The Best Hotels in Dublin to Book Now

For years, Dublin was hurting for an up-to-the-minute boutique—until The Dean arrived in 2015. You might mistake it for an Ace, what with its straight-out-of-Brooklyn guest rooms' distressed wooden floors, Smeg mini-fridges, vinyl turntables, and framed local art. Public spaces are just as hip and inarguably the city’s next hot hangouts. The lobby features craft coffees and cocktails on one end and, on the other, a neon “I Fell in Love Here” sign by a staircase lined with rentable bikes. The vibe is young at Sophie’s, the glassed-in rooftop restaurant and bar, as is the neighborhood: step out onto Harcourt Street and you’ll be surrounded by an endless array of clubs and pubs.

You’d never guess it from the sober gray-stone exterior of this old Victorian building, but The Dylan is a playful, post-modern marvel. A $11 million renovation introduced roomier digs—its 44 guest rooms are now 72—and a more elegant aesthetic in the form of individually designed headboards, white-leather tufted sofas and armchairs, and statement baroque mirrors. Hit up Tavern Restaurant for taste of locally sourced fish and traditional fare (roast duck breast with beetroot and blackberries; an open-faced Irish crab salad sandwich), then cozy up on one of the velvet-upholstered stools at the sceney low-lit bar for a gin old-fashioned or a dram of single-malt Irish whiskey.

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Four conjoined Georgian townhouses near St. Stephen’s Green and Merrion Square provide the perfect setting for Dublin’s stateliest grande dame, whose rich history shows in details like vaulted plasterwork ceilings, damask fabrics, and massive marble fireplaces (especially in the classical rooms housed in the historic Main House). While the hotel's small spa (with its own colonnaded infinity pool) and two-Michelin-starred restaurant are highlights, both are outshined by the impressive art collection—the largest private collection in the country—which boasts original works by Jack B. Yeats and Paul Henry. Take it all in over afternoon tea in the drawing room or whiskeys in the fireplace-lit bar before a sunny (or wintery) stroll in the garden.

Number 31’s former life as the home of Modernist architect Sam Stephenson might tell you a little bit about what to expect here. The 21-room guesthouse is split between a modernist coach house, with its own sunken living room featuring a horseshoe-shaped black leather sofa and modern art, and Georgian townhouse (whose period-style guest rooms may feature corniced loft ceilings or mosaic-tiled walls). Don’t miss the family-style breakfast of house-made cranberry nut bread and smoked salmon.

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It doesn’t get much more centrally located than The Westbury, which sits sandwiched between the chic fashion outlets of Grafton Street and the trendy design studios and cafés of Dublin's historic Creative Quarter. A grand staircase brings guests to the marble lobby, which branches off into the Gallery—a stunning space for afternoon tea with its ornate turquoise armchairs and picture windows—and Wilde restaurant, where elevated Irish cuisine (grilled lamb cutlet; whole dover sole) is served beside walls covered in vines. Upstairs, rooms are just as sumptuous, with silk curtains, Irish wool carpets, and tons of natural light.

The now-famous Shelbourne hotel occupies a significant page in Dublin’s history books. This was where Ireland’s founding fathers drafted the Irish Constitution in 1922, and dignitaries the world over have bedded down in its stately rooms ever since the building opened in 1824. After dropping your bags, pop into the tiny on-site museum to see artifacts like old guest books, 1900s-era menus, and handwritten letters from past visitors, then hit up the three-level spa to take advantage of the pool and stunning relaxation room overlooking St. Stephen’s Green.

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One of the city’s most architecturally interesting properties, The Marker features angular, geometric ceilings and walls that appear as though they were carved out of rock. Its location in the Silicon Docks—home to the European headquarters of Google and Facebook—means you’ll find all amounts of cooler-than-thou tech nerds here exchanging knowledge over craft cocktails at the rooftop bar overlooking the distant Wicklow mountains, washing off the work day at the infinity pool, and getting some much-needed R&R between conferences in the spacious guest rooms, which come complete with poppy color schemes and floor-to-ceiling windows.

A multi-million-dollar overhaul has unveiled one of the city's slickest hotels, whose address near Iveagh Gardens is far enough away from the city center to feel like a true respite. The 192 guest rooms are cozy yet stylish, with tufted velvet benches, parquet floors, and louvered oak paneled walls. Downstairs, new additions include a craft beer bar called Alfie Byrne’s, all-day Coburg Brasserie (done up with framed Hermès scarves and touches of leather and brass), and a low-ceilinged lounge dubbed Lemuel’s, whose marble bar is lit by skylights.