Location Close to the city, coast, Aviva Stadium, and RDS, this Dublin 4 landmark is in the heart of leafy Ballsbridge. 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 a cool and clubby bar set the tone, illuminated by a sparkling chandelier. 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 .