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Largely due to the fact that I live in Cork and my sister lives in Athlone, opportunities for frenzied, unabridged catch ups have become few and far between. However, given that ‘quality time’ is high on each of our love language priority charts, we endeavour to pencil in whole weekends at a time so that we can word vomit at one another ceaselessly over tables of empty spicy margarita and espresso martini coupes.
One such excursion was one which had taken on something of a sacred quality thanks to months and months of waiting, pining, and preparing; Girls Aloud at Dublin’s 3Arena.
For the duration of our sojourn in Dublin’s fair city, we called The Chancery Hotel our home. Located at 21 Ship Street Great, Dublin Castle, this hotel is the newest addition to the neighbourhood of Dublin 8, and suffice to say it wholly and completely knocked our socks off — and then promptly replaced them with a pair of comfy little slippers.
Perched just metres away from the Old City Walls, right at the rear of Dublin Castle and just to the south of St Patrick’s Cathedral, The Chancery is quite literally steeped in history. It is also, however, in close proximity to a whole heap of fabulously appealing restaurants, bars, and shops — so you can opt for a cultural stay, or some well-warranted self-indulgence.
First impressions were extremely positive, being greeted by check-in staff with a warm handshake and the promise of a cocktail of our choice waiting for us in our room. The lobby seems to echo with a sense of calm, thanks to the natural materials and subtle but impactful colour scheme. There’s also a gorgeous water feature to the rear of the building that fills the interior with that beautiful trickling sound of pond water splashing across rocks and moss. It brings a grounding energy to the city centre space that feels surprisingly necessary.
The luxe hotel boasts 150 rooms in total, and our terrace suite was one of the most exceptional spaces I’ve had the pleasure of staying in. Described as the most exclusive accommodation at the hotel, the suite is generously proportioned, extending to 26 square metres, and the view from the massive private balcony would take your breath away.
Yes, all the typical essentials and mod-cons were present and accounted for, but The Chancery kicked things up a notch with VDA controlled blinds and curtains, a bathroom door that opened and closed at the push of a button, and a selection of Votary toiletries that left us feeling pampered.
As someone who is inherently forgetful, my one pet peeve about hotels is that they never seem to have toothpaste on hand. Thankfully, this hotel have dotted all the t’s and crossed all the i’s with everything you might possibly need, including a dental kit, shaving kit, and a vanity set. Other hotels really ought to take note.
Between the king size bed and the luxurious bed linens, throwing ourselves into an evening of comfort was all too tempting, but with a concert to get ready for and margaritas to be sipped on, we decided to get some Girls Aloud playing on the huge flat screen television and do our makeup on the big old sofa on the balcony.
Downstairs, the aromas from the on-site restaurant Fawn filled the space, and the menu puts a focus on ingredient-driven, seasonal dishes that tantalise the taste buds. The breakfast is served buffet style, so you can pick and choose what appeals to you in the moment. We made many trips over and back from our table, grazing the goods and leaving with bellies full to bursting.
The Chancery Hotel also has a Wellness Hub, and though it wasn’t open during our stay, it’s on our agenda for next time. There’s a WaterDream Mini Pool, which offers a space for total immersive relaxation with varying whirlpool modes and lighting effects, a sauna for sweating it out, and a Hammam that brings the traditional Turkish Bath experience to D8. There’s even a Vertical Message Shower and Aoki Lounge offering gentler routes toward total relaxation.
To sum up, The Chancery was nothing short of spectacular. In many ways, I’m sad that we had to tear ourselves away from our perch on the balcony, and even more sad to have had to peel myself from the comfort of our king sized bed the following morning. An ideal destination for a girls weekend, a catch up with a loved one, or a romantic stay with your other half, it ticked all the boxes.
Book your stay at The Chancery Hotel today.
Sarah Gill was a guest of The Chancery Hotel.