Amy Adejokun
Section editor
Not far from Trinity College and St Stephen's Green, the Mont Clare Hotel is in a central location with a rather strange layout. The hotel's only real communal space is its large bar; the reception area, with its elaborate woodwork, is merely a place of transit.
The Mont-Clare - © Carlos Rodrigues / EASYVOYAGE
The Mont-Clare - © Carlos Rodrigues / EASYVOYAGE
The hotel is located in Dublin 2, opposite the Davenport Hotel, which is another of the 4 hotels in the capital that belong to this group. Oscar Wilde's house, the National Museum of Ireland, Trinity College, and Government House are all just a stone's throw away in this upmarket district very popular with tourists. Dublin International Airport is around 30 minutes away by Aircoach (the bus service connecting Dublin to the airport)! The bus fare costs £7.
The 74 guest rooms include 8 suites as well as standard rooms and rooms with a king size bed. As for the view, you have the choice between the pleasant courtyard and the quiet street. Thick bedspreads, yellow walls, dark wood furniture, and light brown wall-to-wall carpet make for a uniform, but totally dated setting. The small standard rooms are equipped with a flat screen TV with a keyboard, a tea and coffee tray, a trouser press, Internet access, and a phone. The small bathrooms are tiled in black and boast a rather nice 3 panel mirror, basic hospitality products, and a bathtub or a shower (in the 8 rooms on the top floor). Room service is available during the day.
A few steps lead to the entrance under a small awning made of glass and ironwork. Opened in 1991 and last renovated in 2000, the Davenport Hotel boasts a facade of carmine brick work. The 5 storey building dates back to the 19th century and includes a lift. The lobby is small but particularly pleasant, thanks to the beautiful woodwork and the large windows with their wooden frames. The walls are adorned with various paintings of 19th century Dublin or depicting hunting scenes. There is also a large bar with a very long counter.
The hotel has 1 restaurant (fast food) and 1 bar. The ground floor area is crowded with people who come here for a drink after work or to watch a game on the big screen TV. The large bar has a long L-shaped counter, wooden columns, and numerous chairs and tables on different levels and in little nooks. It's a friendly place. Next to the reception area, the restaurant opens onto a quiet street. Once again, woodwork is the dominant feature. When there are too many guests, the hotel opens a second room in the basement. A continental breakfast is served from 7:15am till 10:15am but the buffet, with a small selection of hot dishes, is rather limited. From 12:30pm till 3:00pm, just choose from the dishes presented to you and inform the cook of your choice. From 3:00pm till 9:00pm, the bar serves à la carte dishes. The 10 main dishes are all Irish but, alternatively, you can order a sandwich.
Wireless Internet access is available in all the communal areas.
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It is not hard to see why the Merrion Hotel has been awarded the Leading Hotel of the World label! It is installed in a superb set of interconnected Georgian houses in perfect condition, and offers guests a luxurious, stylish, and comfortable place to stay at the heart of the capital. With a spa and a swimming pool, it also boasts the only restaurant in Ireland with 2 Michelin stars.
Tucked away in a posh residential area in the south of Dublin, the Four Seasons lives up to the group's famous reputation for luxury. While there is not much to do in the surrounding area, the hotel itself has plenty to fill both guests' days and evenings, whether it be in the restaurant, one of the three bars, or the superb spa and swimming pool. Unless you're in Dublin on business, in which case note that the hotel has no fewer than six meeting rooms.
A DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, The Morrison was not built in honour of the famous rock singer Jim Morrison, but it does pay tribute to Irish musicians, bands and artists. Reopened in February 2013 after 10 weeks of refurbishment, The Morrison now boasts a designer interior - a rare choice of decor in this city where most hotels are decorated in a more classic style. Add to this the delicious restaurant and the art gallery, and The Morrison is unquestionably a safe bet in Dublin.
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