The Shelbourne, Autograph Assortment overview

For those who ask anybody in Dublin what the most effective lodge within the metropolis is, you may possible hear The Shelbourne’s identify. The lodge, greater than 200 years outdated, has a legacy with each locals and vacationers, boasting a grand entrance, a see-and-be-seen bar, a preferred afternoon tea service and, after all, lovely rooms. To not point out it is throughout the road from St. Stephen’s Inexperienced and has been the placement of many foundational occasions in Eire’s historical past.

However what’s it actually like to remain at this historic lodge? Let’s take a better have a look at what else it is advisable learn about The Shelbourne — and methods to keep utilizing your hard-earned factors.

Associated: Probably the most thrilling lodge openings of 2025

What’s The Shelbourne, Autograph Assortment?

One in every of Dublin’s crown jewel institutions, The Shelbourne, Autograph Assortment is situated throughout the road from St. Stephen’s Inexperienced and some brief blocks from a number of main points of interest, together with Grafton Road, Trinity Faculty Dublin and The Nationwide Gallery of Eire.

The 200-year-old lodge joined Marriott’s Autograph Assortment again in 2019, opening it as much as the world of factors vacationers. Nice for all visitors, from households to {couples} and even enterprise vacationers, The Shelbourne has practically every little thing you could possibly probably need from a landmark lodge.

Associated: An summary of the 35 Marriott lodge manufacturers

How you can e book The Shelbourne, Autograph Assortment

Since The Shelbourne is an Autograph Assortment lodge, one of the best ways to e book is direct by Marriott Bonvoy to leverage factors incomes and any elite standing perks. Rooms begin at 332 euros ($347) or 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors per evening for a smaller visitor room however can vary as much as 905 euros ($950) or 92,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors per evening throughout peak durations.

You too can e book The Shelbourne by American Specific Wonderful Resorts + Resorts when you’ve got The Platinum Card® from American Specific, which supplies perks like potential room upgrades, early check-in, late checkout and credit to make use of on the property.

When reserving The Shelbourne, Autograph Assortment you may need to use one of many bank cards that earn probably the most factors for Marriott stays, in addition to one which probably presents computerized Marriott Bonvoy elite standing for value-added advantages. These embody:

• Marriott Bonvoy Sensible® American Specific® Card: Earn 6 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases at lodges taking part within the Marriott Bonvoy program; computerized Platinum Elite standing; and 25 elite evening credit per yr towards a better tier.
• Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Specific® Card: Earn 6 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases at lodges taking part within the Marriott Bonvoy program; computerized Gold Elite standing; and 15 elite evening credit per yr towards a better tier.
• Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card: Earn 6 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases at lodges taking part within the Marriott Bonvoy program; computerized Gold Elite standing; and 15 elite evening credit per yr towards a better tier.
• Marriott Bonvoy Enterprise® American Specific® Card: Earn 6 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases at lodges taking part within the Marriott Bonvoy program; computerized Gold Elite standing; and 15 elite evening credit per yr towards a better tier.
• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit score Card: Earn 6 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases at lodges taking part within the Marriott Bonvoy program; computerized Silver Elite standing; and 15 elite evening credit per yr towards a better tier.
• Marriott Bonvoy Daring® Credit score Card: Earn 3 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases at lodges taking part within the Marriott Bonvoy program; computerized Silver Elite standing; and 5 elite evening credit per yr towards a better tier.

The knowledge for the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.

The placement

Location is among the (many) attracts of The Shelbourne. If you wish to keep within the coronary heart of Dublin, that is your spot. St. Stephen’s Inexperienced is throughout the road, Trinity Faculty is just some blocks away and also you’re surrounded by well-known points of interest and museums, just like the Nationwide Gallery of Eire and the Nationwide Museum of Eire — Archeology. The outlets of Grafton Road are additionally a brief stroll away, and in the event you want to stray farther than the encompassing space, there are bus stops situated simply steps from the doorway to the lodge that may take you throughout the town.

For those who’re arriving from the prepare station, you possibly can take a 13-minute cab journey or stroll about 2 miles. For those who’re arriving from the airport, your finest wager is to take a 30-minute cab journey that can value round 30 euros ($32), or there are bus choices obtainable as properly.

