Experience a design-conscious stay in Dublin at one of these distinctive properties brimming with character

A city famed for its storied institutions, its centres of education and its rich architecture, Dublin is also home to a clutch of fascinating boutique hotels where old-world charm meets imaginative design. Here are some of our favourites.

Number 31

An after-hours bolthole for Dublin’s headline makers in the 1950s who gathered at its sunken lounge, Number 31 was a humble stable block before Irish modernist architect Sam Stephenson converted it into a cutting-edge city centre home, now a 21-room guesthouse.

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At the heart of this property is Sam’s Room, an inviting space lacking in pretension that’s warmly illuminated by a skylight and coolly decked out in teal, grey and yellow hues. Elsewhere, the And All That Jazz Family Room pays tribute to the Jazz Age, with cool lighting fixtures and bright pink throws on the beds.

Make sure you get up in time to sample the hotel’s legendary breakfasts, which include cranberry and orange nut loaf, poached pears in vanilla syrup, and home-made granola, and scour the walls to spot a limited edition print of the smallest poster designed by French artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec.

The Clarence

Located in Temple Bar, The Clarence is Dublin’s quintessential rock ‘n’ roll hotel, as it’s owned by stadium rockers U2, who recorded a live version of Beautiful Day for Top of the Pops on the hotel rooftop.

With 58 bedrooms and suites, the legendary Penthouse Suite has a panoramic rooftop terrace and baby grand piano to tinker on, while River View Rooms offer stellar vistas out to the River Liffey and the many boats, ferries and kayaks that float down it daily, with ensuites packed with Irish products including Paul Costello toiletries.

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Owned by Michelin-starred chef Oliver Dunne, Cleaver East offers aged meat cuts and grilled seafood, while The Curious Mister’s extensive cocktail list is designed to hit all five flavour profiles (sweet, sour, salty, bitter and umami). Prefer something more casual? Swing by the Stout Bar for a pint and soak up the retro vibes of a classic Irish pub.

The Mayson

Located in the Dublin Docklands, smack dab in the middle of the city, The Mayson is a 94-room boutique hotel with rooms that celebrate the industrial heritage and architectural character of the precinct, with corten steel frames at the windows of the Warehouse rooms and suites, which also feature stand-alone copper bathtubs.

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Hook up your tunes on the room’s Marshall speakers and sample Irish snacks from the Mayson Munchie Trays (you can keep things cool in the mini Smeg fridge). In rooms, you’ll find Mayson Drinks Trays, featuring premium spirits, zesters, slicers and shakers so you can mix up a pre-dinner cocktail, which will prove the perfect aperitif to the world-famous chicken wings at the hotel’s restaurant, Elephant & Castle.

Also, take a load off at the thermal suite, which features a heated relaxation pool overlooking the central outdoor courtyard.