I’m standing at the mini bar of The Marylebone Suite in London, and my eye is caught by a rare sight for the UK capital. 

In front of me is a tray of Barry’s Tea, their gold and red jackets hard to miss on the shiny marble countertop. A staple of every Irish kitchen press, I gasp in delight. I’m just five minutes’ walk from Oxford Street, but as I reach to brew my favourite cuppa, I could be back at a friend’s house in the suburbs of Dublin. 

That is, if my friend lived in a house with a rooftop terrace, a whirlpool bath and a high-end Julian Chichester dining table. 

Owned by Irish luxury hotelier, The Doyle Collection, The Marylebone has been bringing a slice of its Celtic background to central London for over three decades. The property dates back to the 1960s, when it was known as the Clifton-Ford Hotel, before falling under the ownership of Jurys Inn in 1983, who ran it as four-star hotel under the name Jury’s Clifton-Ford. 

In 2008, it was rebranded into The Marylebone by The Doyle Collection in a £200 million renovation project that also marked the London debut for the brand. Today, it considers itself the anchor of this quaint area of London, regularly partnering with nearby businesses to create fun events (think festivals and workshops) for both guests and locals.

What makes The Marylebone unique, however, is its heritage. As one of three properties operated here by The Doyle Collection, (the others being The Kensington and The Bloomsbury), the hotel thoroughly embraces its Irish identity. Despite being located in the West End, one of the most traditionally British and touristy areas of London, this historic building feels like it could be straight off Dublin’s Harcourt Street or Merrion Square. 

It still manages to fit in seamlessly with its exclusive neighbours too, keeping up with the city’s competitive luxury scene without losing its Irish charm. And as a Dubliner living in London, I was keen to discover how The Marylebone, at nearly 300 miles from its roots, achieves this perfect balance. 

The Real Irish 

So often, nods to Ireland abroad can feel craned and feeble; think Enya, Claddagh rings, leprechauns. They are well-meaning references, but they are also overly simplistic, and fail to reflect most Irish people’s lived experience. 

I quickly learn that at The Marylebone, these nods don’t make an uncomfortable creak, because the muscles are already warmed up. This is largely due to its staff, who have captured the essence of Ireland in ways that feel authentic yet also modern. 

Guests are greeted by doormen with Dublin accents, and checked-in by receptionists with the smile of a Bean an Ti (woman of the house). Equally, those who aren’t Irish bring the warmth of their own backgrounds to work, creating a multicultural atmosphere that echoes the variety of Ireland’s landscape today. (In fact, Victor, our Brazilian host and head of guest experiences, was so welcoming when giving us the tour of our suite that we strongly considered asking him to stay for caipirinhas.) 

Guests are greeted by doormen with Dublin accents, and checked-in by receptionists with the smile of a Bean an Ti.

“It all comes down to our staff,” Nicholas Davies, general manager at The Marylebone, tells me. “Doyle hones in on service. We employ individuals with personality.” 

Davies adds that The Marylebone’s staff are encouraged to be themselves at work, alluding to the ‘craic’ that has solidified Ireland’s hospitality for centuries. “We have fun here,” he says. “People don’t come to work to be miserable!”

A Dublin-inspired hotel 

Threads of Ireland are seamlessly woven into in fabric of The Marylebone. I find Guinness bread served at dinner in The Brassiere 108, the hotel’s stand-alone restaurant, and discover Irish breakfast is offered in place of the classic English fry-up. Truffles from Butlers, one of Ireland’s favourite chocolatiers, adorn pillows at turndown, and Jameson, the nation’s most popular whiskey, takes centre stage at the bar. 

The layout of the hotel is also quintessentially Irish, with Davies likening its reception to the ‘wardrobe of Narnia.’ Guests will quickly find a warren of public spaces, including The Cocktail Bar, a sophisticated hangout.

“You walk through the lobby into these nooks and crannies, and see that every room is different,” he explains. 

I smile at this; it reminds me of the topsy-turviness of Dublin, how its cobbled streets confuse Google Maps and its low-rise buildings merrily clash. The pub culture of Ireland has also been exported here, with a snug bar included as a welcome alternative to the more formal establishments of the area.  

