Posted: 3/1/2024 | March 1st, 2024

Dublin is a moody, literary city. It’s a great city for history buffs and book lovers as it is home to lots of authors and poets. Here, you’ll find castles, traditional pubs, and countless opportunities to experience live music.

Dublin is fairly compact, making all the sights, activities, and walking tours easy to do. You can get pretty much anywhere on foot.

Therefore, when you’re thinking of a hotel, don’t worry too much about where it is located (unless it’s far from the center). The city’s tram system makes it easy to get around too.

Here’s my list of the best hotels in Dublin:

1. Harcourt Hotel

Located in the center of the city, this three-star hotel is housed in a series of historic 18th-century Georgian townhouses, one of which was once the home of famed writer George Bernard Shaw. There’s a bar on-site that regularly hosts live music, as well as both a restaurant and a beer garden. The rooms, while not huge, feature nice touches of color that brighten up the space, have lots of natural light, as well as wooden accenting. The beds are comfy and there’s a flatscreen TV, desk, and free Wi-Fi in each room. While the bathrooms are on the smaller side, the water pressure is great (a big plus in my book). There’s an included breakfast too.

2. Clarence Hotel

Located in the boisterous Temple Bar area, this hotel was bought by Bono and the Edge from U2 in 1992. It was completely renovated a few years later and is considered one of the coolest places to stay in the city (though it’s no longer owned by the duo). A boutique four-star property, the hotel has an arty, quirky design that features lots of colorful art and wallpaper. The rooms were designed by Irish artisans and feature stylish custom furnishings like white oak floors, colorful and plush headboards, and unique artwork on the walls. The bathrooms have powerful rainfall shower heads as well as limestone flooring and tiled walls. In-room amenities include the standard offerings (flatscreen TV, desk, minibar, coffee/tea maker, desks).

Downstairs, there’s a luxurious cocktail bar and a fantastic restaurant serving elevated Irish fare, including daily breakfast and a bottomless brunch on Sundays.

3. Maldron Hotel Kevin Street

With a view of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the Maldron is a cozy place to stay right on the edge of the Portobello neighborhood. It’s a sleek four-star hotel with a simple, minimalist design. The rooms are large with lots of natural light, and the beds are large and comfortable. You also get flatscreen TVs, coffee/tea maker, desks, and free Wi-Fi. The bathrooms are spacious with showers that have good water pressure. I love the breakfast buffet, which had tons of variety and lots of fresh fruit. It’s a great place to stay if you want to be centrally located.

4. The Dean

This is a hip and funky boutique hotel. The rooms aren’t huge, but they’re bright and uniquely designed with colorful furnishings and artwork on the walls. All rooms include a flatscreen smart TV (with streaming services), minibar, Nespresso machines, desk, and free Wi-Fi. The white-tiled bathrooms come with powerful rainfall showers, Bluetooth speakers, and lux bath products.

I also love the chill rooftop bar/restaurant with it’s view of the city. There’s also a sauna and a heated outdoor pool. Overall, you really get a lot of value here, considering the amenities and central location.

5. The Alex

Just south of the Docklands, this is a comfortable and stylish four-star hotel. The rooms here are sleek with rich, deep colors and elegant design touches (like artwork and wooden desks). The beds are large and comfortable, and rooms also boast large smart TVs, desks, and fast Wi-Fi. While the standard rooms don’t have a coffee/tea maker, there is a café on-site where you can grab a drink. I especially liked the rainfall showers as they had great pressure.

The staff here really go out of their way to help and keep things clean (the property is always spotless). The hotel also has a fitness center and a few excellent in-house eateries. The buffet breakfast (which can be included in your stay) has a ton of options too.

6. The Spencer Hotel

This four-star hotel overlooks the river and boasts an array of upscale amenities, including an indoor pool, fitness center, cocktail bar, and cozy restaurant. The breakfast is great too, with lots of variety (including veg options). If you happen to be traveling by car, they have a secure parking lot on-site (which isn’t common in Dublin).

Rooms here are spacious and minimally designed in a soft, pastel color palate. They have lots of natural light too, thanks to the floor-to-ceiling windows. The bathrooms are also large, with a shower/tub combo and complimentary Rituals bath products. Rooms also have a mini-fridge and a coffee/tea maker. It’s a classy property that offers excellent value for your money.

7. The Hendrick Smithfield

This fun and quirky three-star hotel is covered artwork by local artists. The rooms aren’t huge, but they make good use of the space and have all the standard amenities, including flatscreen TVs, coffee/tea makers, desk, and Wi-Fi. Some rooms even have bunk beds, which makes it a nice choice for traveling families. The bathrooms are well-lit and the showers have good pressure. There’s a bar on-site if you get thirsty, with over a dozen beers on tap. The Hendrick is a solid midrange option in Smithfield, a less-touristed and hip area of the city with great pubs and cool coffee shops.

I always love visiting Dublin. Brimming with cozy pubs, world-class whiskey, and home to an impressive literary history, Dublin, it’s a city with character and one of my favorite places to visit in Europe. Stay at one of the hotels above to super charge your visit.