Dublin is one of those cities that gets under your skin. It’s lively, friendly, steeped in history and seemingly always ready to tempt you into one more pub, one more glass of something or one more little detour down a cobbled street.

So, finding somewhere that puts you right in the heart of it all, yet gives you a wonderfully peaceful retreat at the end of the day, feels like having the best of both worlds.

Enter The Chancery, Dublin. Sitting beside Dublin Castle, The Chancery is a relatively new addition to the city’s luxury hotel scene and, from the moment we arrived for our two-night stay, there was a warmth about it. Check-in was faultless, delivered with that wonderful Irish charm that makes you feel instantly welcome. Nothing was too much trouble and within minutes we felt completely at home.

The interiors are contemporary and stylish but not remotely showy, with natural materials, warm muted colours and clever lighting creating an understated elegance throughout.

For the next two nights, one of The Chancery’s new Terrace Suites was our home and this is where our stay became rather special.

The hotel describes its bedrooms as somewhere to “put the city outside on pause”, and standing inside our suite, I understood exactly what they meant.

At around 26 square metres, it’s not about cavernous amounts of space; instead, every inch feels beautifully considered. Herringbone hardwood flooring, natural materials, pared-back colours and clean contemporary lines give the room a calm, grown-up feel.

The bed, topped with an Irish-made King Koil mattress and beautifully crisp linen, is dangerously inviting, while thoughtful touches such as bedside USB points, electronically controlled curtains and lighting, a walk-in rainfall shower, fluffy robes and slippers and gorgeous toiletries are those little extras that come together to create a real sense of understated luxury.

But as beautiful as the suite was, nothing quite prepared us for what was waiting outside.

Sliding open the doors revealed an incredible private terrace that felt more like an outdoor living room than a hotel balcony. A huge, sink-into corner sofa sat perfectly positioned for taking in the views, alongside a dining area and, beyond the glass balustrade, Dublin’s rooftops and historic skyline stretched out before us.

And then, at the other end of the terrace, was the pièce de résistance, our own private Hot Tub.

Naturally, it didn’t take us long to investigate. With a chilled glass of Prosecco in hand, we sank into the warm bubbling water and looked out across Dublin’s rooftops.

There’s something deliciously decadent about sitting in your own private hot tub in the middle of a capital city. No communal spa timetable, nobody else waiting to get in and nowhere you need to be, just warm bubbling water, a glass in your hand and a fabulous view stretching out in front of you.

Over the next two days, the terrace became somewhere we returned to again and again. After a day exploring, we’d make hot chocolate and curl up on those huge sofas beneath the evening sky, while mornings were spent watching the first light slowly appear across Dublin’s rooftops. It was magical.

As if having our own private hot tub wasn’t enough, we eventually managed to drag ourselves away from the suite to investigate The Chancery’s Wellness Hub.

Hidden away from the energy of the city, the spa feels intimate and wonderfully cocooning, with natural woods and marble, a mini pool, sauna and Hammam creating a soothing space where you could easily lose track of time. My treatment completed the experience perfectly; within minutes, the softly lit room, beautiful aromas and expert hands had me completely switched off, leaving me in that blissfully floaty state where you’re not entirely sure what day it is.

That evening, suitably relaxed, we headed to the hotel’s restaurant Fawn for dinner. Bright, airy and beautifully designed, Fawn feels sophisticated without becoming formal. Greenery outside the windows softens the contemporary interiors and there’s an easy, unhurried atmosphere that makes you want to settle in for the evening.

The menu celebrates seasonal Irish produce, with a definite Italian influence running through it. While we perused the menu, we sipped a welcome cocktail, accompanied by warm focaccia and olives.

I started with the Heirloom Tomato & Toonsbridge Bocconcini, beautifully fresh and full of flavour, while my guest opted for the Fried Calamari & Merguez, bringing together seafood, spice and richer flavours.

For my main, it had to be the Aubergine Parmigiana, comforting and rich without feeling overly heavy, while across the table the Cioppino Seafood Stew arrived brimming with seafood in a deeply flavoursome broth.

For research purposes, we did briefly look at the dessert menu, but there simply wasn’t room.

After sinking into our sumptuous bed for an incredibly restful night’s sleep, we woke refreshed and more than ready for breakfast, with fresh fruit, pastries, house-made granola and tempting cooked dishes, accompanied, of course, by proper barista-made coffee for that essential first caffeine hit of the day.

Fully fuelled and possibly having eaten slightly more breakfast than necessary, we headed out to explore, and with The Chancery perfectly positioned in the heart of the city, we didn’t have far to go.

We wandered through Dublin’s historic streets, taking in St Patrick’s Cathedral and nearby Marsh’s Library before heading towards the colourful buzz of Temple Bar, with its cobbled streets, traditional pubs and live music.

The Guinness Storehouse was firmly on our list too, before our wanderings led us to The Brazen Head, reputed to be Ireland’s oldest pub. Packed with character and history, it was the perfect place for lunch and, of course, there was really only one thing I could order, a warming bowl of traditional Irish stew.

After clocking up plenty of steps, the thought of heading back to The Chancery was becoming increasingly appealing. We slipped into the bar for a chilled glass of wine before retreating upstairs, where the hot tub was calling once again.

Shoes off, robes on and into the bubbles, sightseeing is exhausting work!

And this, for me, is where The Chancery really comes into its own. You can spend the day immersed in Dublin’s history, atmosphere, restaurants and pubs, yet the moment you step back inside the hotel, the pace changes. Head upstairs, close the door to your Terrace Suite and suddenly the city feels a world away.

Those quieter moments became every bit as memorable as exploring Dublin itself, sinking into the hot tub with a glass of Prosecco after walking miles around the city, curling into the sofas with hot chocolate late at night, opening the doors first thing in the morning and watching the sun begin to rise across the rooftops.

The Chancery manages to make a city break feel like a retreat at the same time and therein lies its charm.

Luxurious without being ostentatious, indulgent without trying too hard and with one of those suites you really won’t want to leave, this is city living with all the right little luxuries thrown in.

BOOK IT

The Chancery, Dublin offers nightly rates from €250 for rooms and €650 for suites, all on a B&B basis.

For more information or to book, visit www.thechanceryhotel.ie