The InterContinental Dublin Hotel is situated on two acres in the affluent village of Ballsbridge. It is a lovely place to take up residence for a stay in Dublin, Ireland. You will find yourself within walking distance of a nearby neighborhood, allowing for a great experience of how Dubliners live while being a mere 12 minutes from the cool vibe of the Temple Bar District, Guinness Storehouse and the majestic Book of Kells.
The location may be fantastic, but does the hotel itself measure up?
The well-appointed room took my and Donna's breath away from the moment we stepped through the door. Keep in mind we typically stay at top-rated hotels and resorts. Such brands as Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurant and the Omni Hotels & Resorts. The room at the InterContinental Dublin wowed us with its elegance, instilling a feeling that it doesn't get any better than this.
Our king classic room is listed at 42 sq. meters or 474 sq. feet, but it felt bigger than that. Most rooms have a courtyard or garden terrace view. Our view faced a nearby neighborhood in the foreground and Dublin Bay in the background. Watching the cruise ships and tankers pass on the horizon was a delight.
One thing that hotel management might want to consider is not tying down the hand wash and body lotion to the bathroom vanity countertop like they were artifacts from the Dead Sea Scrolls.
As far as dining, the beautiful Garden Terrace, offering al fresco dining in the summer months, is situated just off the Lobby Lounge.
It was not warm enough during our June-July visit for the Garden Terrace to be open for dining. However, indoors, there are equally outstanding areas to eat.
We dined a few times in the Lobby Lounge. Once, for lunch, I chose the summer salad with chicken; it was a solid eight. For dinner, I enjoyed the salmon entree. It typically comes with risotto. I minused out the risotto and doubled the spinach. The vegetable medley side was perfect.
An outstanding afternoon tea is served in the Reading Room. I will highlight how perfectly made the scones were. Donna and I prefer them to lean towards muffin rather than biscuit, and that is exactly how the InterContinental Dublin scones are prepared.
The egg salad sandwich was Donna's favorite. I loved the fruit bread on one of the finger foods. All the finger foods and desserts were delicious. It is appreciated that they do not serve an overload of food.
We thoroughly enjoyed the Frankfurt, Germany-based Ronnefeldt tea. Apparently, so have many others, as Ronnefeldt recently celebrated its 200th anniversary. I did indeed have my afternoon tea service with an outstanding glass of champagne. Tea, champagne, finger sandwiches and desserts served in a luxurious setting is an unbeatable experience.
Can the food and service get any better anywhere else at the InterContinental Dublin? Yes, it can, for breakfast.
Each morning at Seasons Restaurant, we were greeted by three of the nicest restaurant personnel we have had the pleasure of meeting: Jackie, Andrei and Fabio. By the morning of our final stay, we were hugging goodbyes and exchanging Instagram accounts.
Oh, but the food. The buffet-style breakfast comes with the price of the room. The traditional English breakfast was available, as well as a second style of sausage that Donna said "tasted amazing,. I can attest that the yogurt-muesli mix was as thick as a pudding and is a fine choice. Seasons Restaurant provides an assortment of nuts and raisins one can use to top off the yogurt.
Many breads are available. The sourdough bread was a standout for Donna and me. The Irish soda bread was good. It could just be my taste buds; I didn't think it was great. I ate it once, didn't go back to it. The jams were terrific.
Donna loved the pancakes. They are a special order and a specialty. Her selection, the blueberry pancakes, was served with just a touch of confectionery sugar and the perfect amount of blueberries.
The Lobby Lounge, Reading Room and Seasons Restaurant all have an open, airy feel to them.
A note on the gym is required. The locker room is so nice it rivals what other hotels consider a beautifully adorned hotel room. Unfortunately, on morning number one, there were leaks necessitating towels be laid over roughly a third of the gym floor.
The indoor pool, spa and jacuzzi are located just off the gym.
The InterContinental Dublin is a former Four Seasons Hotel, becoming the InterContinental Dublin in January 2015. It has frequently been listed as a top stay by respected travel sources. In 2022, Travel + Leisure readers ranked it fifth best in Dublin, while U.S. News & World Report ranked it as fourth best in Dublin for the same year. Helping them achieve such praise is the pleasant, ever-ready-to-assist front desk personnel. Seemingly, there isn't a question they can't find the answer to.
The hotel is a 5-star gem brought to you by IHG Hotels & Resorts. We know great hotel living, the InterContinental Dublin is better than great.
Here are some links to help you further explore Dublin.
Guinness Storehouse Temple Bar District (Pubs, food, shopping)
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All photos courtesy ihg.com
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