The Best Bed & Breakfasts in Dublin, Ireland

Acara House’s owner, Elizabeth, will welcome you with open arms and ensure your stay in Dublin is memorable and restful. Ask her for anything – from extra towels to sightseeing advice – and she’ll point you in the right direction. The property feels like a family home, and the ensuite bedrooms feature king-size beds. Breakfast is included in the price – you just need to request a full Irish ahead of time. Acara House is a 15-minute walk to O’Connell St in Dublin’s city centre, where you are well-positioned for Temple Bar, Grafton St and St Stephen’s Green.

Hosts Terry and Rosemary Masterson opened their first guesthouse more than three decades ago, so you’re in the hands of experts here. The name Donnybrook Hall might scream “regency ball”, but this place is warm, cosy and sits on a quiet residential street, just five minutes from the city centre. All rooms have ensuites and modern conveniences, while some have garden views. It’s also surrounded by some of the city’s best eateries, including Marco Pierre Whites Courtyard Bar & Grill and the Donnybrook Gastropub.

The Turner family has lived in this guesthouse for more than 25 years; it sits in Iona, a leafy, residential area, just 10 minutes from the city centre. You’ll be well looked after by Audrey and Jack, plus you’ll receive an enthusiastic tail-wagging welcome from their friendly dogs, Peanut and Chilli. All rooms feature bright colours with goose-down duvets and pure Egyptian cotton sheets. Fagan’s Pub, popular with well-known faces including Bill Clinton, is close by, as is the National Botanic Gardens.

Suites here are named after Ireland’s literary legends: Oscar Wilde, naturally, WB Yeats, James Joyce and Bram Stoker (perhaps pack some garlic for that one). It offers extras, such as champagne and chocolates, for an added fee. Rooms have a traditional feel, with bare brick walls and grand fireplaces. The location is fantastic – right in the middle of Temple Bar, the cultural heart of Dublin. Tuck into a three-course, organic breakfast, just a one-minute hop down the road, for an extra fee.

This charming B&B lies in a little mews lane in the heart of Georgian Dublin, far removed from the honking horns that circle St Stephen’s Green. The welcoming entrance area, with its sunken leather seating area and broad fireplace, is the perfect spot to flop after a busy day exploring. Rooms are spread over four floors, each with a Hastens bed and duvet, bottled Irish spring water, a Dyson cooling fan and Voya Irish organic seaweed-based toiletries.

Staying in a neighbourhood, rather than the city centre, can offer a clear snapshot of local life, which is what Ariel House offers in the affluent, leafy suburb of Ballsbridge. Enjoy an award-winning breakfast with locally sourced Irish ingredients, and afternoon tea with home-made cakes. The comfortable, stylish rooms fall across three elegant Victorian buildings with plenty of original features, including Flemish brickwork, ornamented stained glass and towering sash windows. The reception is on the first floor with no lift.

Also in Ballsbridge, this townhouse has a wide range of rooms, including original Georgian suites and quieter rooms in the modern section at the back. For families, Pembroke Townhouse offers highchairs, cots, infant beds and in-room babysitting services. The building’s Georgian character is preserved in its red-brick façade and the drawing room, with its period fireplace and antique furniture. A spread of home-baked treats is available with breakfast, including fruit scones, soda bread and banana bread, with complimentary coffee and biscuits served all day.

Owners Pat and Ann bought this dilapidated Edwardian property in Ballsbridge in 1989 and transformed it into a stunning ivy-clad guesthouse and a deserving recipient of a Fodor’s Travel Award. Service is exceptional, with personal touches including a pot of Irish tea and freshly baked cookies waiting for you on arrival. The award-winning breakfast includes a full Irish, served in the period dining room. Despite the village-like feel of the area, central Dublin is minutes away on the Dart – the city’s public transport is also the perfect way to explore the Irish capital’s coastline.

This cosy B&B would make an ideal stay for a couple or a family getaway, with spacious ensuite rooms decorated in a lively colour scheme and traditional wood panelling throughout. Breakfast comprises a full Irish, fresh fruit salad and a variety of cereals and is served in the dining room. The accommodation’s country setting belies its convenient location, a 10-minute drive from Dublin Airport and 25 minutes from the city centre. The surrounding medieval town of Swords is home to an imposing castle and numerous golf courses.

Harrington Hall is a sophisticated guesthouse, revelling in its Georgian roots with original features and old-world decor. Behind the red-brick walls and sun-yellow door, you’ll find a luxurious interior with gilt-framed mirrors, Arcadian wall hangings and glistening chandeliers. The elegant ensuite rooms – ranging from twins to suites – are decked out with traditional wallpaper and antique furnishings. In the morning, tuck into a traditional Irish breakfast – bacon, eggs, soda bread – all washed down with freshly squeezed juice before heading out to enjoy a day of shopping at nearby Grafton Street.

Stauntons on the Green is where poet Gerard Manley Hopkins put pen to paper, a politician sought respite during battles for independence and a Catholic cardinal founded a university. Its storied past and lovely garden, as well as luxurious rooms – think velvet throws, cosy down duvets and organic seaweed-based toiletries – combine to make this one of Dublin’s most appealing B&Bs. Through the Georgian sash windows, you can watch the ducks on the lake and enjoy the calm of St Stephen’s Green before wandering downstairs for smoked Irish salmon with eggs (or fresh fruit and natural yoghurt) in the breakfast room.