Picolo recommends · Hotel in Dublin, Ireland
The Shelbourne
Chandeliers in the lobby, St Stephen's Green outside the windows and a bar where much of Dublin seems to meet before dinner.
Come in from the Green on a wet afternoon and the lobby is already full: friends meeting for tea, coats drying, business being done in low voices. The Shelbourne has held this corner of the park since the 1800s.
History comes with the room key. The Irish constitution was drafted upstairs, and the Horseshoe Bar off the lobby is a Dublin institution in its own right. Grafton Street, Trinity College and Merrion Square can all be reached on foot.
Picolo’s verdict
Why we chose The Shelbourne
We chose The Shelbourne because it is the Dublin hotel with the most story attached, and it still works as a place to sleep well. On a first visit, when you want the classic version of the city, this is where to start.
It is not a place to slip in unnoticed. The public rooms are busy from breakfast until late and the style is traditional from top to bottom. If you want sleek design and a low profile, a smaller hotel will suit you better.
What you get
- Grand marble lobby with chandeliers
- The Horseshoe Bar off the lobby
- Lounge for tea in the afternoon
- Traditional rooms in a historic building
- Address on St Stephen's Green
A day at The Shelbourne
- Morning
- A loop of St Stephen's Green before the office crowd arrives.
- Midday
- The Book of Kells at Trinity College, a few streets north.
- Afternoon
- Tea in the lounge while the rain comes and goes outside.
- Evening
- A drink in the Horseshoe Bar among locals and guests alike.
Location
St Stephen's Green, Dublin, Ireland
Open in MapsQuestions about The Shelbourne
Where is The Shelbourne in Dublin?
Facing St Stephen's Green from the north, in the south city centre, with Grafton Street and Trinity College a short stroll away.
Can you visit The Shelbourne without staying there?
Yes. Plenty of people come just for a drink in the Horseshoe Bar or tea in the lounge, which is one reason the ground floor feels so lively.
Is The Shelbourne a good choice for a first trip to Dublin?
It is a strong one. Most of the sights south of the Liffey are within reach on foot, and the hotel itself is part of what many visitors come to see.
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Updated 6 Nov 2026All articles
How Picolo chooses
Our editors pick every hotel themselves, and most of them we have stayed at. No hotel can pay to be included or ranked higher. When you book through our links, Hotels.com pays Picolo a small commission. It never changes the price you pay, and it never decides what we write.