If you're a design nut you'll just adore this place. Not so impressive from the outside (the facade has a very vanilla-modernist look - grand but nothing spectacular) but once you enter the lobby, be prepared to be wowed. A Swarovski crystal strewn reception desk, ceramic scotty dogs designed by John Kindness and fabulous furniture scattered everywhere. It gets better the further in you go - an entire ceiling adorned with lights designed by Tom Dixon in the residents lounge, which is part of a suite of three inter-connecting reception rooms. The other two are the ladies lounge (complete with pink walls, Bridget Riley-esque carpeting and Andy Warhol fabric designs on the chairs) and there's also one for the gents. These rooms then lead into the jewel coloured dining room.
And we're not done yet, the bedrooms - wow. Huuuuuge beds, LCD tellys, sound piped into the bathroom...little cakes laid out for you on arrival. It's just fab. Now that I've done raphsodising about the decor, I can't actually tell you much about their spa facilities, Espa, because I...er, didn't actually make it that far.
But I believe the spa is amazing. I did stroll past it and have a goo in - it looks just as nice as the rest of the hotel. Espa, who are up there in the auld spa design stakes, apparently had a lot of input into the design of the g Espa and it's a 5 star facility, just like the rest of the hotel. It has a secret bamboo garden which isn't available to non spa-going guests and other features include heat treatment rooms, a vitality pool and a glass pavilion (not too sure what this is all about - is it a bit like Wonder Woman's glass plane?).
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There's also a crystal steam room, a lifestyle shower (??) a zen garden and heated loungers.
God, I really wish I had gone in now.
Anyway, if you have a few hundred bob burning a hole in your pocket or just want to treat yourself, the g run special spa packages. Prepare to dig deep, fanciness like this does not come cheap.
Two night's accommodation in a Deluxe Room with full Irish Breakfast plus a visit to ESPA at the g, (to include a two hour ESPA's Signature Experience, Pure Time - Pure Indulgence Ritual with access to the Thermal Suite, Vitality Pool and Relaxation Area overlooking the Zen Garden) will set you back €370.00 per person sharing for a 2 night stay or €480.00 per person sharing for a 3 night stay. It's available from Sunday to Thursday inclusive.
