Go Overnight

GEMMA TIPTONsays at Bentley's in Dublin

IT’S A DISCONCERTING experience to discover a nude portrait of yourself gracing the wall of a hotel bar. It has never happened to me before, until Bentley’s. I was a little disconcerted already, it has to be said. After being checked in by a friendly girl, I was shown up to a pretty room, which included an ornamental fireplace, a fake orchid, enormously opulent silk curtains and a stunning view across St Stephen’s Green. The walls were painted a soft pinky mushroom colour, which is much nicer than it sounds, and there was a big crushed velvet headboard in a purpley brown.

What was missing, however, was one of those little booklets of hotel information that tell you when to check out, what time breakfast is, and so on. These have reams of information, most of which you will never use, but they are sort of comforting, and give you an indication of the type of place you’re in. All Bentley’s had was a menu for the restaurant below.

I rang reception and enquired about breakfast. I also asked whether they could send up the hotel info, but it seemed they didn’t have any. I had a shower (amazingly good pressure), felt the lack of a towelling robe, got dressed and went for a walk.

Bentley’s itself is rather gorgeous. You pay a little extra for a room at the front, but the views of the Green are well worth it. There is a fabulous arched ceiling over the staircase (although the lift only goes as far as the second floor), and the whole place is beautifully decorated, with antiques and art dotted around, with none of that “big hotel” atmosphere that can be a little off-putting.

More recently incarnated as Browne’s Hotel, Number 22 was refurbished in 2008, and is now Bentley’s, sharing the name and premises with Richard Corrigan’s restaurant on the ground floor. I didn’t have dinner there, but took advantage of my city centre location to meet a friend in town. This meant I missed having a cocktail in the first floor Aviator Lounge, and avoided coming face to face with my portrait, stiff drink in hand – that discovery was saved for later.

Back after dinner, the bed was comfy, although inexplicably all six pillows had enormous pillow cases on them, neatly folded down to fit. Breakfast in the restaurant the next morning was fine, and it was lovely to sip excellent coffee and watch the city on its way to work through the elegant windows.

Up in the elegant Aviator Lounge, the portrait in question is almost life-sized, and was painted by Nick Miller a few years ago for an exhibition of nudes he was working on for the Rubicon Gallery, which is just a few doors down at Number 10. I really like it, and it’s probably not recognisably me enough to worry about losing my anonymity when it comes to writing hotel reviews. I had been surprised, and relieved, to find at the opening night that I had “sold out – including the sketches”. I didn’t know then that art auctioneer John de Vere White had bought the biggest “me”, nor that he lends his collection to some favoured hotels, which is how I came to be in Bentley’s cocktail lounge. Thinking about it now, I’m relieved, because he also lends to the Four Seasons, and I don’t think I’d fancy being in the Ice Bar.

I really liked Bentley’s, so much so that I pursued the matter of hotel information. Yes, they were printing up some pages, and yes, they are now in all the rooms. From these, you’ll learn that not only is there room service, and bathrobes for all, but that if you book room 209, you can sleep in Marilyn Monroe’s bed. It came with the building; a wealthy American had it flown over when the building housed a private club, and it has stayed there ever since – but that’s another story.

WhereBentley's,St Stephen's Green, Dublin 2. 01-6383939, bentleys dublin.com.

WhatCity centre townhouse.

Rooms10.

Best ratesOffers from €130 per room BB, June Sex and The City package: BB, pre-theatre dinner menu and a Cosmopolitan cocktail, €190.

Restaurant and barBentley's restaurant, Aviator lounge and bar with menu, cocktails and wine.

Child friendlinessChildren's menu, high chairs and family rooms.

Wheelchair accessListed building, no access.

AmenitiesComplimentary Wi-Fi, Cocktail bar, Oyster bar, meeting/private dining room, 24-hour reception, parking available by arrangement with Dawson Street car park, art collection.

Go Overnights are reviewed anonymously and paid for by The Irish Times