When I say I spend a lot of time in Dublin, I really do spend a lot of time in Dublin. And with that, comes many nights in Dublin Hotels.
Sometimes I end up spending more days in Dublin throughout the year than I do at home in Lurgan.
Of all my trips to Dublin, I’ve stayed in quite a few different places. When I say a few, I actually mean ten!
I don’t know what makes me love Dublin so much, but there’s just something about it. I mean, it’s not Liverpool or London in terms of nightlife, but there’s just something that makes me want to keep returning.
I’ve always wanted to experience living in the city, but it’s quite close to home which has always put me off. I like to travel far and wide and a two hour train journey just isn’t far enough.
So if you’re ever thinking of visiting Dublin, I’ve put a list together of the ten hotels I’ve stayed in and what I thought of them.
Related blog posts to read:
- 11 Places to Visit in Ireland that Isn’t Dublin
- 9 Books to Read About the History of Northern Ireland
- All-Ireland Football Final: ‘The Beautiful Game’
- 10 Books You Should Read By Irish Authors
- Cuilcagh Mountain Park – The ‘Great Wall’ of Fermanagh
1. Citywest Hotel, Saggart
We’ll start off with the most upmarket of the hotels I’ve stayed in. Citywest Hotel is located outside Dublin City Centre in Saggart, a 45 minute tram (Luas) ride away.
The Luas stop is just around the corner from the hotel itself, so very handy to get in and out of the city.
I’ve stayed in this hotel maybe four or five times I think. There’s a golf course, swimming pool and a few restaurants located on site. It’s a very relaxing hotel and definitely somewhere to stay if you want to escape the hustle and bustle of the city in the evenings.
The hotel boasts huge conference facilities as well as being a top wedding destination and you can usually find this is where most of the GAA teams come to stay when playing in Croke Park.
2. The Fleet Street Hotel, Temple Bar
Temple Bar is where you want to stay if you want to be in the thick of the Dublin nightlife action. I’ve stayed in a fair few hotels around the area and contrary to belief, they aren’t too expensive – unlike the pints of Guinness you’ll find in the local bars.
The Fleet Street Hotel is on Fleet Street (shock) and very easy to get to from the City Centre. It’s also right next to one of the more popular bars in the Temple Bar area; The Palace Bar.
The reception area was under construction when we stayed, and from the outside you would expect a small hotel, but the townhouse-looking hotel is huge once you try to locate your room.
3. Ashling Hotel, Stoneybatter
If you stay at the Ashling Hotel for any reason, it has to be the breakfast. I don’t think I’ve ever experienced a breakfast buffet quite like it.
Fresh waffles, a pancake maker, fresh bread of all kinds, croissants, danishes, muffins and of course the Irish fry. Even if I wasn’t staying here, I’d still come for the breakfast.
The Ashling Hotel is where I stayed most recently when I went to see Fleetwood Mac at the RDS Arena. For the concert, it was quite out of the way but the hotel is just across from Heuston Station and next to Phoenix Park and the Guinness Brewery. Ideal if you want to sight-see in Dublin.
4. The Maldron, Parnell Square
I’ve stayed at The Maldron three times now, and each time I go back, there’s something new about it. It’s a very modern hotel and in a great spot, just a few streets behind O’Connell Street in the City Centre.
I usually stay here when going to concerts in Dublin as it’s just outside the main area to grab a taxi and in an easy location to get to and from different parts of Dublin.
The last time I stayed was for Picture This in the 3 Arena and we had a five-person room. The room was huge, especially for five girls getting ready for a concert and we couldn’t fault the place one bit.
5. Jury’s Inn, Custom House
This hotel doesn’t actually exist anymore as it’s been taken over by the Hilton Group (so I’ve linked it instead), but it was one of the nicest hotels I’ve ever stayed in Dublin – if not the nicest.
The hotel is still the same with just a name change, so I’ll give my two pennies on it anyway. When I stayed here, it was to see the Nashville cast in concert in the 3 Arena so we couldn’t have asked for a better location as it was just a fifteen minute walk down the road.
