Hotel review: This Dublin five-star is nearly the total package — but falls short where it matters

Built in 2001, and rebranded as an InterContinental in 2015, the large Merrion Road property has great public transport links and shows off this handsome part of Dublin city to tourists.

9/10

Style and design

The imposing façade — a towering Georgian and Victorian pastiche — gives away little of the elegant style inside. 

The Celtic Tiger bling is long gone, replaced instead by a sophisticated and glamorous palette that is calm and relaxing. 

Wonderful Irish artworks, dramatic flowers illuminated by a sparkling chandelier, huge windows overlooking a lush terrace and the cool and clubby Whiskey Bar set the tone and feel classy. 

The Lobby Lounge is a comfortable and buzzy room that doubles up as the restaurant at night.

8.5/10

Service

The InterContinental does check-in very well, from the chirpy doorman to the welcoming receptionists. A trip to the spa is equally lovely with attentive staff and a really enjoyable facial. 

Things fall apart at dinner where service swings between friendly, forgetful, and careless. The bottled water we order is deposited on our table unopened and unpoured.

Mains take forever to come, leaving us with nothing to drink and no-one around to order more from. 

Dessert is rudely plonked on our table. Breakfast next morning sees us seated with no instructions or menus, just the promise of hot drinks.

Eventually requesting menus, no-one returns to take our order. Our egg choices do arrive promptly only to be followed, five minutes later, bizarrely, by a bill for them — which is then balanced by our server on top of our jam pots.

The reason? No one has cleared any of our growing collection of dirty dishes and this is the only available space on our messy table. 

Dirty tables pile up around us and the staff seem more intent on clearing these than looking after diners.

5/10

Guest rooms

Bedrooms are well designed and spacious, the beds exceptionally comfy with crisp linens and feather pillows. 

A large bathroom is well lit with a good shower and a separate bath and we’re impressed with the luxurious Byredo toiletries. 

We’ve a little balcony overlooking the courtyard below with views into the RDS and we enjoy opening the doors early the next morning to let in the light and fresh air.

8.5/10

In-room perks

The minibar and coffee area offers a decent selection of coffee pods and tea bags. 

The snacks offering, while fine, feels a little corporate and uninspired. We’d love to see more personality to showcase the hotel’s Irishness.

7.5/10

On the menu

The Lobby Lounge is where they serve lunch, dinner, and excellent afternoon tea. 

The dinner menu includes delicious lamb rump with tomato, aubergine and potato gratin and equally good cod with romesco sauce, crushed potatoes, olives and artichokes. 

Breakfast is a buffet with a decent spread. The cheese looks great but we’d love to see it labelled — especially if there’s Irish cheese on offer. 

We disliked the bitter coffee and cheap-tasting fruit juice.

7/10

Activities and amenities

The spa has had a refresh, with a 14m pool, large Jacuzzi, sauna (that was oddly cool), steam room and comfy treatment rooms, where Espa products are used. 

Blow Salon offers hair, make-up and manicure services and there’s a 24-hour gym that’s well equipped. It’s disappointing to see the fine dining restaurant and Ice Bar closed but the Whiskey Bar is a cosy space for an evening drink.

8/10

• InterContinental Dublin
• Simmonscourt Road, Ballsbridge. Dublin 4
• intercontinentaldublin.ie
• Jillian Bolger was a guest of InterContinental Dublin