6 Best Hotels in St. Stephen's Green and Around, Dublin

Paris has the Ritz, New York has the St. Regis, and Dublin has the Shelbourne—resplendent in its broad, ornamented, pink-and-white mid-Victorian facade right off Grafton Street. Long famed as the Dublin home of the nation's literati, the grande dame of Stephen's Green has been immortalized by authors running from Thackeray to Elizabeth Bowen, and the Constitution of the Irish Free State was drawn up here. An enduring, venerable tradition is to take tea in the Lord Mayor's Lounge, just off the towering, marble-floor, cream-and-crystal lobby with its gilded pillars and brass candelabra. In the lobby, the Irish Chippendale chairs have given way to contemporary art from Irish greats like Louis le Brocquy, Barrie Cooke, and Cian McLoughlin. The guest rooms, though not overly large, are almost as luxurious as the lobby, with the marble bathrooms a tactile pleasure. 

This luxurious, chandelier-filled, modern hotel just off Grafton Street is a favorite with elegantly dressed Dubliners who stop for afternoon tea in the Gallery, the spacious mezzanine-level main lobby, furnished with a grand piano and a grand view out onto the bustling streets. Bedrooms have handmade Irish furniture and carpets, plus duck-down duvets. Most inviting are the suites, which combine four-poster-bed opulence with a very understated, sleek look. The restaurant, Wilde, serves upscale lunches and dinners; the street-level bar and brasserie Balfe's goes for a more relaxed menu and feel.

The best thing about the ugly-on-the-outside, seven-story, redbrick, and smoked-glass Conrad are the spectacular views out over the city, so ask for—no, insist on—a room on one of the top three floors. Just off St. Stephen's Green, the Conrad firmly aims for international business travelers. Gleaming light-color marble graces the large formal lobby. Rooms can be rather cramped but are nicely outfitted with natural-wood furnishings, painted in earthy colors, and have Spanish marble in the bathrooms. The Coburg is a classic bistro and Lemuel's is a glitzy cocktail bar named for a Jonathan Swift character.

Housed in an elegant four-story Georgian terrace just a five-minute walk from St. Stephen's Green, this contemporary-luxe hotel is decorated with rich wallpapers, touches of brass, gleaming mirrors, stylish tiled floors, lots of Navan-manufactured furniture---and it is fully powered by an underground river. The black-marble-floor lobby features teal and gold sofas, vintage light fittings, and floor-to-ceiling bookcases. Guest rooms are spacious and bright with high ceilings, deep bespoke carpets, rainfall showers, and Art Deco mirrors. Ask for a room at the back, overlooking the gorgeous Iveagh Gardens. Elle's is a perfect place for a quiet drink or a quick bite, and there is a classic afternoon tea in the picturesque lobby.

Reconstructed from three 19th-century landmark buildings opposite Trinity College, the Westin is all about location, but the marble pillars, tall mahogany doorways, blazing fireplaces, Palladian marble busts, and period details also set it apart. The central atrium is a hodgepodge of decor: Chippendale reproduction chairs, horse paintings on pale peach walls, turquoise lamps, and too many overstuffed sofas. The bedrooms, on the other hand, are functional, small, and suave, with crisp, white Indian linens, custom-made beds, and 18th century–style oak furniture. The rooms that overlook Trinity College are a little more expensive, but the chance to watch the students in a leisurely game of cricket on a summer weekend makes all the difference. Morelands Grill and Mint Bar are in the original vaults of the bank.