Location The hotel is on Arran St East, reached from lively Capel St via a side street, Little Mary St. This north inner city area is mixed and undergoing rejuvenation, so has everything from derelict buildings to refurbishments and new builds. The hotel is beside Dublin’s historic fruit and flower market, which closed in 2019 but is due to be redeveloped, while ‘secret’ celeb hotspot The Hacienda is right next door.
Capel St itself has a lively mix of pubs, restaurants and shops with O’Connell St, Temple Bar and public transport all short walks. 7/10 Style & design An unremarkable looking new build, the character of the interior more than makes up for it. The huge bar area has an eclectic mix of seating areas, with vintage tables, chairs and sofas creating a ‘rustic meets refined’ vibe, with plenty of nooks.
Some of the design references the area’s legacy as a market, with creative displays of market signs and baskets. The focal point is the hotel bar —– with the reception desk at one end. There’s a small guest library (though the vintage books are more for show than content).
In contrast to the colourful ground floor, guest rooms are decorated in cool white tones, creating a relaxing atmosphere away from the buzz of the city (and lobby). 8/10 Service To keep the hotel affordable, it has pared many things back so there’s a lean towards automation rather than high staff numbers. Check-in is part of the bar area.
I got an email beforehand asking for my re.