The 8 Best Hotels
in Dublin
Dublin punches well above its size when it comes to hotel character — Georgian terraces converted into candlelit townhouse stays, Victorian railway hotels turned design landmarks, and a clutch of genuinely world-class boutique properties concentrated within a compact, walkable core. The city divides neatly between the southside (Georgian squares, Grafton Street, the Liberties) and the northside (Smithfield, Parnell Square), with the Docklands emerging as a slick business district. Compared to London or Amsterdam, Dublin hotels are expensive for what you get — a €150 mid-range room here would buy considerably more in Porto or Krakow — but the city's intimacy and the density of genuinely good independent properties make the premium defensible.
We've narrowed it down to 8 hotels across three tiers: 3 splurges, 3 mid-range, and 2 budget. Dublin's splurge scene is defined by historic grandeur and design ambition rather than resort excess. Mid-range here means owner-run townhouses and sharp boutique hotels where personality compensates for smaller rooms. Budget options are slim and genuinely competitive — book early or pay the penalty.
| Hotel | Neighborhood | From €/night | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Merrion Hotel | Merrion Square / Georgian South | €320–750 | Splurge |
| The Westbury Hotel | Grafton Street / City Centre South | €260–620 | Splurge |
| The Dean Dublin | Harcourt Street / Portobello | €190–480 | Splurge |
| Number 31 | Leeson Street / Georgian South | €155–310 | Mid-range |
| The Hendrick Smithfield | Smithfield / North City | €120–280 | Mid-range |
| Buswells Hotel | Kildare Street / Government Quarter | €130–260 | Mid-range |
| Generator Dublin | Smithfield / North City | €35–130 | Budget |
| Anchor Guesthouse | Gardiner Street / North Inner City | €80–170 | Budget |
Where to stay in Dublin
Dublin is small enough to walk across in 30 minutes, yet the choice of neighbourhood shapes your experience considerably — southside Georgian Dublin feels different in character, price, and noise level from the northside's emerging creative quarters. Getting this decision right matters more than the hotel brand.
This is the Dublin of wide cobbled squares, candlelit restaurants, and museum-district calm. Hotels here are generally more expensive but more atmospheric — Georgian townhouses converted with care. It's walking distance from Trinity, the National Gallery, and Grafton Street. Best for first-timers and those who want the classic Dublin experience without the Temple Bar noise.
Temple Bar is Dublin's tourist nucleus — the cobbled cultural quarter between the river and Dame Street. Hotels here are convenient but overpriced and often noisy on weekends; the area becomes a stag-and-hen-party corridor after 10pm. Useful if you're only in Dublin for one night, but experienced visitors tend to base themselves just outside. Prices are high relative to quality.
Smithfield — with its basalt-cobbled square, whiskey distillery, and food market — is Dublin's most interesting emerging neighbourhood for visitors. The Liberties on the southside (home to Guinness Storehouse) shares a similar independent spirit. Hotels here cost noticeably less than the Georgian south for comparable quality. The Luas tram connects both areas to the city centre in minutes.
Dublin's tech quarter along the Liffey estuary is slick and well-connected but feels corporate and culturally thin compared to the older city. Hotels here are primarily business-oriented with large, modern rooms. Best for conference travellers or those with meetings in the area; less compelling for leisure visitors. Prices are competitive mid-week, expensive on event weekends.
The Merrion Hotel
Four restored Georgian townhouses flanking a private garden — this is Dublin's most quietly authoritative luxury hotel. The art collection alone (Yeats, le Brocquy, Lavery) rivals a small museum, and the two pools in the basement spa feel genuinely indulgent beneath 18th-century vaulted ceilings. The Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud, Ireland's only two-Michelin-star restaurant, operates from within the hotel. Rooms are large by Dublin standards, with antique furniture and deep bay windows overlooking Merrion Square.
- Ireland's finest hotel art collection
- Two Michelin stars on-site (Guilbaud)
- Private walled garden with loungers
- Two swimming pools in basement spa
- Georgian architecture, genuinely preserved
The Westbury Hotel
The Westbury sits directly above Grafton Street — Dublin's main pedestrian shopping artery — which makes it either perfectly central or unavoidably busy depending on your disposition. The lobby gallery is a known meeting spot for Dublin's creative class; rotating art exhibitions give it a cultural edge beyond typical five-star positioning. Rooms on the upper floors have rooftop views across the city's Georgian skyline. The Balfes brasserie downstairs is reliably good for pre-theatre dinners.
- Literally above Grafton Street shopping
- Rotating gallery in public lobby spaces
- Upper floor city skyline views
- Balfe's brasserie popular with locals
- Walking distance to every major Dublin sight
The Dean Dublin
The Dean turned a Victorian red-brick on Harcourt Street into one of Dublin's most photographed hotel interiors — every floor has a different palette, walls are hung with local band artwork, and the rooftop bar (Sophie's) is arguably the best in the city for views and atmosphere combined. Rooms are compact but intensely designed: custom furniture, vinyl record players, roll-top baths in select rooms. The music credentials are genuine — the basement venue hosts live acts most weekends.
