ball. You are better at the Four Seasons for service (although their furnishings are a bit dated and shabby-ish). - I was placed in a room where I could hear the person blow drying, talking and even see the light when they are in the bathroom or not. I was on business with little sleep and was disturbed for 30 min listening to someone blow drying. The concierge pretended to not know what it could be and said "someone is investigating" even after I told him what it was he downplayed it and said sorry. What on earth is that for five star service and room. The Four Seasons would never have that! - Room service. I called them to pick up the cart and they asked me to wheel it out. The wheels of the cart was rather tight so it was not easy doing this. Again, the Four Seasons would never ask you to push the cart out yourself. The steak I ordered had a slight gamey taste to it. A shame because the girl who served it to me was excellent. - What is with the hype? The politicians stay here only bc it is close to the govt building right across the street so let's not pretend they would stay here if it was say 1 mile from here. The Four Seasons is deemed to be a bit far out further. But at least you won't be awaken at midnight listening to someone drying her hair for 20 minutes and hearing her every move in the bathroom. You could actually do better, even though this place is reputed to be the best. read more

Afternoon tea at the Merrion Hotel, what more can I say? I booked this as a surprise for my wife, as it's something we have meant to do for ages. As Hugo Drax said to James Bond: "You have arrived at a propitious moment, considered to be your country's (England) one indisputable contribution to Western Civilization: Afternoon tea. May I press you to a cucumber sandwich?" This was everything we expected and more. The food is scrumptious (but for me, needs more sandwiches and less cakes), the surroundings are elegant, service is brilliant, there was one girl who seemed to be just looking after myself and my wife for over 2 hours! The art work twist on afternoon tea is very enjoyable and fun (don't forget to take the cards with you!). They also have a lovely courtyard garden with a novel sundial/statue of James Joyce. But note this is not a cheap afternoon out, might be good to share one between 2! read more

The Merrion is all class, all luxury, and all-world service. Every detail is thought out, from the front desk to the bar to the garden. The rooms are spacious and the service unmatched. The guest rooms aren't just spacious; they are cavernous with bathrooms you could live in for a month. Another fancy touch -- high tea in the tea room. Really cool. The key here is that they leverage local talent who know Dublin and Ireland generally. All-world service is not just "fancy" -- it is useful. I want to know from locals where the interesting pubs are, the restaurants that provide the local flavor, the sights that are not in the tour books. The Merrion's staff has the local information and is happy to share. Why not 5 star? One missing piece: the gym is brutal. You really can't call it a gym at all. It's more like a treadmill placed in the vicinity of a television, with some free weights. It's an odd mismatch -- an opulent, fancy hotel with a pathetic fitness area. read more

To celebrate 11 years of engagement my fiancé and I went for Afternoon Art Tea at the Merrion Hotel (Lr Merrion St, Dublin 2) at the end of November 2014.Afternoon Art Tea is served in the hotel's beautiful drawing room which has high ceilings, a fab chandelier and v squishy chairs :) The hotel has a massive private art collection which is the inspiration behind art tea. Course one Savouries include - chicken and pesto on sunflower bread, smoked salmon and horseradish cream on brown soda bread, cucumber and cream cheese on tomato bread, roast beef on white bread and egg mayo on rolls. Mini scones - fruit and plain served with clotted cream, lemon curd and raspberry jam Cakes - Battenburg, Lemon bread and Porter cake (You should be able to see the inspiration for the Battenburg and the desserts in the photos...) Dessert Green apple macaroon Vanilla biscuit with Orange curd Raspberry and Passionfruit tart You can choose as many different teas as you want from the tea menu! I'm afraid I was quite boring and just stuck with the one - The Merrion Tea blend. Fiancé tried the Darjeeling and The Irish Malt. Cost is €39 per person or €53 per person with a glass of bubbles! Definitely recommend you finish work early (maybe on a Friday?) and do this for a special occasion!! As fab as everything was I think the highlight for my fiancé was meeting the legend that is Gay Byrne in the bathroom... read more

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Afternoon Tea I have been here twice for afternoon tea and both trips have been delightful and delicious. It is always nice attending something that involves good and tea but do make sure you are dressed appropriately for here as I wore a skirt with no tights and most Middle Aged women looked at me as if I had four heads. My most recent trip to the Merrion was for my Mums birthday with my sister , aunt and Nana. We were greeted with warm and welcoming smiles from the staff which was lovley. We were seated and told about the tea and the menu. I ordered a gluten free cake and pastries and sandwiches and the staff were lovely about it. We began with the green tea which was delicious. Then I opted for a cappuccino which wasn't anything special- tasted like one from a regular coffee shop. The cakes pastries and sandwiches were to die for!! I was in heaven. If you do not finish your cakes etc you do get to bring them home which is great! Both experiences were so good , definitely something you should do if you have an interest in cakes pastries sandwiches and tea/coffee! read more

The Merrion Hotel - Hotels Near Me - Dublin, D

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After reading Hakim's review, I decided to try the Art Tea myself. The way the Merrion Hotel incorporated the art work into the afternoon tea ceremony was definitely special, and something that you cannot experience in other places. The hotel seems to have been converted from an old mansion, full of classic grandeur, but still feels rather homey. The service was very good, with the attentive waiting staff coming to check on me regularly for tea refills and/or other needs. I ordered the Merrion Blend, which turned out to be just the Irish Breakfast blend (at least the label said so). It's a full-bodied black tea with (at least to me) a very very subtle hint of bergamot aroma. It was a good neutral selection to go with the food. The food was only average. Like usual afternoon teas, I started off with the savory sandwiches. The cucumber sandwich on tomato bread tasted quite good, but the rest were only so-so. The chicken in the chicken pesto sandwich was a little bit on the dry side, and lacked seasoning; the Bridge roll in the egg salad sandwich was also a bit too thick and dry, and the egg salad itself lacked an extra kick (some ground pepper or cripy bacon bits or some finely chopped herbs can bring this to another level); the smoked salmon sandwich was a great concept, but the amount of salmon was not enough to stand up to the stronger flavors of the Irish soda bread and the cream. The breads and cakes continued the mediocrity. The lemon bread tasted the best since it was very lemony and moist. I added some more lemon curd on top for that extra-lemony taste. The scones were (again) a little bit dry (especially since I just had the flakey, fluffy scone from Bewley's not too long ago), but once I added the clotted cream and jam it was better. The Portercake was definitely different, and special to Ireland. Regrettably it was really dense and sticky, and reminds me of the not-so-much-loved Christmas fruitcake. The Battenberg cake was the worst. It was covered with fondant, and had waaaaayyyy too much food coloring in the cake. The cake body tasted a bit... gunky. Fortunately the "art pastries" came through. They were not only good to look at, but also tasted great. Today I had the paspberry & passionfruit tart, vanilla biscuit with orange curd, and lime sponge, orange chiboust & lemon jelly curd. The passionfruit flavor in the tart was amazing and combined really well with the raspberry. The vanilla biscuit was a little bit ordinary, but the decoration was really beautiful and clearly resembled the artwork that inspired it. The lemon jelly curd was also very delicious, The art tea was enjoyable because of the great service and the combination of works of art and pastry. I would suggest anyone interested in trying this out to simply skip the breads and cakes, and stick to the savory sandwiches and the art pastries. read more