Dublin is the beautiful city of song and poetry and the inspiration to many an author over the years – Beckett, Yeats, Joyce… even the beloved Irish novelist Maeve Binchy put the city in the centre of a wonderful yarn or two. From the manicured St Stephens Green to the beautiful architecture of  Trinity College and Grafton Street and the vibrant night life of Temple Bar…history aside, this city still has plenty more to offer! Compact, carefree with a unique heart and soul, Dublin is the perfect spot for a rip-roaring, toe-tapping, Guinness-supping weekend city break, and having spent a few years living in the Irish capital, here is my choice for 10 of the best cool, unusual and quirky hotels in Dublin to help you on your way….

The Gibson Hotel – hip contemporary chic

This ultra modern, glass-clad and exceptionally rated 4-star hotel comes complete with a bamboo shaded courtyard, legendary gourmet food from fresh local ingredients and most importantly a chic cocktail bar drawing on some cool Asian inspired design. Situated in the cultural heart of the city the Gibson Hotel prides itself on innovative design to maximise relaxation potential, including Japanese copper baths and gorgeous views over the Wicklow mountains. The hotel offers a number of inclusive deals under its “eat, sleep, play, explore” initiative enabling guests to make the most of the delicious pan Asian cuisine and enviable breakfast spreads. For a hip weekend in one of Europe’s most vibrant cities, you can’t go wrong with The Gibson, easily one of the coolest hotels in Dublin!

• Prices from €90 per night
• To book, check prices or availability for The Gibson Hotel

The Morgan – gorgeous eclectic boutique

This deluxe boutique beauty is a central city centre gem situated on Fleet Street just inches away from the buzzing nightlife of Temple Bar. The chic urban suites at the highly rated 4-star Morgan Hotel will please any self-respecting glamour puss with their designer twist on comfort. Before heading out on the town it’s worth sampling the comprehensive cocktail menu in The Morgan Bar, including the signature cocktail ‘Morgan Bubbles’. You can enjoy tasty food too and listen to some brilliant live music sessions as well as going full party mode if you stay during one of the club’s special events. If you’re after a legendary Irish party weekend then this is almost certainly the hip Dublin hotel for you!

• Prices from €120 per night
• To book, check prices or availability for The Morgan

Trinity City Hotel – unique, colourful and trendy

This opulent but quirky Dublin hotel offers a luxurious oasis in the very heart of the city opposite the historic Trinity College. The 4-star highly regarded Trinity City hotel prides itself on its modern chic versus magical vintage feel and it’s unarguably impeccably designed. This marrying of the old and the new is reflected in the hotel’s restaurant with offers traditional dishes with a contemporary twist in a choice of beautiful surroundings. The front lounge has panoramic views over Pearse Street, The Courtyard garden is a leafy oasis in the middle of the city, perfectly for a romantic al fresco meal and the piano lounge is a great place for a relaxed lunch with friends or business colleagues – easily one of the trendiest hotels in Dublin!

• Prices from €100 per night
• To book, check prices or availability for Trinity City Hotel

The Dean Hotel – hip retro cool

If you love all things hip and fun then this is the place for you! Located in the heart of the Irish capital, rooms at the 4-star highly rated Dean Hotel are kitted out with all the cool stuff a self-respecting hipster could wish for – Irish Modern Art, Marshall amps to connect your gadgets to, loads of vinyl to play on the very cool Rega turntables, Netflix, Snacks, Nespresso machine and a heap of designer goods to keep you clean and rested. This unusual Dublin hotel is serious about food and drink too, from delicious rotisserie chicken to a tasty cocktail wrapped in a cosy blanket on the rooftop terrace, you can get it all here. It also has the bonus of being the venue for one of Dublin’s coolest nights out as Sophie’s Rooftop Terrace hosts the super laid back ‘Highline’, bringing New York vibes to Dublin every Thursday – Saturday, 11pm ’til late. Raise your glasses as the city twinkles beneath you and be prepared to never want to leave!

• Prices from €90 per night
• To book, check prices or availability for The Dean Hotel

The Morrison – chic and unique luxury

This hip and unique 4-star and exceptionally rated DoubleTree by Hilton Dublin hotel situated on the banks of the River Liffey in the city centre is known throughout Ireland for its chic design and celebrity clientele. You can easily ‘spend all your money on whiskey and beer’ as the Morrison Hotel is close to both the Guinness Brewery and the Jameson distillery and its award-winning Quay 14 bar offers a comprehensive range of whiskeys, craft beers and Irish music-themed cocktails in meticulously designed surroundings. The food on offer in The Morrison Grill takes its inspiration from local culture and stories and uses only the best fresh, homegrown ingredients. For a touch of luxury in the heart of Dublin, this cool hotel is at the top of its game.

