Its restaurants specialised in haute cuisine, which gradually declined in popularity in the 20th century, leading to the hotel's closure in 1982 and subsequent demolition and replacement with the Royal Hibernian Way and the offices of Davy Stockbrokers.

He converted the building, adding a Winter Garden and Ballroom, and overhauling the restaurant to provide an improved standard of food.

[3][5] During the Easter Rising of 1916 and the annexation of the GPO on O'Connell Street, the hotel was used as a centre for the telephone service during that week.

[7] In 1982, the owners Trust House Forte decided to close the hotel and sell the land, with the last meal being served on 2 November.

[10] Ironically, the Celtic Tiger phenomenon in the 1990s brought the style of hotel like the Royal Hibernian back into fashion.