The 5-star Radisson Blu St. Helen’s Hotel is set on a historic stately home dating back to 1750 and is conveniently located near University College Dublin on the south side of the city. Known for its luxurious accommodations and award-winning cuisine it features 151 rooms and suites across the period building and contemporary wing and is cocooned in 1.5 hectares of formal gardens and mature woodlands. Amenities include a well-equipped fitness suite, the Orangerie Bar with an extensive gin menu, the Ballroom Lounge, and Talavera restaurant serving award-winning Italian cuisine.
Location
The hotel is 18km from Dublin Airport which takes around 35 minutes to get to door to door and around 20 minutes from the hotel to Dublin city centre. Located on the south side it is right next to the very pretty and affluent suburb of Blackrock which is well worth exploring as well as University College Dublin which is next to the property.
The Laith
The reason we were in Dublin was to celebrate the launch of the SENSES a whiskey collaboration between Egan’s Irish Whiskey and Michelin-starred Chef Damien Grey. Read more about SENSES here.
The launch event was hosted at Damien’s two Michelin Starred restaurant Liath Restaurant which is in Blackrok and only a short five-minute taxi from the hotel. The Laith really is something special, with only a few tables, the intimate dining experience is enhanced by Damien Grey and his dedicated team, who personally explain each dish with such passion and theatre it’s unlike any fine dining experience I have had before and it is no wonder the restaurant is booked up months in advance – I would highly recommend trying to book a table and experience this for yourself – if you can!
The tasting menu features bold, innovative creations that highlight the five fundamental tastes – salt, savoury, sweet, bitter, and sour – which come together in perfect harmony.
Rooms & Suites
The 151 rooms and suites are generous in size and furnished to a classic, yet contemporary finish, with king-sized beds featuring luxurious Egyptian cotton sheets, and duck-down duvets. Complimentary mineral water, Nespresso and tea are presented in each room, while bathrooms feature walk-in showers and separate bathtubs, along with luxury Radisson branded amenities.
Our Room During Our Stay
Food & Drink
As we were dining in The Laith (more to follow) I didn’t eat in the restaurant, but there is an award-winning Italian restaurant, Talavera, which looks out to the manicured gardens and has an outdoor terrace for alfresco dining in the summer. Breakfast is also served in Talavera which serves a hot and cold buffet selection. I was lucky the weather was so nice during my stay I was able to eat outside on the terrace garden.
There is also a spectacular glasshouse bar called the Orangerie Bar which also connects with the back garden and is a wonderful spot for a pre or post-dinner cocktail.
Final Thoughts
If you want to visit Dublin and don’t mind being slightly outside of the city centre, this really is a great option, plenty of car parking makes it ideal for a base to explore more of the south of the island and the very pretty town of Blackrock is just on the hotel’s doorstep and is well worth exploring. This property is included in our guide to the best hotels in Dublin
Contact Details
Website: www.radissonhotels.com
Address: Stillorgan Rd, Booterstown, Dublin, A94 V6W3, Ireland