The rooms are crammed with historic allure

There are 265 rooms and 12 totally different room sorts at The Shelbourne, starting from the Smaller Visitor Room with a queen mattress to the Princess Grace 2 Mattress Presidential Suite. For my keep, I checked right into a Signature Suite, which I shortly realized was about the identical dimension as my New York Metropolis condo — however way more luxurious.

From the crystal chandeliers to the regal earthy inexperienced furnishings and my favourite of all — the huge marble-covered lavatory with twin vanities, a glossy bathe and a soaking tub — I instantly felt like royalty.

First getting into the room, there was a brief hallway with a slender desk to set small belongings on which off-the-bat added a pleasant homey contact for the suite.

Persevering with into the room, the lounge space had two couches dealing with each other, with a fake hearth on one facet and a big media console on the opposite. The media console was topped with a mid-sized TV and a coffee-making station, and crammed with a well-stocked minifridge in addition to a full tea set inside.

The home windows regarded out over St. Stephen’s Inexperienced, and I appreciated that a lot of the art work additionally nodded to the well-known park.

On the far facet of the room was a small eating desk and two chairs, the place the lodge workers had left a candy welcome reward of Champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries for my keep.

Subsequent to the bed room door was an vintage desk giant sufficient for me to unfold out my issues and get some work executed, which I appreciated. The chair matched the regal model of the room however definitely wasn’t a chair through which you’d need to spend all day.

The bed room itself was pretty small and primary, with a king-size mattress, two facet tables and a big desk/self-importance with a TV above it. The room’s cream colour palette made it really feel heat and cozy, however not significantly memorable. The closet was giant sufficient to retailer my belongings and housed the basic comforts of a protected, robes, slippers and umbrellas, all of which got here in useful.

Probably the most glamorous a part of the suite was the toilet. The black and white marble design felt luxurious and I cherished the other twin vanities, together with a set of Elemis toiletries on every.

The bathe was spacious for metropolis lodge requirements, with two bathe heads, though you could possibly solely use one by one. The soaking tub was the focus of the toilet, and whereas it wasn’t a claw foot tub, I appreciated the glossy design and the jar of bathtub salts on the sting.

My solely hang-up was that whereas the bathroom was tucked away in its personal room, there was no door, so in the event you wished privateness whereas utilizing it, you needed to shut the big double doorways firstly of the toilet versus having the ability to shut a person door the way in which you could possibly with the bathe.

General, I appreciated how the room felt basic moderately than dated. The trendy touches saved it feeling elevated, whereas delicate nods to the historical past of the lodge, just like the tags on the umbrellas calling out well-known lodge visitor James Cagney, captured the nostalgic vitality of the lodge with out making it really feel dated.

You may need to attempt the on-site meals and drinks

When chatting with JP Kavanagh, The Shelbourne’s common supervisor, I used to be stunned at first to be taught that round 80% of the lodge’s meals and beverage gross sales come from locals. However after visiting every of the lodge’s choices, I used to be not stunned in any respect. Based on Kavanagh, The Shelbourne is “the place the Irish go to have fun,” whether or not that is a commencement, birthday or only a gathering of pals.

The Lord Mayor’s Lounge

If you wish to indulge within the finer issues, afternoon tea at The Lord Mayor’s Lounge is hard to beat. The environment within the eating room is match for royalty in one of the best ways, as is the tea choice. The basic afternoon tea begins at 75 euros (about $79) per individual, however in the event you actually need to go all out, improve to the Champagne afternoon tea from 98 euros (about $103) per individual.

No. 27 The Shelbourne Bar

The Shelbourne’s see-and-be-seen bar, No. 27 The Shelbourne Bar, is as fabulous as it’s welcoming. The decor is upscale but inviting, and the home windows out to the sidewalk make you are feeling such as you’re dwelling in a film. The bar additionally presents dinner service, and each the Shelbourne Burger (25 euros, about $27) and the Bram Stoker “Robber” Pie (25 euros, about $27) had been scrumptious.

The cocktail listing additionally has one thing pleasant for everybody, together with my private favourite, the Shelbourne Bramble (18 euros, about $19). For those who’re staying on a Friday evening, you should definitely catch the Champagne saber that occurs each Friday at 6:24 p.m., or 18:24 utilizing 24-hour time, which is the yr the lodge was based.

