Best Dublin Hotels

Considered the best Dublin hotel, this sumptuous five-star property, on a terrace of gracefully restored Georgian town houses, opened over a decade ago but looks as if it has been there forever. Divided into the original building on Merrion Street and a newer extension at the back, we favor rooms in the old house as they really epitomise the grandeur and opulence of the era. Because of The Merrion’s location just opposite government buildings, its lofty marble corridors (complete with the largest private art collection in town) are patronised by politicians, visiting dignitaries and a sprinkling of A-listers. Even if you don’t get to sample Dublin’s best hotel and have the full 24-hour experience, it’s worth forking out the 30 euros or so for a cream tea in the drawing room. As you sit back on the comfy sofa by the roaring peat fire, listening to the tinkling of a harp. Tea never tasted so sweet.

The Morrison is the pearl of the northside and, with the addition of 48 bedrooms from the adjacent former print works, one of Ireland’s hippest boltholes and one of the best places to stay in Dublin. Hong Kong/Ireland fashion designer John Rocha’s Oriental fusion decor employs low sofas and coffee tables piled with massive art books. Contemporary silk wall hangings and stone Buddha’s add to the serene Zen-like atmosphere of these spaces but such bedroom extras as iPod docking stations, Apple Mac plasma screens, and Aveda goodies close the sale. It’s worth asking for a studio den in the new wing where rooms are bigger and some have balconies with enough space to throw a party.

The grande dame of top Dublin places to stay, this much-loved institution on St Stephen’s Green opened in 1824 and still retains its old world grandeur. Although it is now a Marriott, changes are few other than the addition of a leisure center and swimming pool. The reproduction 19th century design remains tasteful while rooms benefit from generous dimensions and contain all the mod cons you’d expect. The Shelbourne’s proximity to government buildings means the atmospheric Horseshoe Bar continues to be a magnet for Dublin’s politicos and hacks and is the perfect place to eavesdrop on a bit of political gossip. It’s no wonder the Irish Constitution was first drafted here in 1922. Afternoon tea in the Lord Mayor’s Lounge with its piano and magnificent bay windows overlooking the Green is an enduring social tradition with well-heeled visitors up from the country and remains an experience to be savored.

You’d be forgiven for thinking you’d walked onto the set of ‘Alice in Wonderland’ on entering this former nursing home-turned-boutique hotel in the leafy suburb of Ballsbridge. Huge gilt mirrors hang on colorful stripy walls and odd-shaped oversized deep purple or burnt orange velvet chairs are scattered about the reception areas. It’s eclectic, it’s brash but somehow it works. The 44 bedrooms of this top Dublin hotel are tamer in style and use a more subtle color palette, though each is individually furnished with the occasional witty touch. All have top touches such as memory foam mattresses, plasma TV screens, Italian marble bathrooms and WiFi throughout. The outdoor garden terrace is a peaceful place for a pre-dinner drink, as is the library in winter.

You’d pay top dollar for this address on a Dublin Monopoly board—it doesn’t get much hotter than the corner of Stephen’s Green and Grafton Street. This minimalist Terence Conrad-designed place has been a top place to stay in Dublin and a perennial favorite with visiting pop stars and minor celebrities for its superb location, luxurious rooms and discreet service. Try for a corner room on the fifth floor (502 or 508) with big balcony overlooking the Green. Or live large in the 2,000-square-foot penthouse with personal trainer/shopper/chef thrown in.

There’s something about the Westbury’s clientele that’s hard to put a finger on. A stone’s throw from Grafton Street, its central location makes it a good meeting place and while the open plan first floor lounge can be an oasis of calm on one day, it may buzz with business folk the next. As a top Dublin hotel it can be as popular with diminutive Irish grannies as it is with Hollywood directors. Newly refurbished, rooms are luxuriously comfortable with Frette bed linen, top-tier entertainment systems. Nespresso coffee machines and Acqua di Parma bathroom goodies are a standard.

This is a converted Victorian townhouse favored by visiting DJs and hipsters for its tongue-in-cheek, minimalist design, its fun cocktail bar and smile-inducing prices. You’d swing a cat in its doubles (all of them come with custom-made beds, TV/DVD and WiFi), but not a tiger. So if space is high on your list, opt for an executive room or the loft suite with two bedrooms and massive walk-in power shower. If you’re looking for action, this is the best place to stay in Dublin—the corner of Georges’ and Fade Streets is usually thronged with youth and celebrants on weekend nights.

Midway between town and the canal on the southside is this modern and hip Dublin hotel, popular with bands playing the nearby Tripod venue. While the rather conventional interior is nothing to write home about, service is great and rooms are spacious, comfy, and all have WiFi and big bathrooms. There’s a LUAS (tram) stop right around the corner that makes the one-mile trip into St Stephen’s Green. The best kept secret in town, though, is its lovely swimming pool here, and the sauna that never seems to get crowded. A good option if you want to avoid the madding crowds.