I don’t know about you, but most women I know, when we find something we love (a great shoe sale, a new and fabulous restaurant, the best cleaner for red wine stains) the first thing we want to do is share it with others. Right? Well that’s what Staunton’s on the Green – Dublin’s Must Stay Hotel is…something to love.
As women, when we experience something wonderful during our travels, we call our BFF, we text our sisters/mothers/daughters, we post on FB…if we only had a bullhorn!
When women are traveling – for work, for a girlfriend getaway, or just to escape for some much needed solo time – they want to know that where they are staying is 1) safe, 2) comfy, 3) worthy of sharing on Instagram and Facebook (because again, we LOVE to share our joy AND help others find the good stuff).
While there are tons of sites with reviews on hotels and B&B’s, my clients ask me for recommendations because they know I’m discriminating and they know if I get on my soapbox about a place, it will be just what they are seeking.
Well, ladies, Staunton’s on the Green needs to be at the top of your list when you are coming to Dublin, Ireland!
Like any metropolitan city, there are loads of decent lodging options. However, the key to enjoying and getting the most out of a visit to Dublin is staying in city centre.
The city centre will allow you to be immersed in its vibrant culture and allow you to enjoy walking instead of having to rely on taxis to get you where you want to go.
During your visit you’ll be able to soak up the sunshine and feed the swans in St. Stephen’s Green, sip a G&T, and people watch at an outdoor cafe on Dawson Street.
Being IN the city centre is a must. We women ALSO want our fun evening in the boisterous Temple Bar and to come back to a retreat that feels serene, safe and sumptuous.
When my taxi pulled up to the curb, I had to check the address twice.
There was no marquis, no hotel name in lights or large awning to differentiate it from the other Georgian row houses lining the street; a true hidden sanctuary in the center of one of the most congested cities in Europe.
I walked up 4 stately steps to one of the infamous coloured doors of Dublin, (the kind you see in the postcards) a simple bronze marker to the left with a graceful S being the only indicator it was Staunton’s.
My room was on the top floor (which was about 30 steps and could be an issue for someone with limited mobility). If this is a concern, I highly recommend asking for one of the rooms off the back garden. Each room has its own little patio with table and chairs for relaxing in the rich green space.
There are just 50 rooms at Staunton’s – making for an intimate and relaxing experience. While the hotel was full during my stay, at no time did it feel crowded or busy.
Upon entering my room, I was impressed by its size. The classic rooms are carefully appointed and elegant yet far from stiff.
You know, you can tell a lot about the real quality of a hotel by the curtains…often they are made of some kind of heavy cotton and if inspected closely are dingy, worn and dusty.
While gazing through the windows at the garden below, I ran my fingers along the drapes and appreciated the deliciously soft (and pristine) velour fabric that blacked out the room so that the 17 hours of sunlight wouldn’t disrupt my sleep.
Akin to a dark room, there’s nothing more important to me in a hotel than the bed and bedding. Crisp white sheets under a perfectly weighted down duvet felt luxurious on a mattress that Goldilocks would have loved. I knew I would sleep deeply, and I did.
Attention to the small details are next on my list of what rates in a hotel.
Here, a walk-in closet offering ample space for hanging clothing, a Dyson fan for those rare summer evenings when Ireland temps get above 60 degrees, a long-handled umbrella (for those times when the sun isn’t shining…it IS Ireland!), a safe and a tray with all the necessities for making tea and coffee, including biscuits and a welcome bag of gourmet candies.
In addition, the free wifi was dependable and there were plenty of electrical outlets (which in Europe – in my experience – is far from a given!)
While all these items were ticking off the boxes on my list, I knew that a bathroom less than spotless would undo all the enthusiasm I had just built, so it was with trepidation I ventured into the ensuite.
It did not let me down. It was immaculate (and believe me, I look). A lovely rainforest shower-head offered good water pressure and dependable hot water.
Going downstairs to one of the main common areas, there’s a stylish yet comfortable lounge, where you can enjoy a cuppa or a drink from the honesty bar before heading out to one of the many fabulous restaurants nearby.
After a day of sightseeing or business meetings, it’s a lovely space to get lost in a book from Staunton’s own library of Irish literature.
Another differentiator that set Staunton’s apart for me is the breakfast experience. Hotel breakfasts often feel like a choice between the “serve yourself” continental with boxed cereals, all-the-same flavour yoghurt containers warming in a bowl of melting ice, and stacks of cheap bread to toast yourself.
Or worse, the promise of a hot breakfast option where the metal container for the alleged scrambled eggs is found to be cold or empty – requiring a hunt for a nonexistent server to refill it (my last Paris experience). The attentive service of Staunton’s made me feel SPECIAL.
A lovely young man welcomed us with bowls of colourful fresh fruit, a small pot of yoghurt, a platter of a variety of fresh breads, orange juice, coffee and a menu with a selection of made to order hot options such as Full Irish to Smoked Irish Salmon, Eggs Florentine (with smoked salmon), Organic Irish Porridge.
Throughout the breakfast, the young man was attentive without being intrusive, and my coffee cup and water glass were always full.
So ladies, when you are coming to Ireland, know that Staunton’s on the Green gets my “Tell Everyone You Know” endorsement. It’s grand, in the most Irish sense of the word. Really.