The Saddle Room

The Saddle Room serves a proper breakfast every morning completely for lodge visitors. It presents a basic buffet unfold in addition to an a la carte menu with breakfast signatures like eggs Benedict and French toast. The restaurant can also be open for lunch and dinner to each visitors and the general public, providing upscale classics.

The Horseshoe Bar

A historic whiskey establishment, The Horseshoe bar virtually feels extra like a speakeasy — although you needn’t sneak round to search out the doorway within the lodge foyer. The in depth whiskey listing shall be a simple draw for whiskey lovers, however there are many different cocktails to get pleasure from as properly — together with colourful patrons.

1824 Bar

Accessible solely to in a single day lodge visitors, the 1824 bar is unquestionably value stopping into for a predinner drink or a nightcap. The small bar is masterfully adorned and imbued with the historical past of The Shelbourne, together with a singular pair of murals on both facet of the bar painted by artist Paul Slater with characters from Irish fiction, movie and historical past, in addition to visitors from throughout the lodge’s first 200 years.

The Well being Membership is fashionable and glossy, that includes a pool

For those who want to break a sweat throughout your keep, you may have loads of alternatives to take action. Relying on the place your room is situated, the fitness center could be tough to search out, however the lodge workers had been very happy to indicate me the way in which throughout my keep.

Regardless of being a historic lodge, The Shelbourne’s Well being Membership was crammed with state-of-the-art gear that you simply’d anticipate finding in any well-stocked fitness center. The exercise space was slender in some areas, however nonetheless housed sufficient area to finish exercise actions. My favourite area was the studio, which had the historic allure of the remainder of the constructing, however loads of fashionable gear and area for the health lessons which are hosted each day (complimentary for visitors of the lodge).

For a lot of, the most effective half will possible be the 18-meter pool within the heart of the power, subsequent to the sauna and steam rooms. The vibe was that of a contemporary spa area, and I remorse not having extra time to chill out and revel in these facilities. It is value noting that these facilities are usually not open 24 hours; they’re solely accessible from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Friday and eight a.m. to eight p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

The Salon and The Spa

There may be additionally a salon and a spa on the property, providing practically each therapy one may consider. You may get a blow dry for 38 euros ($40), a Biotec Professional-Glow Facial for 160 euros ($168), a 60-minute Deep Tissue Muscle Therapeutic massage for 165 euros ($173) and way more. Simply be aware that costs at The Spa enhance by 10 euros in the event you e book a service on Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

Causes The Shelbourne, Autograph Assortment may not be for you 

Whereas The Shelbourne has an amazing location in Dublin Metropolis Centre and is crammed with historic allure, there could also be some components which are lacking for sure vacationers.

• The worth level of the lodge, whereas applicable for the expertise, is sort of excessive. For those who aren’t searching for an upscale expertise, there are different choices within the space at lower cost factors.
• Historic lodges have their quirks, so some vacationers may desire an alternate lodge with a contemporary design and ease of accessibility all through.
• For those who desire a quieter lodge with a foyer that has room to hang around or work, The Shelbourne’s restricted foyer area might show difficult.
• The Shelbourne shouldn’t be inside strolling distance to the Dublin Heuston prepare station or near the airport, though you may get to both pretty simply by way of a cab journey.

Accessibility

Whereas The Shelbourne is greater than 200 years outdated, it has made updates with a view to stay accessible. The lodge solely presents one accessible room kind, a King Visitor Room, however all on-site eating places and assembly rooms are accessible. The on-site health heart, enterprise heart, spa and pool all apparently have accessible entrances, though I didn’t see a elevate throughout my go to to the pool, so visitors with accessibility wants might need to name the lodge forward of reserving a reservation.

The lodge does have elevators that permit visitors to entry each ground with out utilizing stairs, however a number of the hallways and elevators are fairly slender and there are doorways with giant boards to step over upon entry. The structure of the lodge is not the best to navigate both, so in the event you’re searching for a lodge that’s straightforward to navigate with probably the most up-to-date accessibility, it’s possible you’ll need to keep elsewhere.

Trying out

My keep at The Shelbourne left me feeling like royalty, from the historic but beautiful inside design in each frequent area and room to the delectable afternoon tea I had in The Lord Mayor’s Lounge. I am sometimes the kind of traveler to discover a brand new place each time I make a journey, however I would be mendacity if I mentioned I hadn’t been daydreaming about reserving one other journey to The Shelbourne because the second I checked out.

Associated studying