by Neil Hegarty, The Telegraph, January 21, 2019
A neighbourhood guide to the best areas to stay in Dublin, as chosen by our resident expert, including the best hotels north of the river, in Georgian Dublin, south Dublin and near Grafton Street, Temple Bar and Trinity College.
Georgian Dublin
The austere terraces, beautiful fanlights and elegant squares of 18th-century Dublin have long attracted admiring visitors, and they remain the city’s ultimate trademarks. Explore the handsome park and lake at St Stephen’s Green, call in to see Caravaggio in the National Gallery of Ireland, explore the creepy horrors on display at the Natural History Museum on Merrion Square – or simply wander, absorbing the architecture and history at your leisure.
Where to stay
The Merrion Hotel Dublin, Ireland
9Telegraph expert rating
Gracious, elegant and with standards of hospitality that are second to none, The Merrion exudes period charm from its prime position in the heart of Dublin. Read expert review. From £232per night. Check availability. Rates provided by Booking.com.
The Shelbourne Dublin Dublin, Ireland
9Telegraph expert rating
The signature red-brick Victorian façade of The Shelbourne Dublin has glowed on the northern side of St Stephen's Green since 1824. Think five-star elegance: the main bar is a popular fixture on the city's social scene, while afternoon tea in the Lord Mayor's Lounge is something of a Dublin tradition. Read expert review. From £175per night. Check availability. Rates provided by Booking.com.
The Fitzwilliam Hotel Dublin, Ireland
8Telegraph expert rating
This splendidly modern and noticeably friendly hotel is set in the very centre of Dublin’s shopping and entertainment district. Overlooking the open spaces of St Stephen’s Green, the Fitzwilliam offers sleek accommodation on an intimate scale. Read expert review. From £187per night. Check availability. Rates provided by Booking.com.
• The best hotels in Dublin city-centre
Grafton Street, Temple Bar and Trinity College
This compact district brings together 18th-century architecture, culture and glossy shopping. The quadrangles of Trinity College are surrounded by Ireland’s finest neo-classical buildings; and the Old Library houses the famous Book of Kells. On nearby Grafton Street, you can hop from department store to funky café, and admire some excellent Irish craftwork. Hide out on a rainy day at Temple Bar’s Irish Film Institute, with its three screens and café under one glass roof.
Where to stay
Brooks Hotel Dublin, Ireland
8Telegraph expert rating
Family-run Brooks offers something rare and valuable – a stylish and truly snug refuge from the world. Centrally located in the heart of Dublin’s newly named ‘Creative Quarter’, a shopping and entertainment district, it’s quiet, discreet and beautifully appointed. Read expert review. From £153per night. Check availability. Rates provided by Booking.com.
The Westbury Hotel Dublin, Ireland
8Telegraph expert rating
The luxurious Westbury offers excellence in facilities, service and gastronomy, plus a beguiling dash of the personal touch. All this, plus an unrivalled location in the very centre of Dublin's main shopping and entertainment district. Read expert review. From £214per night. Check availability. Rates provided by Booking.com.
The Westin Dublin Dublin, Ireland
8Telegraph expert rating
The Westin Dublin brings together the reliability of a tried-and-tested brand, a collection of opulent historic buildings and a location at the very centre of Dublin city. The result: a real sense of luxury, and a nicely observed attention to detail. Read expert review. From £177per night. Check availability. Rates provided by Booking.com.
• The best budget hotels in Dublin
North of the river
The area of central Dublin north of the river Liffey is well worth exploring. O’Connell Street is the main boulevard of the Irish capital: it’s home to the iconic General Post Office, with its new interpretative centre exploring the 1916 Rising and its aftermath. Also in the area: contemporary and classic drama at the Abbey and Gate theatres; and a wealth of history at the National Museum of Ireland at Collins Barracks.
Where to stay
The Morrison Dublin Dublin, Ireland
7Telegraph expert rating
Expensively refurbished, fashionable and smart, the four-star Morrison Hotel trades on a youthful, buzzing vibe. Come here for a central location by the river, comfortable accommodation and excellent people-watching opportunities. Read expert review. From £145per night. Check availability. Rates provided by Booking.com.
