Happenings At The Merrion

Autumn Dining

Executive Chef Ed Cooney’s seasonal menus brings local fall flavours to the table in The Garden Room Restaurant. Try a Wicklow Venison Loin; Grilled Black Sole Meunière; and Autumn Fettuccine with Toasted Hazelnuts, Sage and Pumpkin Sauce. All day dining, seven days a week! Or enjoy the cosy Cellar Bar offering a fresh take on traditional pub food, including the Super Salad, The Merrion Fish and Chips or a warming Daube de Boeuf. Pair with local beers, fine wines, or your choice of cocktails. Open in the hotel’s original wine vaults Tuesdays to Saturdays.

Toasting the Wine Geese

The legacy of Irish wine makers in France is told in the names of some of the finest of Grand Cru wines, including Château Lynch-Bages, Léoville Barton, Phélan Ségur and Château Clarke. The Merrion Hotel’s own chairman, Lochlann Quinn, and his wife Brenda have added Château de Fieuzal to the story. Once served at the Papal table, Château de Fieuzal is one of the finest Bordeaux wines. You can discover it in The Garden Room, Bar No 23, The Cellar Bar, as well as at Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud.

Whiskey Fireside Chats

Returning to Bar No 23 this October 7th. John Summers and Noel Sweeney take us through a tasting of Curraghmore Whiskies. Curraghmore is the largest private demesne in Ireland, and the County Waterford distillery have created a very tasty single-estate pot still Irish Whiskey using barley and oats grown on Ireland’s oldest family farm. The guided tasting includes specially created canapé pairings. Booking required. Enquire at Concierge.

New Merrion Oils at The Merrion Spa and Health Club

Our Spa team have partnered with acclaimed Irish botanical skincare maker Aisling Walsh to create bespoke Merrion Oils for your next Spa Session. Dublin-based, Aisling has received international acclaim for her plant powered, all natural ingredients, and we look forward to sharing them with you at The Merrion Spa and Health Club.

New Art at The Merrion

Next time you’re walking through to The Garden Room Restaurant, do look out for the newest piece of art at The Merrion. Gavin Murphy’s Porte fenêtre has been installed to mark his Merrion Plinth Contemporary Art Award. A celebration of the beauty of glass, it is a worthy companion to the Hotel’s world-renowned collection of 19th and 20th century Irish and European art.

Thanksgiving Time

Thanksgiving falls on November 26th, but we’ll be serving Executive Chef Ed Cooney’s special Thanksgiving menu from November 2nd. Classic dishes include New England Clam Chowder, Friendly Farm Irish Roast Turkey, New Orleans Gumbo and Glazed Pecan Pie. No matter what you’re giving thanks for, we look forward to welcoming you to The Garden Room!

 

Autumn in the City

Festivals in Dublin

The Dublin Theatre Festival

Autumn is the time to see Theatre in Dublin. Running from now until October 11th, The Dublin Theatre Festival hosts ground-breaking shows by Druid, Anu, Fishamble and the Abbey Theatre, plus international pieces too. Highlights include Meredith at the Gate Theatre, and Radio Bette from The Goat Exchange; dublintheatrefestival.ie

Dublin Festival of History

Shining a light on times past, and getting under the skin of the long ago, the Dublin Festival of History runs until October 11th. Look out for walking tours, workshops, museum tours and talks; dublinfestivalofhistory.ie

Bram Stoker Festival

Celebrating all things spooky, with four days and nights of deadly adventures, the Bram Stoker Festival lets you in on another side of the city of the Dracula author’s birth. With events for all ages, and fright-levels, including the spectacular Hallowe’en Macnas Parade, theatre, food trucks and city lights, it runs from October 30th to November 2nd; bramstokerfestival.com

The Dublin Book Festival

It is the 20th anniversary of the Dublin Book Festival this year, and the line-up includes Mary Robinson, Roddy Doyle, Marian Keyes, Anne Enright, Sebastian Barry, Louise Kennedy, Kevin Barry, Mario Rosenstock, Katriona O’Sullivan, and Djamel White. Running from November 4th to 8th at venues across Dublin, look out for the lively children’s programme too; dublinbookfestival.com

Literary in Dublin

A self guided Walking Tour of Baggotonia lets you explore the neighbourhood made famous by the likes of Patrick Kavanagh, Brendan Behan, Mary Lavin and Elizabeth Bowen, as well as taking in the sights of the recently restored banks of The Grand Canal at Wilton Park. Pick up a map with The Merrion Concierge. You will also find it marks the location of a couple of excellent pubs frequented by some very famous writers.

Natural History

The Natural History Museum, popularly known by Dubliners as The Dead Zoo is usually open just across Merrion Square from The Merrion Hotel. Now that its home is undergoing restoration, see favourite exhibits at The National Museum of Ireland at Collins Barracks. While you’re there, check out a host of exhibits relating to Ireland’s decorative arts, design and military history. Admission free; museum.ie

Dining Out

Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud at The Merrion is proud to have two Michelin Stars. New Dublin mentions in the Michelin Guide include Parrilla, for Mexican cuisine in Ranelagh; Mongoose, a sister restaurant to the Starred Variety Jones on Thomas Street; China Hunan also in Ranelagh; and Díon, the rooftop restaurant at the former Central Bank building on Dame Street. See guide.michelin.com

Theatre, Art and Music

Wigmore Series Dublin

Partnering with the Wigmore Hall, the Royal Irish Academy of Music’s Wigmore Series Dublin brings chamber music and song to the RIAM’s White Recital Hall. The latest series runs until Spring 2027, and includes pianist Angela Hewitt with a programme featuring music from Bach, Couperin, Mozart and Ravel on November 4th. Then it’s the turn of soprano Nardus Williams and lutenist Elizabeth Kenny following a musical journey through Ireland, England, Spain, France, Germany and Italy on December 6th; riam.ie

Matilda the Musical

Produced by Royal Shakespeare Company, and winner of a cluster of international accolades, Matilda the Musical is on stage until October 18th at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre. This smash hit take on Roald Dahl’s classic tale follows the adventures of a “brilliant child with a magical mind”. Nasty teachers had better watch out… bordgaisenergytheatre.ie

Hilma af Klint

The visionary Swedish visual artist was one of Europe’s foremost, and earliest abstract modern painters. Born in 1862, and informed by spirituality, her work was rarely displayed until recently. This major exhibition at the National Gallery is the first in-depth showing of her work in Ireland. Runs October 15th to February 7th 2027. Admission charges apply; nationalgallery.ie

Rembrandt to Matisse

Also at the National, Rembrandt to Matisse is a small gem of an exhibition celebrating European works on paper, from Renaissance times to the present day. Including drawings, watercolours, miniatures, prints and photographs, it is a gentle delight. Ends December 6th, admission free; nationalgallery.ie

Technologies of Peace

Marking Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which runs until the end of this year, the Irish Museum of Modern Art has a major exhibition looking at the pursuit of peace in Europe, from 1989 to the present day. Explore peace through the eyes of Irish and international artists, with plenty of food for thought. Runs until May 9th 2027, admission free; imma.ie

For bookings at the hotel or in the city, please contact The Merrion Concierge