• Prices from €140 per night
• To book, check prices or availability for The Morrison Hotel

Number 31 – beautiful modernist chic

Number 31, is one of the most beloved boltholes in Georgian Dublin City Centre and always seems to top many a review list (including a near perfect rating on Google rating). Design and architecture buffs will love this ultra-friendly guesthouse which cleverly encompasses a classic Georgian townhouse and a stunning modernist mews by Sam Stephenson. The rooms at this quirky Dublin boutique have a cool classy 60’s feel combining bold colours and clean lines with the height of luxury and comfort. Guests can enjoy relaxing in the leafy courtyard or the famous sunken lounge (pictured above) and fortify themselves with what is said to be ‘the best breakfast in Dublin’. All of this is further perfected by the old style Irish charm and hospitality of the attentive staff! A gorgeous and unique Dublin accommodation option!

• Prices from €80 per night
• To book, check prices or availability for Number 31

Kelly’s Hotel – cosy, trendy and chic

Small but perfectly formed, this city centre highly-rated Dublin hotel offers visitors a unique ‘house guest experience’ which offer a cosy homely feel yet with a trendy vibe. Stay in one of the 16 rooms at wonderfully eclectic Kelly’s Hotel, each individually designed, and enjoy yourself as the city unfolds around you. Situated above ‘Hogans Bar’, one of Dublin’s best and most fun night spots, and with instant access to Dublin’s ultra-cool ‘Secret Bar’, Kelly’s is ideal for the traveller who enjoys a bit of fun and mystery! Foodies will also love its close proximity to L’Gueuleton, one of the finest French restaurants in the city.

• Prices from €70 per night
• To book, check prices or availability for Kelly’s Hotel

The Marker Hotel – trendy modern luxury

Rising from the heart of Dublin’s urban docklands and drawing on the elemental nature of the Irish landscape the exceptionally rated 5-star The Marker Hotel is a luxurious retreat for the modern-minded. The visually arresting spaces at this trendsetting Dublin stay include a rooftop terrace with views beyond the urban cityscape and out across the wild mountains and the sea, an infinity pool, 187 flawless rooms of a unique geometric design and a stunning cocktail bar and brasserie. Foodies can enjoy delicious award-winning dishes at this chic Dublin abode with a local focus followed by drinks up on the rooftop terrace whilst taking in the buzz of the city and the peace of the landscape beyond. All this before retiring to a comfortable impeccably designed room with everything you need provided for you and then some…

• Prices from €140 per night
• To book, check prices or availability for The Marker Hotel

Generator Hostel – trendy budget

Dublin can be pricey and if you would rather save your pennies for exploring the city but you’re not willing to slum it either, then Generator Hostel could be the place for you especially if you’re a hipster on a shoestring budget! Situated in the hip Smithfield District of Dublin next to the Jameson distillery, this is a cool and unusual design-led gem of a hostel. With plenty of innovative communal spaces and a room choice for every budget, this is an ideal place to stay if you are travelling alone and want to meet people. It also offers a luxury hot tub room for the ultimate girly weekend and clean comfortable shared rooms for small groups and couples too. Be sure to sample a whisky or two in the super street, Jameson inspired bar and tuck into a famous gourmet burger in the onsite restaurant too!

• Prices from €25 per night
• To book, check prices or availability for The Generator Hostel

The Schoolhouse Hotel – unique historical boutique

The walls of this beautiful historic hotel in Dublin have many stories to tell. From its inception in 1859 the unique building has witnessed many an important event unfold, including the 1916 Easter Rising. Each of the 31 boutique rooms at the highly rated 4-star Schoolhouse Hotel is dedicated to one of Ireland’s most influential figures. The warm and romantic ambience in The Schoolhouse Restaurant draws travellers from both near and far and the whole hotel benefits from sympathetic design and attention to detail to make your stay as comfortable and relaxing as can be. Want to step it up a gear? Their fun onsite bar will not disappoint!

• Prices from €80 per night
• To book, check prices or availability for Schoolhouse Hotel 

If you enjoyed our cool and unusual hotels in Dublin we also have posts on cool hotels in Amsterdam and London.