Reviews

The Chancery, Dublin

Steve Hartridge

THE HOTEL

The 150-room hotel is the latest luxury boutique hotel to open in the heart of Ireland’s capital.

It is located on a quiet narrow cobblestone street, a few paces from Dublin Castle and a short stroll to Grafton Street and St. Stephen’s Green.

The hotel does not offer a shuttle service from the airport and a taxi takes around 30 minutes (€35).

From the airport, Airlink and Aircoach run buses to Dublin City Centre. Both services stop at St Stephen’s Green.

THE BACKGROUND

The hotel was built following LEED Gold standard criteria, with sustainable materials used throughout, including its bed linens and herringbone hardwood floors.

Other initiatives include a ‘grey water’ recovery system for the flushing of toilets. The toilets, showers and taps meet the highest standards for water efficiency.

The hotel is also fossil-fuel-free – (no natural gas).

There are various design feature nods to the Italian immigrants – artisans, plasterers, woodworkers and ice cream makers – that settled in this area of Dublin in the late 1800’s. These include the prints that are scatted throughout the hotel and the Italian-inspired menu.

Interior features also include Phillipe Starck furniture and repurposed Dublin granite and reclaimed Connemara marble.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

The exterior is an eye-catching combination of striking brickwork and a lot of street-facing windows. Entering the hotel, the lobby, main restaurant and bar are all housed in one large communal area.

My visit coincided with St. Patrick’s Day weekend and mini-Irish flags were dotted around the tables. At the far end of the hotel is a door which leads to a small ornamental garden with stone walls, greenery and a water feature.

THE ROOM

I stayed in Room 506, which looked down onto the street. Entering the room triggered the electronically controlled curtains, which opened.

A control panel near the door worked the blackout blinds, the air-con and “mood lighting”.

The door to the bathroom opened by an electronic touchpad (which took a bit of getting used to).

The room was smallish but extremely cosy. There was a King double bed, a small worktable with two chairs, a 54-inch TV – with maximum volume set at a level so as not to disturb the occupants in the next room (the hotel has also built in other acoustic and noise prevention/mitigation measures), a large half-mirror and bedside USB ports. More artwork paid homage to those early Italian artisans.

The mini fridge featured ‘The Chancery’ branded water.

THE FACILITIES

The casual bistro-style restaurant, Fawn, is located off the main lobby and adjacent to the bar. The menu was a mix of seasonal, ingredient-driven Irish standards and Italian influences.

Small plates included apple and pear salad with candied walnuts, truffle and beetroot salad, beef carpaccio and grilled prawns, while fresh pasta choices were spinach and ricotta tortellini ai gratin, squid ink spaghetti and braised oxtail gnocchi Gremolata.

My main was a delicious pan-roasted hake with pressed potatoes, roasted cauliflower and smoked clam butter while dessert options included apple and blueberry crumble and (my choice) Spanish baked cheesecake.

Breakfast included the usual hot items but also a buffet with house-made granola, steel-cut oats, fresh fruit, and yoghurt. Gluten-free and vegan options were available.

The long bar is making a name for its cocktail programme seriously, with an in-house team making the syrups. Barista coffee is available at The Coffee Dock.

On the property’s top floor is a wraparound terrace that is popular for sunset drinks.

A Spa on the second floor featured a sauna, pool and Jacuzzi and a couple of treatment rooms. Although smallish, the gym was impressive for a hotel in such an urban setting.

THE VERDICT

I had a relaxed and thoroughly enjoyable and comfortable stay – and in the perfect location for exploring the city centre.

The Chancery offers laid-back luxury delivered simply and informally but with panache.

I liked the unfussy and casual-smart ambience of the restaurant, which offers a menu of mouthwatering options – and it is overseen by attentive and knowledgeable staff who know how to pair a dish with the ‘right’ wine.

I also enjoyed the various ways in which the hotel embraces the history attached to its location.

And for those for whom sustainability and waste-cutting measures are important when choosing a hotel, the use of micro-master smart switching and presence sensing technology results in heating, cooling and lighting only operating when required and are triggered when guests are present in the bedrooms and hallways.