“You walk through the lobby into these nooks and crannies, and see that every room is different”

Good food done well 

There is no ‘food and beverage’ department as such at The Marylebone, which tickles me. Here we are in the heart of London, where hospitality can feel ordered to surgical precision, and yet, there is a gentle rebellion against such an orchestrated operation at this hotel. 

“The bar and the restaurant just help each other out,” Davies explains. “We’re not aiming for Michelin stars here  – we want great food that’s cooked simply with beautiful ingredients. We don’t aim to compete with anyone, we do what we do.” 

It’s a dining experience that elevates the familiar; think Dover sole and Jersey oysters, dry-aged beef and Black Angus steaks, all served with a side of mushy peas, tartare sauce and thick chips.

There’s also a vegan and vegetarian menu, boasting a range of international dishes like Thai Panang curry, corn tostadas and risotto primavera. The Irish flavours, unsurprisingly, are reserved for the bar, where you’ll find a wide selection of whiskies from Irish Distillers, Dingle Gin, and of course, Guinness on-tap. 

Suite choices 

There are 257 guest rooms and suites, starting from entry level category the Cosy room, which, with its double bed and dedicated workspace, has been designed for solo travellers and is typically favoured by corporate guests. Larger options include the Studio, Luxury Suites and Terrace suites – I was fortunate enough to stay in The Marylebone Suite, the most exclusive room in the hotel.

At 120 sqm, the Scandi-style penthouse includes a terrace with several comfy seating options, an electric fireplace and of course, breathtaking views of London’s skyline. Inside, there’s a dining area with a wrap-around sofa which leads on to a master bedroom and a spacious marble bathroom. Board games and books stack the shelves, and statement pieces like monkey statues and feathered lampshades add colour to the suite’s neutral colour palate. 

The Irish touches, again, are in the detail. A W. B. Yeats quote, ‘Tread Softly’, has been used for the ‘Do Not Disturb’ door hanger, and several furniture pieces hail from Newry-based manufacturer Orior. There’s also Bailles coffee from Northern Ireland, Cloon Keen candles handmade in Galway, of course, the all-important Barry’s Tea. 

A healthy hotel  

The Marylebone is one of the few luxury hotels in central London to offer a large fitness space with a pool, making it particularly appealing for clients who want to stay active while travelling. 

The property has been home to a Third Space Health Club since 2011, which is complimentary to all guests during their stay.

The contemporary gym boasts a range of facilities, including Technogym equipment, a Power Plate Zone and a Wattbike area, all set across two sprawling floors. There’s also a Retro Gym with ropes, bars, beams and stairs, as well as the 18-metre ozone-treated swimming pool with a steam room and separate saunas in the men and women’s changing rooms. Guests are welcome to participate in a weekly schedule of over 100 fitness classes or book a private session with a personal trainer.

But the real health benefits of The Marylebone, for me, come from its people. From its managers to the housekeeping team, the staff treat guests with a level of hospitality no amount of money can buy. ‘Hellos’ are replaced by ‘hiyas’, and ‘thank you’s’ are shortened to ‘cheers’.

Advice for exploring London like a local is warmly dispensed, while exchanges are punctuated by hearty laughter and gentle banter. In a city where five-star service can, so often, seem somewhat stiff, it was refreshing to see it gushed out so liberally. 

As my stay at The Marylebone came to an end, I felt a sense of peace I hadn’t experienced in London for a long time. It was like I’d entered a mini Dublin, where I could enjoy Guinness that had been lovingly poured, sip tea I didn’t have to stew, and say ‘film’ without being mocked. 

It wouldn’t be until my departure, however, when it became clear just how comfortable I’d become in this Zone 1 bolthole over the past 24 hours. As the doorman waved me out with a grin and a ‘Safe home!’ I found myself stumped by his words.

I took one last look at the lobby, with its relaxed front desk and friendly concierge, and instantly realised why I hadn’t understood them; I’d only arrived at The Marylebone a mere day ago, but I felt like I could have been there for years. Then it dawned on me: I may have been checking out, but I wasn’t going home – because I’d been there all along.