A Hotel Guide to Dublin for Romantic Couples

Overlooking the River Liffey, the Clarence Hotel is a one-minute walk to Temple Bar. Of the 58 bedrooms and suites here, the garden terrace suite and the penthouse are the ones to really write home about. U2 performed Beautiful Day live in the garden suite in 2000 for Top of the Pops. The penthouse, meanwhile, comes with a rooftop terrace, bar and grand piano – ideal for couples celebrating something special.

This boutique hotel is set on a hushed residential street, just a 15-minute walk from St Stephen’s Green. The sumptuous rooms mix and match Victorian features, such as vaulted ceilings and chaises longues, with modern treats such as Nespresso machines and bluetooth speakers. Elsewhere, the hotel has everything couples need for a date night. Order an Irish-themed cocktail from a waistcoated bartender in the Ruby Room before heading to The Eddison restaurant – the Taste the World cheeseboard is a great choice for two.

A grand, red-brick Victorian façade sets the tone for the Wilder Townhouse, situated near St Stephen’s Green. Inside, the rooms are just as striking. Period features such as high-shine herringbone wood flooring, sash windows and original fireplaces are teamed with quirky modern art pieces and sculptures such as golden dogs and porcelain parrots on perches. Don’t miss breakfast here – homemade breads and pastries are served on high tea stands.

The 1920s Jazz Age inspired the design at this Georgian townhouse hotel near Fitzwilliam Square. Each room is distinct, but they’re full of features such as modernist art prints, scalloped headboards, art-deco lighting and plenty of brass and glass. Nights at this hotel revolve around the sunken lounge with its wraparound leather seating and mirrored honesty bar. Mornings, meanwhile, are all about a lazy breakfast – don’t miss the cranberry and orange nut loaf – and a midday checkout.

This boutique hotel is in Ranelagh – a 13-minute tram ride from the centre – but it coaxes couples out of the city centre in a long list of ways. The rooms come with extras such as mini SMEG fridges, Marshall amp speakers, Dyson hairdryers and even in-room guitars. There’s an American-themed cocktail bar on the ground floor and a restaurant on the roof. The hotel is also home to a subterranean cinema with couch seating that’s perfect for pairs.

Across the road from St Stephen’s Green, Stauntons on the Green offers couples respite from the bustle of Dublin. Rooms are decorated in calming stone colours and filled with subtle period features such as fireplaces and chandeliers. There’s a restful garden at the heart of the hotel, which is filled with birdsong during the day and fairy-lit at night. On warm days, you can eat breakfast here – try the Irish fruit loaf soaked in Earl Grey tea for 24 hours.

Stay close to Dublin’s best bits at the Westbury Hotel, located only moments from Grafton Street. You’ll find the walls plastered with artworks by notable Irish artists and furniture by renowned maker, George Smith. Hotel restaurant Wilde is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and serves a menu of Irish dishes alongside global fare.

The Marker is a waterfront hotel that combines luxury with a modern, individual style. Rooms are thoughtfully decorated with muted tones and each has ample space in which to relax. The best bit is the seasonal rooftop bar and garden that offers excellent views of the surrounding docks and cityscape. To top it off, you’re only moments from some of the most iconic landmarks in the city.

For something a little different, the Dean Dublin is the place to go. There’s a young, hip vibe here that’ll make you want to get up and dance to the DJs that play here on weekends. You’ll find a darker interior lit by quirky neon signs, and original Irish art that’s been commissioned for the hotel.

Fairytale romances deserve fairytale settings like this turreted 18th-century hotel on the edge of Dublin Bay, 20 minutes’ drive from the city centre. Of the 113 rooms, the castle suites, with their antique furniture, gilded mirrors, chandeliers and taffeta, are the most plush. Couples staying here should visit the stone-walled Dungeon Bar before bedtime to try the 1847 cocktail – a nod to the history of the castle.