Ginny McGrath picks six of Dublin's finest penthouses
Dublin has a population of just under half a million, which puts it on a par with British cities such as Brighton or Portsmouth, but what the Irish capital lacks in size it makes up for in visitors. Dublin receives around four and a half million visitors every year and its hotel industry is booming. That might explain why so many of Dublin's hotels are able to maintain a penthouse suite. It's as much an expensive luxury for the hotel as it is for the guests who stay in them. The suites typically take up the space of two or more normal guestrooms, stay empty for much of the year, and are used more often for corporate entertaining than by overnight guests. But if you have E2,000 to splash out on a night to remember, or alternatively want to host a small meeting with a difference, here is a round-up of Dublin's finest penthouses.The Penthouse, Morrison Hotel
Overlooking the River Liffey, this hotel, designed by John Rocha, is cool and sleek and comes with mod cons like complimentary broadband internet access in every room, interactive TV with wireless keyboards and wireless internet access in public areas.
The Penthouse is a corner room on the fourth floor with a contemporary living room fitted in dark wood and neutral tones, with a modern chaise longue and blood-red cushions. The suite also has a flat-screen TV, a balcony overlooking the river, glass dining table, large fridge, and electric blinds and curtains. The huge, low bed is separated by a sliding wooden partition from the living room and leads to a bathroom with whirlpool bath, double shower, steam room, sauna and Aveda toiletries. The frosted TV screen is visible from the bath and bed. These luxuries have attracted celebrity guests including Whitney Houston and Victoria Beckham.
The hotel has two bars, a restaurant, private art gallery, gym and spa, and recently completed a refurbishment which added 49 rooms, five meeting and event rooms and a courtyard garden. The spa will be extended in early 2006 and a screening room for up to 30 will be opened.
price E1,500.
next best thing?There are 12 suites with partitioned living and sleeping areas, some with river views, from E570.
Contact Morrison Hotel, Ormond Quay, Dublin 1, tel +353 1 887 2400, www.morrisonhotel.ie.
Penthouse Suite, The Clarence
In a hotel that's owned by Bono, the front man of rock band U2, you'd expect the penthouse to be pretty rock 'n' roll and it doesn't disappoint. The two-storey party pad has an outdoor hot tub with rooftop views, baby grand piano, mini cocktail bar and balcony overlooking the River Liffey on the top floor. The decor is understated throughout, with simple white sofas, cream walls and splashes of colour from the soft furnishings, rugs and striking modern art painted by Guggi, a friend of Bono's. Downstairs there are two bedrooms, a dining room that seats eight, a kitchen, bathroom with customised Clarence toiletries, and a balcony with chairs. The suite has plasma TV screens with DVD player and surround-sound, CD player, broadband internet access (charged at E10 for 24 hours), and a music and movie library, charging E6 for 24 hours and E7.50 per movie.
The hotel, situated on the edge of Temple Bar, has a cocktail bar, restaurant, fitness room and treatment room.
price E2,100.
next best thing? There are four other suites, some with a second bedroom and terrace, priced from E640.
Contact 6-8 Wellington Quay, Dublin 2, tel +353 1 407 0800, www.theclarence.ie.
Penthouse Suite, The Berkeley Court
The list of previous guests, from Tom Cruise and Elton John to Michael Jackson, gives a clue as to the lavish nature of this suite, which was originally built as a home for the owner, PV Doyle. The split-level suite is the largest in Dublin and has an elaborate black and white marble entrance with Chinese urns on either side of a wooden staircase. The oak-panelled study has a leather-top desk and leather Chesterfield sofa, and there's a dining room which seats 14. The living room has a one-metre wide TV plus DVD player, baby grand piano and an open fire, and broadband internet is available for E20 per day. The bedroom is a bit chintzy and has a four-poster bed with an adjoining marble bathroom that has a vast spa bath, separate shower and Duke & Lyle toiletries. There's also a second bedroom and the suite has a private lift (presumably to avoid the paparazzi).
The hotel is in Ballsbridge and has two restaurants, lobby bar, and lounge. Guests can use the fitness centre and pool of the neighbouring Jurys Ballsbridge Hotel.
priceE2,050.
next best thing? There are four Luxury Suites, which have plasma TVs, four-poster or king-size beds, and separate dining and living area and bar, costing from E415.
