The Merrion

Accommodation
The Merrion has an abundance of accommodation possibilities from Main House rooms and suites to Garden Wing rooms and suites.

Main House

Room options
All rooms are fully air-conditioned with king-size bed, flat-screen cable tv, a stereo system, wi-fi, desk, coffee machine, minibar, clothes press and a safe. The rooms feature bathrooms with a separate shower and bath, bidet, Asprey toiletries, hairdryer, telephone, robe and slippers.

Deluxe King Rooms (430sq ft) with views of Leinster House or private gardens, a king-size bed and a large marble bathroom separate bath and shower. Extra bed or crib on request.

Suite options
All suites are fully air-conditioned with king-size bed, flat-screen cable tv, a stereo system, wi-fi, desk, coffee machine, minibar, clothes press and a safe. The rooms feature bathrooms with a separate shower and bath, bidet, Asprey toiletries, hairdryer, telephone, robe and slippers.

The Junior Suites (583sq ft) are on the first floor and have a lounge/dining area.

The Merrion Suites (682sq ft) are on the upper floor overlooking private gardens.

The Speciality Suite Lord Antrim Suites (786sq ft) sit on the upper floor with lounge/dining area and views over Leinster House.

The Speciality Suite Lord Monck Suites (786sq ft) sit on the upper floor with a lounge/dining area, extra room for office/gym/single bedroom, overlooking private gardens.

Garden Wing

Room options
All rooms are fully air-conditioned with king-size bed, flat-screen cable tv, a stereo system, wi-fi, desk, coffee machine, minibar, clothes press and a safe. The rooms feature bathrooms with a separate shower and bath, bidet, Asprey toiletries, hairdryer, telephone, robe and slippers. 

Queen Rooms (330sq ft) have a queen-size bed, crib on request, bath and shower, no bidet, landscape painter theme, street views; Superior King Rooms (366sq ft) with king-size bed, en-suite marble bathroom with separate bath and shower, view of private gardens. Extra bed or crib on request.

Suite options
All suites are fully air-conditioned with king-size bed, flat-screen cable tv, a stereo system, wi-fi, desk, coffee machine, minibar, clothes press and a safe. The rooms feature bathrooms with a separate shower and bath, bidet, Asprey toiletries, hairdryer, telephone, robe and slippers.

The Garden Wing Suites (881sq ft) are ideal for families (one bedroom: 2 adults & 1 child or two bedrooms: 2 adults & 4 children) with king-size bed or twin beds, lounge/dining area, en-suite marble bathroom with separate bath and shower, street view. Extra bed or crib on request.

The Garden Wing Penthouse Suite (2200sq ft) is a two-storey apartment for up to five guests with two ground floor bedrooms with separate en-suite baths and showers. Lounge/dining areas, separate kitchen, music room, study, two minibars. Private wraparound landscaped roof terrace with views of Dublin cityscape, Wicklow Mountains and private gardens. Private access and security.

Restaurants
Guests at The Merrion can depend on world-class food. The hotel has built up a network of Irish artisan producers to supply its kitchens with the best grass-fed beef, lamb, fish and game. Each day fresh ingredients, sourced from the Atlantic Ocean, Kerry's lush hills or the Golden Vale of Tipperary make their way onto the distinctively Irish menus. Chef Ed Cooney makes unique visits to smokehouses, cheese-makers and yoghurt producers. His notable dishes include smoked fish and black pudding with apple balsamic vinegar.

Sophisticated French charm and innovative cuisine are presented at the main Merrion restaurant, Patrick Guilbaud, named after its star French chef. He made it the first restaurant in Ireland to hold two Michelin stars.

Overlooking the private garden, the Garden Room restaurant is a less formal affair with an all-day menu serving modern Irish cuisine. Vegan dining is also an experience here with a flavourful menu created by Holly White from her popular cookbook Vegan-ish.

Meanwhile, the Drawing Rooms' gracious surroundings and open log fires are the perfect place for afternoon tea with creations inspired by the work of Irish artists. A Vegan afternoon tea is an option. During the warmer months, afternoon tea may be taken al fresco in the Garden Terrace, alongside seasonal lunches and salads. Some guests enjoy homemade Merrion picnics in the private garden.

