THE MERRION HOTEL
Upper Merrion Street • Dublin
353-1-603-0600 • merrionhotel.com
Located in the historic Georgian center of Dublin and close to the National Museum and the National Gallery, The Merrion Hotel is naturally a popular and busy location for tea. The hotel was created from four grand townhouses built in the 1760s. The high ceilings, generous windows, and harmonious proportions of the drawing rooms make this a very appropriate and gracious setting for traditional afternoon tea.
On fine days, perhaps choose a table on the Garden Terrace where fountains flow, foliage cascades from stone planters, and birdsong fills the air.
As well as offering a classic afternoon tea, The Merrion has devised Art Tea, a witty interpretation of the hotel’s important collection of fine contemporary Irish art. Executive Chef Ed Cooney and Master Pastry Chef Paul Kelly have created 12 pastries, each inspired by a piece of this art. Three are served at a time, and the collection is rotated constantly. So, when you’ve enjoyed the sandwiches and bridge rolls, warm scones and tea breads, you may find yourself nibbling on the Tahitian landscape of Path Moorea by Pauline Bewick (a dark chocolate cream, milky vanilla cream with zingy lime and white chocolate, tiny chocolate palm trees catching the breeze), Homage to Fernand Leger by Robert Ballagh (a mango panna cotta with raspberry jelly), or Roses and Temple by Patrick Hennessy (a rosewater and orange mousse on a crispy white chocolate praline biscuit). Each guest receives a copy of The Merrion’s art collection catalogue to browse through while indulging in art that is good enough to eat!
