8 of the best—and coolest—hotels in Dublin

In Dublin, a UNESCO City of Literature, even the hotels can tell a story. These eight notable lodgings reveal different aspects of Ireland’s capital, ideal for whether you’re an avid sports fan or a contemporary art aficionado.

The Croke Park Hotel

Best for: Sports fans

The Croke Park Hotel makes it easy for sports fans to catch a Gaelic football match. It’s located across the street from one of the largest stadiums in Europe. “It’s an epic spectator experience and provides a real sense of local culture,” says Eamonn Fitzmaurice, an All-Ireland champion turned broadcast sports commentator.

In the hotel lobby, a painting by Irish artist Cian McLoughlin evokes the competitive nature of the Gaelic Games. The hotel donates thousands of euros each year to youth-focused, grassroots Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) clubs.

“You can’t underestimate how deeply Gaelic Games are embedded into the Irish psyche and DNA,” says Charlie Redmond, two-time All-Ireland winner.

Good to know: You can tour Croke Park stadium, see views of the city from the rooftop, and learn about Ireland’s sporting history in the adjacent GAA Museum.

Anantara The Marker Dublin

Best for: City lovers

Opened in 2013, the Anantara The Marker Dublin sits on the Grand Canal waterfront at the last canal mile marker indicating a journey’s end, hence the name, explains Derek Brennan, manager of guest experience and guardianship for the hotel. Its contemporary design draws on Irish landmarks. The honeycomb facade represents the Cliffs of Moher; the hexagonal forms of the lobby ceiling echo the basalt shapes at Giant’s Causeway.

“All the design elements in the hotel have a story to tell, just like the neighborhood it sits in,” Brennan says. “The Docklands is still a growing part of the city.”

Head to the hotel’s rooftop bar and terrace for 360-degree views of the Docklands, now home to tech companies like Google, TikTok, and Airbnb.

“The Docklands was once the pivotal transportation point for all of Ireland,” says Brennan. Over time, buildings became derelict, and in 1997 the city launched an urban renewal plan.

Good to know: A great way to learn about the Docklands is on the free walking tour offered to hotel guests. Highlights include the Windmill Building where U2 practiced and the harp-shaped Samuel Beckett Bridge, before ending with an Irish coffee on The Marker rooftop.

Motel One Dublin

Best for: Bookworms

Motel One Dublin delights fans of author James Joyce with design details cued specifically from his acclaimed novel Ulysses, which chronicles the experiences of Leopold Bloom and two friends over the course of a single Dublin day. Black-and-white portraits of the book’s three characters hang in the bar; a massive illustrated map in the lobby recreates Bloom’s journey through the city. Visitors can scan an accompanying QR code to follow the literary route on their own.

“The project was so massive and quintessentially Dublin,” says Irish artist John Rooney, who conducted extensive research in photo archives to ensure accuracy.

Good to know: Dublin tourists can still order a Gorgonzola sandwich at Davy Byrnes Pub and buy lemon soap at Sweny’s Pharmacy, just as Bloom did in Ulysses.

The Davenport

Best for: History buffs

A monumental Plymouth Brethren preaching hall built in 1863 was transformed into The Davenport after a fire in the 1990s. The hotel retained the building’s neoclassical Portland stone facade and Corinthian columns; the original ornate lobby atrium now showcases a cascading Swarovski crystal chandelier.

The hotel is located on Merrion Square, home to the best examples of Georgian architecture anywhere in the city. It’s also within five minutes walking distance of the National Museum of Ireland, with its fascinating ancient artifacts and Trinity College Dublin with its Book of Kells experience.

Good to know: To learn more about the city’s historic and contemporary architecture, visit during the annual and free Open House Dublin festival every October.

The Westbury

Best for: Theatergoers

Situated at the heart of Dublin’s cultural scene, The Westbury offers a “Dublin’s Dramatic Side” walking tour to hotel guests during the summer season, led by guides from the Abbey Theatre. The free tour takes in theaters and public art, such as the statue of Oscar Wilde in Merrion Square, while telling the stories of influential Irish theater artists.

Dublin is home to seven theaters, where guests applaud the works of renowned Irish dramatists from Samuel Beckett and William Butler Yeats to Martin McDonagh and Marina Carr. “We enjoy a rich history of storytelling in Dublin and Ireland that retains its vibrancy into present day,” says Jennifer Carbery, tours and experience coordinator for the Abbey.

Good to know: In the Westbury’s light-filled lounge, guests can also indulge in the Lady Gregory Afternoon Tea, named for the co-founder of the Abbey Theatre. The tea’s desserts are themed around plays produced over the past 120 years.

The Merrion

Best for: Foodies

The Merrion, a storied Georgian property in Dublin’s city center, contributes to Ireland’s food revolution and culinary reputation. “We always had great dairy products, meat and fish,” says Merrion executive chef Ed Cooney. He visits farmers and artisan producers of cheese, smoked salmon, and yogurt to source the best Irish ingredients for the hotel’s Garden Room, Cellar Bar, and Drawing  Room. “Ireland is the next European country to be recognized for food,” says Cooney.

Good to know: The Merrion is also home to Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud, which in 1996 became the first restaurant in Ireland to earn two Michelin stars. The menu is modern French fused with Irish ingredients.

The Shelbourne, Autograph Collection

Best for: Whiskey aficionados

Dublin is a hot spot for Irish distilleries and whiskey tasting experiences, and connoisseurs will appreciate the whiskey focus at The Shelbourne, an historic hotel on St. Stephen’s Green that is celebrating its 200th anniversary in 2024. Its Horseshoe Bar is staffed with whiskey sommeliers and offers guided whiskey tastings every Monday and Tuesday evenings from 4 to 6 p.m. Check with the concierge for special whiskey master classes and events.

“Single pot still Irish whiskey is what people are talking about,” says Al Higgins, whiskey expert with the Celtic Whiskey Shop. “No one else in the world produces anything like this style of spirit.”

Good to know: The Celtic Whiskey Shop on Dawson Street stocks 464 kinds of Irish whiskey for sale.

Generator Dublin

Best for: Street art enthusiasts

Some of the city’s best street art can be found in Smithfield Square, the neighborhood that is also home to Generator Dublin. The industrial-design hostel features original art by local street artists in the lobby, bar, and social spaces, as well as its private and shared guest rooms. The urban art makes for a vibrant backdrop to live music, games of pool and shuffleboard, karaoke competitions, and more.

Right around the corner from the hostel, guests can find “Horseboy,” one of Dublin’s most famous street artworks, according to Diarmuid McCleary, founder of Alternative Dublin, which offers street art walking tours. Created by artist collective Subset to celebrate the city’s horse trading tradition, the mural sparked a battle for free expression with the city government.

 Right around the corner from the hostel,  is “Horseboy,” one of Dublin’s most famous street artworks, according to Diarmuid McCleary, founder of Alternative Dublin offering street art walking tours. Created by artist collective Subset to celebrate the  square’s horse trading tradition, the mural sparked a battle for free expression with the city government.

“Dublin hosts works by Irish artists Maser, Aches, and Conor Harrington, some of the most famous street artists in the world, as well as a few hundred street art pieces,” adds McCleary.

Good to know: Guests can sip coffee or craft beer while creating their own artwork Saturday evenings at the hostel’s Drink & Draw events.

(For more tips on what to do in Dublin, see our Explorer’s Guide.)