Contact Lansdowne Road, Dublin 4, tel +353 1 665 3200, www.jurysdoyle.com.
The College Suite, The Westin Dublin
The hotel is at the end of Grafton Street, Dublin's main shopping street, and has a sleek grey stone entrance giving way to another façade of more elaborate stonework where the hotel joins a former 19th century Banking Hall, now used as meeting and event space. The top suite is the split-level College Suite, which has six tall windows with views of Trinity College and the Bank of Ireland portico, and the decor is traditional and elegant with parquet floors and high ceilings. There's a small kitchen, boardroom for eight, two shower rooms, steam room and mini gym. The oversized bed is decorated in creams and gold and there's a marble bathroom with whirlpool bath, two shower rooms and Molton Brown toiletries.
The study on the higher level has a leather-topped desk and intellectual knick-knacks such as a globe and leather-bound books, which perhaps have been thumbed by past guests who have included Liam Neeson. A split-level suite can be adjoined to add a second bedroom. Wireless internet and internet access through the television costs E10 per hour, plus there's a CD and DVD player, and three TVs.The hotel has a restaurant, lounge, bar and fitness room and offers in-room spa treatments.
price E2,250.
next best thing? The hotel has four split-level Library Suites named after Irish authors, which have separate living room and study and cost from E695 per night.
ContactCollege Green, Dublin 2,tel +353 1 645 1000, www.westin.com/dublin.
Presidential Suite,Four Seasons Hotel Dublin
The Four Seasons is located in the embassy district of Ballsbridge, which is in the city's most sought-after postcode (Dublin 4) and a 10-minute drive from the city centre. Consistent with Four Seasons philosophy, the hotel is classically decorated and brimming with elaborate flower displays, which provide full-time employment for three florists. The Presidential Suite is on the fourth floor and opens into a marble-floored hall with an antique bookcase. The living room is lavish, with silk wall coverings, beige and gold sofas, a leather-top desk, mahogany panelling, Waterford Crystal lamps and, of course, lavish flower displays. There are two chic bedrooms, with an option to connect a third, and an eight-seat dining room with pantry. Broadband internet access costs E22 for 24 hours, and the suite is equipped with fax machine, CD and DVD player, internet access through the TV and Playstation. Also worth mentioning are the deep bath that fills in 30 seconds, Bulgari toiletries, and Egyptian cotton embossed bed linen. The hotel also has two restaurants, a lounge bar, cocktail bar, fitness centre, pool and spa.
price E2,200.
next best thing? Four Premium Suites each have a marble bathroom and separate living area, two bedrooms, powder room, entry foyer and pantry, and cost E1,800 per night.
Contact Simmonscourt Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, tel +353 1 665 4000, www.fourseasons.com/dublin.
The Merrion Penthouse
Recently refurbished and reopened to guests, this elegant two-floor suite has a private lift and 93sqm outdoor terrace with cedarwood hot tub. The classical decor maintains the feeling of an elegant Georgian parlour, while contemporary Irish art adds a twist, including a handmade rug in the hall that is the copy of a painting by Irish artist Mainie Jellett. There are two bedrooms downstairs – each with a marble bathroom – and the same cream, beige, taupe and gold colour scheme that prevails throughout. Upstairs are huge soft sandy-coloured sofas in a light and airy open-plan living room and a dining table that seats six. The flat-screen TV, surround-sound, and CD and DVD player provide hi-tech entertainment and there's broadband internet access charged at E30 per day. There's also a smaller room that can be used as a gym, meeting room or bedroom for children or security staff. Sarah Jessica Parker of TV drama Sex and the City is rumoured to have stayed here, but the hotel is too discreet to confirm.
The Merrion is on a Georgian terrace, five minutes from the city centre and has two bars, two restaurants (one with two Michelin stars), a spa, pool, fitness centre and steam room.
price: E2,200.
next best thing? A Junior Suite in the Main House has separate living and sleeping areas and costs from E690.
Contact Upper Merrion Street, Dublin 2, tel +353 1 603 0600, www.merrionhotel.com.
