Please note our writer visited Dublin prior to the coronavirus pandemic
Dublin is delightfully compact. The central city can be crossed on foot in 30 minutes and many prime sights and attractions, including excellent galleries and museums, Georgian architecture, and distinctive independent shops, can be found within this manageable area. Add fine restaurants and pubs (and a few smart new distilleries) and a characterful coastline to the mix, and an alluring city experience lies in store. Here’s our pick of the best hotels in central Dublin featuring the top hotels for splendid views, period charm, funky bars and rooftop dining, near Grafton Street, Trinity College, St Stephen’s Green and Merrion Square.
The Shelbourne Dublin
Dublin, Ireland
The Shelbourne is Dublin’s signature five-star hotel: an imposing high-Victorian red-brick presence on the north side of St Stephen’s Green; and a witness to the city’s history since 1824. The location is splendid: facing south across the Green, and just a few minutes’ stroll from a slew of the city’s finest attractions. The south-facing rooms boast splendid views across the treetops of the Green. An excellent range of facilities is offered, including beauty salon and a delightful spa area.
From
£
259
per night
Rates provided by
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The Merrion Hotel
Dublin, Ireland
The Merrion – classy, elegant, discreet and offering top-notch five-star facilities – is the accommodation of choice for well-heeled travellers to the Irish capital. As one of the best hotels in the centre of Dublin its location is unbeatable: the Edwardian pomp of Government Buildings is just across the road, with Merrion Square, the National Gallery and National Museum, and the Grafton Street shopping district all within a few minutes’ walk.
From
£
245
per night
Rates provided by
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The Green Hotel
Dublin, Ireland
Tranquil, smoothly run and light-filled, the Stephen’s Green Hotel offers city-centre convenience and excellent facilities. The location is first-class: the shops of Grafton Street are a five-minute walk away, the green expanses of St Stephen’s Green and the Iveagh Gardens on the doorstep, and the LUAS tram line runs past the hotel.
From
£
115
per night
Rates provided by
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The Westbury Hotel
Dublin, Ireland
There is a warmth behind the white marble floors and dark wooden panels, and portraits on the walls hint at the family who own the hotel. While not cheap, it’s a friendly, unpretentious and cosmopolitan place to stay. Although it can be confusing to reach by car, the hotel is in a very central location: 40 yards from the consumer joys of Grafton Street, and a short walk from Trinity College and St Stephen’s Green.
From
£
215
per night
Rates provided by
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The Dean Dublin
Dublin, Ireland
The boutique Dean Hotel, part of a terrace of Georgian townhouses, offers first-class, quirky and luxurious accommodation. The Grafton Street shopping district is a five-minute stroll away; the Camden Street strip, with its range of bars and restaurants, even closer; and the green spaces of St Stephen’s Green and the Iveagh Gardens closer still. The Dean exudes a youthful, funky ambience – but everyone is welcome
From
£
107
per night
Rates provided by
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Number 31
Dublin, Ireland
Number 31 is a guesthouse boasting modernist mews at the back, and a handsome Georgian house at the front; excellent quality accommodation throughout. The hotel is beautifully located: tucked into a little mews lane in the heart of Georgian Dublin, and well-removed from traffic noise and bustle. St Stephen’s Green is a 10-minute walk away; Fitzwilliam Square and the tranquil Grand Canal no more than five.
From
£
113
per night
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The Marker Hotel
Dublin, Ireland
Another draw for Dublin’s emerging Docklands district, The Marker is at the forefront of Irish design – with dining and service levels to match. The Marker trades on style; its emerald-green pool area and the building’s checkerboard facade suggest that time and money has been spent on the visuals. Rooms are fresh and inviting and happily, the basics haven’t been interfered with.
From
£
189
per night
Rates provided by
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The Morrison Dublin
Dublin, Ireland
The Morrison trades on a buzzing, youthful and decidedly trendy vibe. It’s absolutely central, but thankfully separated by the river Liffey from the bustle of Temple Bar. The LUAS tram line runs close by, offering direct connections to train stations and the O2 concert venue – a major plus. The Morrison is self-consciously fashionable – and thankfully is prepared to spend the money to maintain a certain style.
From
£
125
per night
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Wynn’s Hotel
Dublin, Ireland
Expect old-fashioned, plush charm in this cosy, recently refurbished city-centre hotel – a steady Dublin fixture since Victorian times. Wynn’s Hotel is in the very heart of the city, a step or two from O’Connell Street and the Abbey Theatre; and on the LUAS red line with good connections to Heuston and Connolly stations, the O2 concert venue, the National Museum at Collins Barracks and the central coach station.
From
£
113
per night
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Buswells Hotel
Dublin, Ireland
A perfect location on the corner of handsome Molesworth Street, just facing the Irish parliament. The National Museum is across the road; the lake and lawns at St Stephen’s Green just at the end of the road; the shops of Grafton Street a five-minute walk away. Come here for open fires, old wooden floorboards and comfortable bar and restaurant.
From
£
126
per night
Rates provided by
Booking.com
Iveagh Garden Hotel
Dublin, Ireland
The Iveagh Garden Hotel is in the very centre of Dublin, within a five-minute stroll of some of the city’s best shopping, cultural and entertainment districts. Camden Street, with its restaurants and bars, is two minutes away by foot; the oasis of the Iveagh Gardens directly adjoins the hotel; and the larger expanse of St Stephen’s Green is a five-minute walk away. Inside, Standard rooms are well sized and comfortable, while the seven City Pods are smaller at discounted rates. The hotel has considerable green kudos too, having harnessed the underground Swan river to provide a power supply.
From
£
107
per night
Rates provided by
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Marlin Hotel
Dublin, Ireland
The Marlin enjoys a central location, two minutes’ walk from the Grafton Street shopping area. St Stephen’s Green is also a two-minute stroll away, as are cultural and entertainment venues. The ambiance is smart and individual, with a mid-20th-century look to the furniture, and a mildly industrial feel. Standard – or ‘Cosy King’ – rooms are compact, but so smartly designed that they don’t feel small. Guests can eat and drink in the bright ground-floor bar area or in the cosy indoor garden, with its plush furniture.
From
£
113
per night
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The Wilder Townhouse
Dublin, Ireland
This glowing red-brick Victorian gem is in excellent location. The open spaces of the Iveagh Gardens and St Stephen’s Green are a five-minute walk; the shopping zone of Grafton Street a few minutes further; and the cafés and restaurants of Camden Street also five minutes on foot. The Grand Canal towpath is at the end of the road, offering pleasant daytime walking. There are 42 rooms in total but overall it’s a small property. Expect 24-hour reception, friendly service, daily newspapers and a generous sprinkling of thoughtfully chosen books, old and new, across the hotel. There’s also parking for 10 cars.
From
£
129
per night
Rates provided by
Booking.com
Stauntons on the Green
Dublin, Ireland
Staunton’s on the Green offers the best of both worlds: excellent accommodation amid a cosy, intimate surroundings. The property is in the very centre of Dublin: the open spaces, lake and lawns of St Stephen’s Green lie across the road, with the heart of Dublin’s shopping, cultural, and entertainment district just beyond; while to the rear you’ll find the Iveagh Gardens. The guesthouse has a cosy seating area, complete with fruit, daily newspapers, and – best of all – a dinky honesty bar – a perfect relaxation space after a day on one’s feet. Outside, there’s a quiet garden with mature trees. Spacious, beautifully landscaped, and with plenty of seating, the garden is the star of the show.
From
£
97
per night
Rates provided by
Booking.com
This article was originally published by Telegraph.co.uk. Read the original article here.