Dublin has always held a very special place in our hearts. After getting to enjoy numerous visits there over the last 5 years, Dublin has quickly become another home away from home. The Irish capital is one of those unique cities where the old meets the new, and they weld together so perfectly. History was made on almost every corner, and while so much in the city has changed since my first visit in April 2013, it also still feels the same. For our final weekend in Ireland, Tor and I called one of our favorite spots “home” for a few days – The Westbury.
Tor and I first visited The Westbury just before our wedding in 2016. We were on yet another magical trip to the Emerald Isle due to Tor’s filming commitments, and one of our closest Irish pals told us we needed to visit The Westbury for an elegant afternoon tea (see our tea post at The Westbury here). We fell in love right away, with the hotel’s modern glamour and elegance just steps from Grafton Street and Stephen’s Green park. We knew the next time we came back to Dublin, we would have to come back as guests.
We could not have stayed in a more luxurious place for our final weekend in Ireland to conclude our 2-week trip for our second wedding anniversary. The Westbury pulled out all the stops to make sure our final nights in Ireland were memorable ones. From the chilled champagne and strawberries awaiting us in our luxury studio suite on arrival to the romantic rose-adorned bed we came back to after dinner, they made sure we kept feeling the love if you know what I mean. It was easy to see why they’re a prominent member of The Leading Hotels of the World.
This was a quick trip to Dublin, giving me only 24 hours in the city before I flew home to Los Angeles (Tor flew home one day after me). We did not get to see and do everything we usually do in Dublin, such as Kilmainham Gaol, Dublin Castle, Christchurch Cathedral, Trinity College (it was closed for an event on our weekend, but check out our last post on Trinity College here), and afternoon tea, but we did make the most of what we could do around The Westbury. After checking in, we quickly changed before heading back outside to venture down what’s known as the Fifth Ave of Dublin – Grafton Street.
If you’re a shopaholic, then The Westbury is a great hotel for you since it’s mere steps from Grafton Street, which houses brands such as L’Occitane, & Other Stories, Topshop, Butler’s Chocolate, and Marks & Spencer. It also houses the big designer department store Brown Thomas, which Tor and I immediately bolted for as usual. I rarely ever leave Brown Thomas empty-handed – last time I left with a new Self-Portrait dress and this time I left with a new Jo Malone perfume. We also stopped at the iconic and legendary shop Avoca, where we bought a green patterned wool-cashmere blanket for our living room.
After shopping, Tor and I headed back to The Westbury where we ducked into their STUNNING restaurant Wilde. This spot inside the hotel gives me garden vibes from the 1910s, with greenery covering the ceiling and alongside the windows. Here, Tor ordered a cocktail and I ordered a glass of Sancerre as we enjoyed a lovely moment of peace before the dinner crowd would arrive. Since Tor and I typically prefer to eat later in the evening, we decided to quickly change again (it was getting cooler outside) and head out for a walk around Stephen’s Green park. After hours of rain, the sun had finally come out and was here to stay for a glorious evening sunset.
Getting to enjoy that sunset in the park surrounded by singing birds and wrapped in my husband’s arms was the best way to end our blissful first day in Dublin. We then dined at the delicious and intimate restaurant Etto, which came highly recommended as an amazing authentic Italian spot. Etto was about a 10-minute walk from The Westbury, and since Tor and I are so fond of walking, we enjoyed a beautiful evening stroll to and from dinner (with the stroll from dinner being a little less graceful after having a whole bottle of red wine!).
The next morning, the clouds had come back and the rain began to fall once again on this historical and charming city. It was a Saturday morning, and from our top floor window it felt like the city was at a peaceful standstill as everyone slept in. We ordered breakfast in bed (The Westbury’s hot chocolate is DIVINE) and enjoyed a lovely morning together before I had to pack up and head to the airport for my afternoon flight home to California. Leaving The Westbury was hard, and leaving Ireland altogether was harder. After an incredible 2 weeks in the country and a blissful weekend in Dublin, it was time to go home and begin to plan our return back to the Emerald Isle someday soon.
Planning your own trip to Ireland? Check out our Ireland travel guide here. Also be sure to watch our latest travel vlog from our blissful 24 hours in Dublin below:
What I Wore In This Post:
By Tsang fuzzy coat c/o, Alexis top (old, last seen here; similar here and here), Maje pants (also available here), Marc Fisher heels (old, similar here), Strathberry bag c/o, NARS Powermatte Lipstick in Save The Queen
Thank you to The Westbury for hosting our stay. Although we were guests of the hotel, all opinions are my own.
Photos by Torrance Coombs.
Which gin did Torrance have in the Westbury?
What is the music playing in the background?