Wynn's Hotel Dublin, Ireland
8Telegraph expert rating
Old-fashioned, plush charm in this cosy, recently refurbished city-centre hotel – a steady Dublin fixture since Victorian times. Popular with older guests looking for a centrally located but tranquil home-from-home. Read expert review. From £114per night. Check availability. Rates provided by Booking.com.
The Spencer Dublin, Ireland
8Telegraph expert rating
Smart, swish, youthful, and with an eye for modern design, the boutique Spencer Hotel adds a touch of verve to Dublin’s docklands, and enjoys a fine, south-facing setting on the banks of the river Liffey. Come here for a dash of energy in a city-centre location. Read expert review. From £120per night. Check availability. Rates provided by Booking.com.
• The best Dublin hotels for St Patrick's Day
South Dublin
The best of both worlds is on offer in the south-Dublin districts of Donnybrook and Ballsbridge. This is the city’s embassy belt, home to pretty parks, good eating and drinking opportunities, and such landmarks as the Aviva Stadium and Dublin’s famous exhibition centre at the RDS. It’s all a far cry from the bustle of the city – and yet, you’re only a short bus or taxi ride into central Dublin.
Where to stay
Ariel House Dublin, Ireland
8Telegraph expert rating
Ariel House is a seriously impressive – and award-winning – hotel occupying two Victorian townhouses next to the Aviva Stadium. Come here if you’re looking for a quiet, cosy, and small-scale refuge in a pleasant neighbourhood just a stone's throw from the centre of town. Read expert review. From £80per night. Check availability. Rates provided by Booking.com.
Herbert Park Hotel Dublin, Ireland
8Telegraph expert rating
Unashamedly modern and enjoying a delightful location on the edge of its namesake manicured park, the Herbert Park Hotel offers smart, glossy service, comfort, and lovely views in a tranquil and relaxed south Dublin setting. Read expert review. From £106per night. Check availability. Rates provided by Booking.com.
InterContinental Dublin Dublin, Ireland
9Telegraph expert rating
The InterContinental Dublin is luxurious, Irish-owned and beautifully comfortable. Come here for impeccable five-star service in spacious surroundings. It's a great choice for weekending couples in need of a little pampering; and families seeking intimacy and comfort. Read expert review. From £175per night. Check availability. Rates provided by Booking.com.
• The best spa hotels in Ireland
Dublin's coast
Don’t neglect Dublin’s lovely sweep of coastline, replete with cliffs and beaches, bracing air, and pretty seaside villages and suburbs – and all readily accessible by the efficient DART coastal railway. The ports of Howth, north of the city centre, and Dún Laoghaire, to the south, offer wonderful walking opportunities – and both offer eating and drinking galore. Or explore Dublin’s regenerating docklands, home to the landmark and ultra-modern Bord Gáis Energy Theatre.
Where to stay
The Marker Hotel Dublin, Ireland
8Telegraph expert rating
Glamorous, fashionable, and smarter than smart, Dublin's Marker Hotel enjoys a waterside location, ritzy interiors, an impressive spa and a rooftop bar with vistas across the Dublin docklands. Bedrooms are spacious and inviting, and service is polished. Read expert review. From £178per night. Check availability. Rates provided by Booking.com.
Royal Marine Hotel Dublin, Ireland
8Telegraph expert rating
The Royal Marine Hotel in Dún Laoghaire is everything a landmark seaside hotel ought to be: handsome, grand, nicely maintained, a local focus point – and in a splendid setting: on rising ground overlooking picturesque Dún Laoghaire harbour, with views across Dublin Bay. Read expert review. From £72per night. Check availability. Rates provided by Booking.com.
King Sitric Dublin, Ireland
8Telegraph expert rating
Beautifully situated on the waterfront of picturesque and historic Howth village, the King Sitric is that delightful entity: a famously first-class restaurant with a smart guesthouse attached. Add a relatively new wine bar on site, and the result is an atmospheric, quality place to stay. Read expert review. From £107per night. Check availability. Rates provided by Booking.com.
This article was written by Neil Hegarty from The Telegraph and was legally licensed through the NewsCred publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to [email protected].
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