IMPRESSIVE SPA TAKES CENTRE STAGE
CITY centre hotels often prioritise location over facilities, knowing that the proximity to amenities will draw visitors no matter what the on-site offerings are.
However, the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel on Golden Lane in Dublin doesn’t rest on its laurels in this regard and has everything you could need to stay within the confines of the hotel on a visit.
A lively bar, a high-level restaurant, discreet outdoor areas and numerous communal areas all combine to offer a one-stop shop for a stay.
The Chancery Grill has some of the best steaks Dublin has to offer cooked on an Asador grill. Other highlights include oak-smoked salmon with an apple crab roulade and sage and onion stuffed chicken ballotine.
Cocktails are also impressive — as they are in the Dyflin Bar, which is particularly lively at weekends.
If you choose to include breakfast in your booking, the buffet is fresh and wellstocked and for every meal they can easily cater for dietary preferences.
The jewel in the Radisson crown, however, is the Velvaere spa. Using the gorgeous Codage products, there is a range of treatments to choose from, including a fire and ice resurfacing facial and a mus- cular release massage — Irene is one of the best in the business and will work out all those knots in no time.
You can also have a Codage serum custom-made for your skin to treat your specific needs.
The experience doesn’t end when your treatment does, so make sure you leave plenty of time to relax in the Thermal Suite. It’s home to a heated loungers, hydrotherapy pool, ice fountain, drench shower, Finnish sauna and a steam room.
The highlight for me was the Caribbean storm shower, which mimics the sound and lighting of a tropical storm.
Take your time in this area and when you eventually head back to your room, you can enjoy the views over the garden while you sip on a coffee and indulge in the TV’s surround sound and comfortable beds.
If you can tear yourself away, you’ll find yourself on the doorstep of all that Dublin city centre has to offer.
St Patrick’s Cathedral is a stone’s throw away, while Grafton Street and its shopping amenities are equally close. The Rock ’n’Roll Museum is nearby too, or you can check out some of the famed Camden Street nightlife.
Back at the hotel, The Old Town Cafe is a delightful space in which to enjoy a Cloud Picker coffee or a baked treat before heading home, rested and revived.