Miranda Pell travelled to Dublin for the first time in the middle of August with her mum, staying at two luxury city centre hotels and discovering that drinking is not a necessity in the Irish capital.
First impressions and two hotels
Flying from Manchester Airport, Pell was amazed by the unbelievably short flight and smooth travel experience on both ends. The pair took a FreeNow (Dublin's version of Uber) from the airport to their first hotel.
Pell stayed at The Chancery on Ship Street Great in the little Italy area of Dublin, a luxury hotel with 150 bedrooms. Rooms feature modern, high tech controls for lighting, locks, blinds and curtains, along with huge comfy beds, luxurious bathrooms and smart TVs.
Spa, dining and a vegan surprise
During her visit, Pell enjoyed a spa session involving a neck, back and shoulder massage at The Wellness Hub on the lower ground floor. The hub includes a treatment room, gym, changing facility, relaxation area with jacuzzi hot tub, sauna, steam room, shower and loungers, with water, robes and slippers provided.
Dining at the hotel's restaurant Fawn on a Friday evening, staff advised that they had created an entirely plant-based menu, including aubergine parmigiana and a vegan burger. Pell spotted a wine named after herself - Pell de Llop, a natural orange wine from Spain - which she described as earthy and delicious, paired with the aubergine.
Pizza queues and a plant-based cafe
Pell visited Bambino, a pizza joint known for its crispy New York style slices and queues from open until close, located opposite The Grafton on Stephen Street. After queueing around 15 minutes, she ordered a vegan hot pep with plant-based pepperoni, chillies and hot honey, which had a perfectly crispy base and a balance of sweet honey and hot chillies. She queued again later that day but was told they were out of the vegan hot pep after around 30 minutes.
She also found It's a Trap, a plant-based cafe on Aungier Street serving vegan cinnamon rolls, sweet treats, wraps and sandwiches, where she tasted the seitan pesto wrap and the Reuben sandwich.
The Grafton and family-friendly extras
The second hotel, The Grafton, is a four-star hotel with 128 rooms in a modern, 1920s art-deco-inspired style, offering spacious family rooms for up to six people with a super-king bed and two bunk beds. Despite being in the city centre, Pell noted you cannot hear a thing from outside once inside the room.
The Grafton has launched a Teddy Bear Picnic experience in St Stephen's Green, designed for two adults and two children. Costing €120, each family gets a basket with homemade scones, chocolate brownies, macaroons, fresh fruit salads, cheesecake, cheese and crackers, seasonal salads and a choice of sandwiches or wraps.
Other Dublin highlights
Pell also visited the Guinness Store House, where visitors pay around £30 for a mini Guinness tasting, a free pint in the Gravity bar with panoramic views, a look at how Guinness is made and an immersive museum. She also visited the free-to-enter Irish Museum of Modern Art and wandered the city centre, including vintage shops.
Despite being apprehensive about visiting a spot known for booze, Pell concluded that drinking is absolutely not a necessity in Dublin, with plenty of things to do and places to explore if alcohol is not your thing.
Room rates at The Grafton and The Chancery are upwards of €350 (around £300) in summer and €250 (around £215) in winter. At The Chancery, suites start at €800 (around £685) in summer and €650 (around £557) in winter, with family rooms from €590 (around £505) in summer and €550 (around £470) in winter. The Teddy Bear Picnic can be added while booking or booked through the concierge at reception.
