The Drawing Room HourNotebook No 97March 2026
When the city is gentler than people warn you it will be.
Collected by Deborah. Read her editorial perspective
Dublin in December possesses a quiet poise we appreciate. The summer throngs recede, allowing for a more tranquil experience as strings of lights illuminate the city’s Georgian architecture. Our preferred bookshops, usually a lively scene, offer a calm space for quiet thought amidst the brisk air.
Adare
We locate our rhythm by staying close to Merrion Square, waking for a walk beside the canal as the morning light breaks. Later, we find comfort in a pub with a strong fire, where an early dinner fits neatly after time spent exploring the city.
Our American friends consistently feel December in Dublin was the right choice.
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The Ireland Edit Way
Cut the itinerary in half, then cut it again. The letter we send before every first visit.
Every hotel change costs you half a day. Luxury, in Ireland, is staying put.
Six questions we apply before booking any room in Ireland. The November test, the dinner-twice test, the landscape-over-room test.
To understand Ireland, stop looking at the castles and start looking at the kitchen table.
From the notebook
Collected notes. A few times each season.