I have such fond memories of going to the Royal Marine Hotel in Dún Laoghaire for afternoon tea with my mother and sister. It always felt like a real treat – sitting in the Bay Lounge, looking out at the sea, working our way through sandwiches, scones with jam and clotted cream and more cakes than we ever needed but still finished. My mother loved those afternoons and even now, my sister and I still keep that tradition going – this time with my own daughter, who’s named after my mother. There’s something about places like this, the older, classic hotels, that hold onto those memories. It almost feels like a second home.
The Royal Marine Hotel dates back to the early 19th century, opening its doors in 1828. Known as Kingstown then, now Dun Laoghaire, it was fast becoming a popular seaside escape. It is located close to what was then a busy harbour with many ferry links to England, bringing tourists from afar as well as from Dublin’s wealthier residential areas.
Over time, it built a reputation as a grand Victorian hotel, attracting prominent guests – including members of royalty, which is where the ‘Royal’ in its name comes from. It really was a place where people came for the sea air, to socialise and to have a seaside holiday.
Over the years, some prominent guests (whose photos are displayed on the walls in the hotel) stayed here with interesting stories to tell. Politician Michael Collins is believed to have hidden in room 210 with Kitty Kiernan in 1920, comedy duo Laurel and Hardy stayed for 33 nights in 1953 (Hardy’s Bar in the hotel is named after them), crooner Frank Sinatra is believed to have spent time at the bar also Northerner Jimmy Kennedy stayed in the hotel (he wrote well-known songs ‘Red Sails in the Sunset’ and ‘South of the Border.’) Going back even further in 1870, Queen Elizabeth had a 16-course breakfast in the hotel and in 1923, Guglielmo Marconi’s wireless company made the first radio broadcast from the hotel.
Today, while it’s been slightly modernised, you can still feel that history in the building, that sense that it has seen a lot over time and it certainly did. If only walls could talk! It’s one of those places that carries its past quite naturally, without needing to make a big deal of it but it’s also good to remind visitors of its colourful history.
The hotel caters for lots of transient visitors, local and international. It’s also so reassuring to hear an Irish accent while sipping a drink or cup of tea, gazing out the windows at the sea in the Bay lounge. The hotel has 228 rooms in total and ranges from standard rooms to more spacious suites, with many offering views out over Dublin Bay. We stayed in a family suite, which could easily sleep up to a family of six. They also provide cots for the smaller family members. There is a great-sized pool with tranquil lighting that immediately makes you relax, with a jacuzzi directly beside the pool so parents can observe the children while relaxing in the bubbles.
Dún Laoghaire is a perfect location if you want to explore. The DART will have you in the city centre in about 30 minutes and on a clear day, that coastal journey is hard to beat. You can also walk to Dalkey village from the hotel, where there are plenty of lovely spots for lunch and small, quirky shops to browse through.
But if you’re in the mood for something simpler, take it at a slower pace. A walk along the East Pier, a coffee or fish and chips by the water, and of course a Teddy’s ice cream – it’s hard to top that for an afternoon and a firm favourite way to spend it as a local.
When you arrive back at the hotel, the Bay Lounge is waiting. You can settle into a comfortable chair, look out at the sea, and if the fire is lit, you’ll have no reason to rush anywhere at all, except to get changed for dinner.
And that’s the thing about places like the Royal Marine – they stay with you. It’s not just the view or the food; it’s the memories. The people might change, the years move on, but the feeling is still there. Sitting in the Bay Lounge now, watching my own daughter take it all in, it feels like everything has come full circle. The same sea, the same setting, just a new generation making their own memories. Maybe that’s what keeps us coming back – not just for the tea or the tradition, but for the quiet comfort of a place that still feels familiar, no matter how much time has passed.
Travel Facts
An average room is €150 bed & breakfast in a Classic Room and €280 Bed & Breakfast in a Family Executive Room (depending on the time of year)
