Best for grandeur

THE SHELBOURNE

The Shelbourne is where the Irish constitution was drafted. It’s mentioned in James Joyce’s Ulysses. It’s where Princess Grace of Monaco and then-First Lady Michelle Obama stayed and where actor Peter O’Toole reputedly bathed in Champagne. The grande dame is run by Marriott these days, but a refurb has left the Dublin DNA intact — thanks to tweaks to spaces like the Lord Mayor’s lounge and the addition of a new terrace and the 1824 Bar (complete with painting of Bono on a winged horse). Rooms facing St Stephen’s Green have the best views and are priced accordingly. ROOMS: Doubles from €349 (£303), B&B. theshelbourne.com