Best Dublin hotels: 10 great stays in Ireland's capital
The best Dublin hotels for your stay in Ireland.
Dublin is one of Europe’s most popular city break locations and, as this best Dublin hotels guide proves, it has some fantastic places to stay. There is so much to do in a town that offers more than just the black-and-white stuff at the Guinness Storehouse brewery experience.
Its literary heritage is celebrated at the new Museum of Literature Ireland (MoLI), while tourists continue to flock to see the Book of Kells at Trinity College.
Nightlife means a trip to Temple Bar, and Dublin’s softer side is found in its parks, such as Iveagh Gardens and St Stephen’s Green. Take in free art and history at the city’s national museum, or gallery, and sample its whiskeys on a distillery tour. New for 2020 is Roe & Co, a distillery experience in the former Guinness Power Station.
Holiday ideas sorted, here are 10 best Dublin hotels to stay at during your next trip to Dublin. Visited one and loved it? Give it an upvote.
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Best Dublin hotels
It may be just 15 minutes’ walk to Trinity College and the clubs, pubs and restaurants of Temple Bar, but this hipster hotel tries hard to keep you indoors with in-room treats. There are records to play on the Rega turntable, Netflix on the Samsung TV, a Marshall speaker for music, and a mini SMEG fridge for snacks. Rooms range from compact Modpods to Punkbunks (sleeps 2-3) and suites.
One of Booking.com’s top Dublin picks, there’s a good vibe to this ultra-modern 300-bed city-centre hotel. And you can help create your own good feeling, as each room has LED mood lighting. In-room tech includes 43in Smart TV with Chromecast, surround sound, media hub, and automated blackout blinds. Hang out on the ground floor, which features an indoor garden and co-working space, or keep fit at the 24-hour gym.
This 226-bedroom, four-star hotel is a favourite with city-break couples for its comfy rooms, smart decor, cracking breakfast (at its Chesterfields Brasserie) and great location. It overlooks the Guinness Brewery, is close to Dublin Zoo and is next to Heuston station. Whatever the weather – Dublin has it all – relax with a beer or hot toddy at its Iveagh Bar or head to rooms (classic, superior, deluxe, family, suite) with big flatscreens, aircon, USB plugs and free Wi-Fi.
Quiet yet buzzy, hip but not aloof, the not-long-renovated Alex Hotel is as popular for leisure trips as it is for business travellers – check out its cool co-working space with anglepoise lamps. The Alex is close to the calm of Merrion Square but just minutes from city-centre attractions. Its rooms are elegant and tasteful and feature work by local artists alongide 50in TVs with Chromecast connectivity, free Wi-Fi and Roberts radios.
The paint may still be fresh in The Mayson. This 94-room hotel in the Docklands district only opened in December 2019. With all that exposed brickwork and industrial chic there might not be lots of paint, though. A five-minute walk takes you to the 3Arena, so it’s perfect for gigs. The place is home to the Bottle Boy Pub, the Green Dolphin Barber, DIME Coffee and Ryleigh’s Rooftop Restaurant. Rooms and suites feature Samsung TVs with Netflix, Marshall speakers for your gadgets and a fully loaded minibar.
Dorms (4-12 beds) and private rooms (all en suite) are available at this hostel close to the Docklands district. It’s ideal for groups, backpackers and families. It is also well connected for affordable travel, sat opposite the city’s main bus station. Free stuff includes continental breakfast, Wi-Fi, daily walking tours, movie nights, plus tea and coffee, and it even has a rooftop terrace and games room.
The Liberties is one of Dublin’s oldest neighbourhoods, but that just serves to make the futuristic-looking exterior of this four-star hotel more striking. Inside, it’s just as sleek and dramatic, and with a bar and rooftop terrace on an upper floor, Aloft offers fantastic views. St Patrick’s Cathedral, Trinity College and the Guinness Storehouse are close, as are the Dublin Liberties Distillery and the Teeling Distillery, both of which offer tours.
U2’s Bono and The Edge gave this place rock’n’roll credentials when they bought and helped redevelop it in the mid 90s. It’s a boutique hotel by the River Liffey and Ha’penny Bridge in the midst of bustling Temple Bar and is also handy for trips to the Guinness Storehouse and Olympia Theatre. Rooms are “tasteful luxury”, with Oak Shaker beds, rather than punk rock rebellion – so maybe don’t try throwing the high-tech TVs out of the window.
In Dublin’s affluent Ballsbridge neighbourhood and overlooking the Grand Canal, the recently refurbished The Mespil is close to the Aviva stadium. The stadium is home to Ireland’s rugby union and football teams and is also used for concerts and events. Among the hotel’s recently spruced-up rooms you’ll find high-tech King Koil mattresses, rainfall showers, 47in Samsung Smart TVs with Apple TV, free Wi-Fi and an espresso maker.
Another favourite for romance, this grand hotel, part of an 11th-century castle, is perfect if you want to be close to Dublin’s best bits but want peace and quiet, too. It’s a 10-15-minute ride into the city and there’s a bus stop right outside. Inside, the Clontarf has opulent decor that gives a luxurious feel. Rooms feature 55in TVs and the usual amenities plus laptop-friendly safes. Eating and drinking options including its Fahrenheit Grill, Knights Bar and Indigo Lounge.