The hotel faces the river Liffey and we were lucky enough to have a room on the corner of the hotel, giving a great view. The downstairs bar area was very elegant and I did feel quite out of my depth staying somewhere so nice in the city when I’m used to small townhouse hotels in Temple Bar.
As the Hilton Group have now took it over, I would imagine prices have increased and it’s gone even more upmarket. When I walked past the hotel recently, a few Irish rugby players were leaving so it’s definitely somewhere I’d be planning on staying again.
6. Holiday Inn Express, O’Connell Street
From The Hilton to the Holiday Inn, I live a double life. But the Holiday Inn on O’Connell Street is very modern, and is probably one of the best located hotels in the city.
If you’re just after somewhere convenient to stay and no extravagant extras then this is the place to stay. O’Connell Street is the main street in Dublin with everything branching out from there. So there really is no better place to stay if you’re in Dublin for sightseeing.
As I always say, if you don’t ask you don’t get, so I asked for a room facing onto O’Connell Street and luckily enough, there was one available. So as I sat with a glass of rosé, I was able to watch the world go by (aka, lots of buses and trams).
It also helps that the hotel is right next to Madigans Bar (where I’ve actually come to know some of the bar staff (bad sign)) and on the opposite side you have The Gresham Hotel (somewhere I can’t afford right now, but someday hope to).
7. Blooms Hotel, Temple Bar
Another hotel in Temple Bar, I’ve stayed here on two occasions – both for concerts. From the outside, it looks amazing with murals dedicated to Irish poets and writers and covered in a lot of colour.
Location-wise, you are right in the heart of Temple Bar with the Vat House pub directly connected to the hotel. Although, Oliver St. John Gogarty’s bar just around the corner is my personal favourite in the area.
The hotel itself is basic enough and mostly full of tourists exploring the city. During my most recent stay, we actually had a room with a balcony overlooking one of the small Temple Bar streets.
It almost felt like I was in a different European city like Paris or Barcelona. Almost.
8. Hotel St. George, Parnell Square
I’ve stayed in this hotel two times now, both I think for concerts. One time was definitely for The Script in Croke Park and the other may have been a One Direction concert but I can’t be sure.
Located just at the top of O’Connell Street, it’s an ideal location if you are headed to a match or concert at Croke Park as it’s only a short walk from there.
Like a lot of places in the city centre, it looks like a Georgian house from the outside. But the inside contains a lot more rooms than you would think. The hotel is basic enough, but wouldn’t make the top of my list for staying somewhere in Dublin. If you’re here for a concert and just need somewhere to stay then this is an option.
9. O’Neill’s Victorian Townhouse, Pearse Street
This was actually quite a rare find, but a great one. We had left it quite last-minute to book somewhere to stay. We were going to see Kodaline (for the fourth time) at Malahide Castle.
The pub quite reminded me of the hotel I used to work in back home. We had to go to the bar itself to get the keys, then the barman showed us to our room.
I was very pleasantly surprised at how clean and cosy the room was. It was large for a two person room and we didn’t mind that there were only single beds. It was very cheap and located right opposite Trinity College, so central enough to the city.
If I was coming to Dublin again for a concert, it would definitely be somewhere I’d consider staying again.
10. Dublin Citi Hotel, Temple Bar
Another Temple Bar hotel, this one is located just on the outskirts, on one of the city’s main roads. It’s a very quaint hotel and somewhere you would stay just for a few nights.
There’s a bar connected to the hotel called Trinity Bar. Which has live music throughout the day and is always quite lively. The hotel is in a good location, but others that I have stayed in around Temple Bar were better.
This was again another quite last minute booking as I think I stayed here for the All Ireland Final.
So Where to Next?
Believe it or not, there are still quite a few Dublin hotels that remain on my list. But for now, are a little too out of my price range. Someday, I hope to stay in The Westbury, The Marker, The Gresham The Fitzwilliam, The Conrad and The Westin.
Here’s hoping!
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