- Sophie's rooftop bar with panoramic views
- Vinyl players and curated music rooms
- Live music venue in the basement
- Bold floor-by-floor interior design
- Strong local arts and music identity
Number 31
Number 31 occupies two connected buildings — a modernist 1960s coach house and an adjacent Georgian townhouse — originally the home of architect Sam Stephenson. The sunken conversation pit in the coach house lounge is a Dublin design curiosity. Breakfast here is cited by almost every reviewer as a highlight: cooked to order, served at a communal table, and genuinely social. The 21 rooms vary considerably in size and style; the Georgian townhouse rooms feel more traditional, the coach house rooms more open and architectural.
- Architect-designed 1960s coach house
- Legendary full Irish breakfast, communal table
- Sunken lounge — a Dublin design icon
- Dual building with contrasting styles
- Quiet lane location, 10 min walk to St Stephen's Green
The Hendrick Smithfield
The Hendrick is the most compelling argument for staying on Dublin's northside. Set in a converted industrial building on the edge of Smithfield Square — home to the Old Jameson Distillery and a growing restaurant scene — the hotel has a clean, Scandinavian-inflected interior that resists the nostalgic Irishness of many competitors. Rooms are well-proportioned and quiet. The Luas Red Line tram stop outside connects the city centre in four minutes, and the Phoenix Park is a 15-minute walk.
- Industrial-to-hotel conversion, Smithfield Square
- Luas tram stop directly outside
- Phoenix Park walkable in 15 minutes
- Old Jameson Distillery next door
- Noticeably better value than southside equivalents
Buswells Hotel
Dublin's oldest continuously operating hotel (since 1882) occupies five Georgian townhouses steps from the Dáil (Irish parliament) and the National Museum. Politicians, journalists, and academics have been drinking in its bar for a century, giving it an atmosphere that money can't manufacture. Rooms are traditional and not particularly stylish — if you need Instagram interiors, look elsewhere — but the bones are beautiful: high ceilings, working fireplaces in some rooms, original Georgian joinery throughout.
- Dublin's oldest hotel, continuously operating since 1882
- Atmospheric bar popular with politicians and press
- Georgian townhouse interiors, original features
- National Museum and Trinity College on doorstep
- Fireplaces in select rooms
Generator Dublin
Generator's Dublin outpost is one of the better executions of the design-hostel format in Europe. The common spaces are genuinely social — a bar, a games room, a rooftop terrace — and the private rooms (available alongside dorms) are compact but well finished. Smithfield Square is a lively location without being as overwhelming as the Temple Bar area. The ratio of quality to price is the best in Dublin for budget travellers. Book private rooms for couples; dorms for solo travellers on a tight budget.
- Design-led hostel with private and dorm rooms
- Rooftop terrace overlooking Smithfield
- Lively bar and communal social spaces
- Best budget option in the city by some margin
- Tram stop outside for easy city access
Anchor Guesthouse
The Anchor is a well-kept Georgian guesthouse on Gardiner Street — the traditional budget accommodation corridor for Dublin visitors — that earns its strong reviews through attentive owner-run hospitality rather than facilities. Rooms are clean and simply furnished; the full Irish breakfast is included and prepared fresh each morning. The location is 10 minutes' walk from O'Connell Street and Trinity College. It's not glamorous, but for a private room with breakfast in central Dublin under €100, it's one of the honest choices.
- Full Irish breakfast included in rate
- Owner-run with high personal hospitality scores
- Georgian townhouse, original period features
- 10 min walk to Trinity College and O'Connell Street
- One of few genuine budget B&Bs in central Dublin
Frequently asked questions
Are hotels in Dublin expensive compared to other European capitals?
Should I stay on the northside or southside of the Liffey?
When do Six Nations rugby weekends affect Dublin hotel prices?
Is Temple Bar worth staying in, or should I avoid it?
How far in advance should I book Dublin hotels?
Do Dublin hotels include breakfast, or is it extra?
Is it easy to reach Dublin hotels from Dublin Airport without a taxi?
How we chose these hotels
Our editorial team reviewed Dublin's hotel landscape and selected 8 across budgets, prioritising properties that capture local character — heritage architecture, owner-run boutiques, surf-town informality — over generic resort-chain accommodations. Where two hotels are comparable, we pick the smaller, owner-run option.
None of these hotels paid to be included, and we have no commercial relationship with any of them. Use the "View on Google Maps" links above to find each property's official website, current rates and availability. Prices are estimated nightly ranges in EUR for a double room and will vary by season and availability. Recommendations are reviewed every six months; this guide was last updated April 2026.
When to visit Dublin
For everything you need to plan a Dublin trip — neighbourhoods, food, things to do, day trips, transport — see our complete Dublin travel guide.