Christmas Afternoon Tea at The Shelbourne: A Warm Welcome to Dublin

A beautifully decorated grand hotel, a cozy table by the fireplace, and a festive afternoon tea that became one of our favorite memories of Christmas in Dublin.

We arrived in Dublin in December 2022, looking forward to spending Christmas in one of our favorite cities. We were staying at The Shelbourne, the celebrated hotel overlooking St. Stephen's Green, and had reserved afternoon tea for our first afternoon.

At the time, it seemed like a wonderful idea. But by the time we reached Dublin, thoroughly jet-lagged from our journey, I was beginning to question the wisdom of scheduling afternoon tea for our very first day.

Any doubts began to disappear the moment we stepped inside the hotel.

The magnificent entrance hall, with its sparkling chandeliers, beautifully decorated Christmas trees, and lavish seasonal arrangements, was everything we could have hoped for. We had barely arrived, but already felt that our stay at The Shelbourne was going to be something special.

Afternoon Tea in the Lord Mayor's Lounge

Later that afternoon, we made our way to the Lord Mayor's Lounge, the hotel's elegant drawing room overlooking St. Stephen's Green. Christmas music filled the air as our server welcomed us and led us to a wonderfully cozy table beside the fireplace.

It was an inviting setting for afternoon tea at any time of year, but particularly lovely at Christmas.

The service was everything one might expect from a hotel of The Shelbourne's reputation: polished and attentive, yet genuinely warm and welcoming. We settled into our comfortable surroundings, and before long our afternoon tea arrived.

The traditional three-tiered stand was beautifully presented, with an assortment of delicate finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones, and festive pastries.

As anyone who knows me will appreciate, I remember the scones particularly well. They were absolutely delicious, and I was delighted when our server offered additional servings before we had even finished the first round. In fact, the same generous offer extended to everything on the tea stand.

The tea itself was exceptional, too. We enjoyed it so much that we purchased a tin of The Shelbourne's signature house blend to take home with us, a lovely reminder of our visit long after Christmas had passed.

And I must confess that one of my happiest discoveries during our stay was finding those wonderful scones offered again at the breakfast buffet!

A Christmas Afternoon to Remember

Under ordinary circumstances, we might have been eager to finish our tea and set off exploring Dublin. But this was our first afternoon, and the effects of our journey were beginning to catch up with us.

So we lingered.

With Christmas music playing softly in the background, a welcoming fire nearby, and another cup of excellent tea in hand, we found ourselves in no particular hurry to be anywhere else.

There was plenty of Dublin waiting to be explored, and we were certainly looking forward to seeing the city dressed for Christmas. But in the end, we decided that sightseeing could wait until the following morning.

After all, it was difficult to imagine a more pleasant place to spend our first afternoon in Dublin than in the Lord Mayor's Lounge, enjoying the warmth and festive atmosphere of The Shelbourne.

Looking back, our Christmas afternoon tea at The Shelbourne was probably our favorite of the entire trip. What began as a reservation I nearly regretted making turned out to be the perfect welcome to Dublin—and one of our loveliest memories of Christmas in Ireland.

At a Glance

Location: The Shelbourne Hotel, 27 St. Stephen's Green, Dublin, Ireland

Setting: The Lord Mayor's Lounge, an elegant drawing room overlooking St. Stephen's Green

Atmosphere: Traditional, luxurious, and wonderfully festive, with Christmas decorations and seasonal music

Afternoon Tea: Finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones, seasonal pastries, and a selection of fine teas

Our Visit: December 2022

2026 Festive Season: November 19, 2026 – January 4, 2027

Price: Classic afternoon tea from €79 per person; Champagne afternoon tea from €102. Confirm festive pricing with the hotel.

Reservations: Advance booking required

Website: https://theshelbourne.com/

Menus, prices, and seasonal offerings may change; please consult the hotel's website for current information.