The oak-lined relaxed and clubby ambience of the 'No. 23' bar has seen it become a popular lunchtime and evening meeting place for Dubliners. Here you can enjoy canapés, special whiskeys, cocktails, Champagnes and wines, including Bordeaux from the hotelier's vineyard. Meanwhile, The Cellar Bar, set in the original 18th-century wine vaults of the Main House, offers a casual gastro-pub menu.

Facilities
The Spa and Wellness Health Club at The Merrion was purpose-built for relaxation with heated hardwood elm floors and constructed from marble, ceramic and French limestone. It contains an 18-metre heated indoor swimming pool, relaxation room, steam room and sauna.

Spa services include restorative therapies, physiotherapy, a range of body and facial treatments, plus hair and beauty services. The Merrion fitness gym is equipped with the latest exercise machines, cardiovascular equipment, free weights, and personal training service.

For younger children, the hotel's 'Miss and Master Merrion' programme offers several fun activities. Kids will also enjoy Lady Mornington's Garden, which links the Main House to the Garden Wing.

History
The Merrion Hotel has a fascinating social and architectural history dating back over 260 years. The story begins in 1748, with the Earl of Kildare's new residence in Dublin's unfashionable south side. He planted a seed to transform it from a medieval town to a neo-classical city: Dublin's Golden Age.

When the Earl was made Duke of Leinster in 1766, the house became his ducal palace and was renamed Leinster House (a model for the American White House). A year later, the 'Commission for Making Wide & Convenient Streets' made provision for widening, paving, lighting, draining and cleaning the surrounding streets and squares. Measuring 102 feet across, Upper Merrion Street is a result of this legacy.
Impressive residences were built as the Dublin aristocracy and wealthy merchants began relocating from the old north side. In 1767, four townhouses commissioned by Lord Monck were completed on Upper Merrion Street, right opposite the entrance to the prestigious Leinster House and designed in the neo-classical style typical of Robert Adam, with vaulted ceilings, ornate plasterwork, solid staircases, marble fireplaces and detailed ironwork. Today, they form the main house of the Merrion Hotel.

Lord Monck himself lived at No. 22 (hence Monck House) and surrounded himself with influential neighbours. In 1769, No. 24 (the main entrance today) was leased to the Earl of Mornington (hence Mornington House). His son Arthur Wellesley, the later Duke of Wellington of Battle of Waterloo fame, was born here that year.

The area became a thriving centre of the arts as the wealthy patronage of men like Mornington fostered a creative culture. Between 1815–1922 Leinster House became the Royal Dublin Society's headquarters; two new wings were added to house the National Library and National Museum of Ireland.
Attracting intelligent people with all sorts of radical ideas, Mornington House inevitably became a hub of political thought and intrigue. Political activists, the United Irishmen, held regular meetings in the house, discussing revolution and republicanism. When they moved out, they were replaced by gatherings of monarchists and unionists.

Monck House and No. 23 were given a makeover in the 19th century. Then, in 1922, Leinster House became the home of the new Irish Parliament. The elegant façades of all four houses on Upper Merrion Street were leased as state offices. Civil servants flittered from room to room, among them novelist Flan O'Brien.

Today, all four houses are Grade 1 listed with restorations to original features. Planning permission to convert the properties into a hotel was granted in 1995 and opened officially in 1997.

Touring Guide
The Merrion is the ideal stay for a Private Tour of Ireland and only a short distance from Dublin's main attractions. The National Museum of Ireland showcases the heritage, while Trinity College features Ireland's most significant cultural jewel, the Book of Kells, a 9th cent illustrated Gospel. Dublin delights in 'liquid refreshment'.

The Guinness and Jameson tours are popular, and the city's pubs are legendary. Other visitor districts include the vibrant Temple Bar area and the 'Golden Mile' around St. Stephen's Green. Book a guide for a Private Tour of Dublin and discover the secrets of this beautiful city.