The Shelbourne, Autograph Collection

The Shelbourne, Autograph Collection, a distinguished Michelin Key Selected property in Dublin, Ireland, consistently receives high praise for its timeless elegance, exceptional service, and prime location. This historic "Grand Dame of Dublin" offers guests a luxurious and memorable experience, blending 200 years of heritage with modern comforts.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

The general consensus for The Shelbourne is overwhelmingly positive, with an average overall rating often around 4.5 out of 5 stars. Guests frequently describe their stays as "exceptional" and "wonderful," highlighting the hotel's ability to create a special atmosphere from arrival to departure. The sentiment reflects deep satisfaction with the hotel's classic luxury and attentive staff.

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently laud The Shelbourne for several outstanding features:

• Service & Hospitality: The warm, welcoming, and professional staff are a recurring highlight, with doormen, reception, and concierge services receiving particular commendation.
• Location: Its unparalleled position facing St. Stephen's Green, within a 5-minute walk of Grafton Street and Temple Bar, makes it ideal for exploring Dublin's main attractions.
• Design & Ambiance: The hotel's opulent interiors, characterized by towering marble pillars, grand floral displays, crystal chandeliers, and dark wood, exude a classic Irish heritage feel. The historic significance, including being the place where the Irish Constitution was drafted, adds to its unique charm.
• Amenities: The well-equipped health club, featuring an 18-meter swimming pool, a state-of-the-art gymnasium, sauna, steam room, and a luxurious spa, is highly appreciated by guests. The hotel also offers unique services like a genealogy butler.

3. Room Quality

The rooms at The Shelbourne are described as elegant, comfortable, and spacious, combining modern amenities with a luxe Irish heritage style. Many rooms, especially Heritage Park View rooms, offer stunning vistas of St. Stephen's Green.

• Comfort: Guests consistently praise the comfortable beds, often with luxurious Italian linens. Despite being centrally located, rooms are noted for their quietness, with little traffic noise.
• Design: Rooms feature calming color schemes, ample space, and thoughtful touches like triple wardrobes, Nespresso machines, and mini-refrigerators. Bathrooms are typically spacious, often including separate baths and showers.
• Attention to Detail: Housekeeping is noted for its thoroughness, with some guests mentioning multiple tidying visits throughout the day. Turndown service, often accompanied by treats, further enhances the luxurious experience.

4. Dining Experience

The Shelbourne offers a diverse and highly-regarded dining experience across its various venues:

• The Saddle Room: This flagship restaurant is celebrated for its classic fine dining, specializing in steak and seafood with an extensive wine list. Guests commend the quality of food, with dishes like wild mushroom risotto and venison receiving particular praise. It's also noted for being one of Dublin's few restaurants open for Sunday dinner.
• Breakfast: The buffet breakfast is described as "very good" to "amazing," offering a wide selection of hot foods, cereals, fruits, pastries, and made-to-order options like eggs benedict. Fresh smoked salmon and Irish oatmeal with lavender honey are specific highlights.
• Lord Mayor's Lounge: This iconic drawing room is famous for its afternoon tea, an institution in Dublin, popular for elegant celebrations. The quality of food during afternoon tea is highly rated, with guests even offered seconds on favorite sandwiches.
• No. 27 The Shelbourne Bar & The Horseshoe Bar: These popular bars offer a lively atmosphere, creative cocktails, and an extensive drinks menu. The No. 27 Bar notably features a champagne sabering ceremony every Friday evening to mark the start of the weekend.
• Overall Quality: The food and beverage offerings are considered a focal point of the hotel, with a significant portion of sales coming from locals who frequent the establishments for celebrations.

5. Service & Staff

The service and staff at The Shelbourne consistently receive glowing reviews. Guests frequently highlight the team's friendliness, attentiveness, and professionalism, which contribute significantly to a special and memorable stay. From the doormen to reception staff, concierges, and restaurant servers, the genuine care and helpfulness of the staff are often mentioned as a standout feature. One reviewer noted that even when the hotel was at full capacity, everything ran smoothly, underscoring the staff's efficiency.

6. Location & Accessibility

The Shelbourne boasts an "unbeatable" and "perfect" central location in Dublin.

• Neighborhood: Situated directly opposite St. Stephen's Green, a beautiful 22-acre park, the hotel offers an oasis of calm while being in the heart of the city.
• Attractions: Dublin's main cultural attractions, including Grafton Street for shopping and the Temple Bar area, are all within a few minutes' walk. Trinity College Dublin is also nearby.
• Transport: While Dublin Airport is about a 35-minute drive, a cheaper alternative is the Dublin bus, with a stop conveniently located near the hotel. The hotel also offers valet parking.
• Accessibility: The hotel has made efforts to be accessible, offering accessible room types and accessible entrances to its restaurants, fitness center, business center, spa, and pool.

7. Value & Pricing

As a five-star, Michelin Key Selected luxury hotel, The Shelbourne commands a premium price, which guests generally consider appropriate for the exceptional experience.

• Price Range: Standard room rates can range from approximately €332 to €905 per night, depending on the season and specific room type. Marriott Bonvoy points redemptions are also an option, typically around 64,000 points for a €350 cash rate.
• Worth the Cost: While the price point is high, many guests feel it is "worth the cost" due to the historic charm, prime location, luxurious amenities, and outstanding service. Some Marriott Bonvoy members note that booking through American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts can provide added perks like room upgrades and credits.

8. Common Complaints

While overall complaints are minimal, a few recurring issues or minor criticisms have been noted by some guests:

• Housekeeping Speed: One guest experienced a delay in receiving a requested travel cot upon arrival, requiring multiple calls.
• Gym Operating Hours: A review mentioned the gym not always being open at advertised times.
• Valet Service: Some guests have found the valet service to be slow.
• Room View: While many rooms offer excellent views, some guests have reported uninspiring views from their windows in certain rooms.
• Navigation to Facilities: A guest noted that reaching the swimming pool from their room on the 6th floor involved a "trek" through several corridors and two lifts, with a lack of clear directions.
• Saddle Room Menus: One guest had difficulty obtaining a dinner menu for The Saddle Room without a prior booking, as it was not displayed.
• Connectivity Issues: A temperamental coffee machine in the room was mentioned by one reviewer.
• Room Temperature: A guest found their room to be too warm, making it difficult to sleep, suggesting the need to adjust the temperature earlier.

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