In a country renowned for its charm and hospitality, The Merrion is a shining example of how the Irish do luxury. From the staff with second to none charisma and the building itself fusing elements of old-school glamour with contemporary design, it’s a destination that offers guests a slice of some of the best in the country.
While the grandeur and warmth should be more than enough to reel you in, it’s The Merrion’s art collection that really separates it from the rest. Considered one of the largest and most significant private collections of 19th and 20th-century art in Ireland, it’s a worth visit for both art lovers and passers-by alike. Building on this, the team at The Merrion have designed an exquisite afternoon tea to directly reflect the breathtaking works of art on show.
Hosted in their magnificent garden facing rooms (or outside, should weather permit), their “Art Afternoon Tea” serves up all the delights you’d expect but elevates the experience with sumptuous treats crafted to directly correlate with that week’s featured art – yes, from the walls.
To begin, you can expect delightful savoury options like cornfed chicken with truffle mayonnaise on sunflower bread, duck egg mayonnaise in a brioche bun and smoked salmon with lemon butter on brown bread. The next couple of tiers up deliver scones, lemon bread, porter cake and Battenberg to name a few. It’s after this, albeit wonderful, quintessential afternoon tea that the true individuality arrives.
Taking the experience to the next level, everyone is then treated to their own eye-catching plate with three treats to match the artwork. While you’ll likely spend a while deliberating over whether you want to keep it in a glass cabinet or actually get around to eating it, once you’ve gone for the latter the taste maintains that same level of mouthwatering mastery.
Wrapping out the experience, each guest is then offered a take-home book which showcases some of the most exceptional art pieces from the building – a fantastic keepsake for something that, typically speaking, will appeal to art fans or those looking for something a little extra special.
For those not so keen on the art aspect, The Garden Room Picnic experience will be running from June – September serving similarly delectable treats in a marginally more relaxed setting while giving you the chance to catch some rays in their tranquil garden space.
As one of the jewels in the crown of Dublin’s booming tourism industry, The Merrion definitely one to add to your wishlist, you won’t be disappointed.
Call +353 1 603 0600 to book or visit www.merrionhotel.com for more information.
