Reviewed By Mark Casserly
The Spencer Hotel, which is located on Excise Walk, IFSC, Dublin 1, in the heart of Dublin City and in the busy IFSC district, has wonderful views overlooking the River Liffey.
The Spencer is so convenient for travelers, with Connolly Station only a 5 minute walk away and the 747 Airlink/Dublin Express bus to Dublin Airport stopping right across from the hotel.
As the hotel is situated in the city center, a great bonus is that a secure underground car park is available for just €20 per overnight stay.
I stayed in one of the hotel's deluxe balcony rooms.
It was wonderful to sit out on the balcony and enjoy the panoramic view of the city's skyline on what was such a fine day.
The hotel's spacious rooms contain a comfortable king-sized bed and amenities such as Rituals toiletries, a rainforest shower, a Nespresso machine, fluffy bathrobes and slippers, air conditioning, and a 24-hour room service.
I was impressed by how bright and vibrant the room was and by the luxuriousness of the bathroom.
On the evening of my stay, I dined at the hotel's EAST Restaurant.
EAST is unique in that it offers an Asian fusion menu with influences from Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, China and Japan, which are used to create a true celebration of pan Asian cuisine.
For my starter, I had the crispy pork croquettes, which consisted of pulled pork bonded with cheddar cheese croquettes and served on a bed of mixed leaves with apple puree dipping sauce.
The pork inside the croquettes was so succulent and it was a great way to start my dining experience.
For my main course, I chose the fish and chips.
The fish was beer battered hake, which was served with tartar sauce, mushy peas and skinny fries. The quality of the fish was excellent with the tangy tartar sauce and the moreish fries complementing it perfectly to create a really tasty dish.
To finish, I had an assiette of various desserts.
This contained 3 mini desserts with white chocolate & raspberry mousse, Guinness mousse and a brownie cube, all dressed with fruit coulis and a wafer crisp. This was a lovely way to finish the meal and to get a small taste of a variety of sweet treats.
The next morning I had breakfast in The Pantry.
A full range of hot items were available as well as cereals, yogurts, fresh pastries, fresh fruit and meats & cheeses. I would recommend trying the delicious pancakes, which were some of the best I have ever tasted.
The Spencer Health Club offers guests a rejuvenating experience with an 18-meter/59-foot swimming pool, a sauna, a steam room and a large gym.
The hotel also houses The Viola Day Spa which offers extra relaxation with a range of treatments available such as massages, body wraps, waxing, and facials.
I really enjoyed my stay at The Spencer and would recommend anyone to visit it. The city center location is a big plus aided by the great service from all the staff.
The food was cooked beautifully and together with the large rooms and health club, I feel that these are just some of the reasons why you should take a trip to The Spencer.
The average rate at The Spencer Hotel can vary depending on the season. In October, for example, the rates are cheaper and about $480 for 2 nights for a classic queen room.
