Where to Stay in Dublin: The Best Neighborhoods for Your Visit

Dublin is a city with soul. There is so much literary and cultural history here you can’t help but feel inspired as you explore. It’s a lively city brimming with traditional pubs, live music and dancing (so much Irish jigging), and a hearty, vibrant food scene. And, on a cloudy day, you can really feel the angst. It gives the city a moody feel.

Home to over 25% of the country’s population, Dublin is dissected by the River Liffey, creating two very distinct parts of town. A common first question that Dubliners ask one another (if they haven’t picked up the accent first) is: Northside or Southside?

Not surprisingly, it’s important to pick the right neighborhood while staying in Dublin, since that will impact your entire trip.

To help you decide where to stay in Dublin, I’ll highlight the best neighborhoods, so you can choose the area that best suits your travel style and budget.

But before I get to the specifics, here are some common questions I get asked about Dublin neighborhoods:

What’s the best neighborhood for food lovers?
If you let your stomach guide you when you travel, Portobello should be on your radar. Located on the Southside, it boasts the city’s most diverse dining scene.

What’s the best neighborhood for families?
The Docklands, offers a mix of old and new. It’s also just a short jaunt to Merrion Square, which is home to a lovely park and several museums.

What’s the best neighborhood for partying?
Temple Bar is a fitting name for this river-hugging neighborhood on the city’s Southside. The streets of this compact district are overflowing with pubs.

What’s the best neighborhood for hipsters?
Located on the Southside and hugging up against Portobello, The Liberties is one of a few up-and-coming neighborhoods in Dublin. If you fancy hanging out with mustached young men, kale-smoothie-swilling locals, and third-wave-coffee-brewing folk, The Liberties is the place for you.

What’s the best neighborhood for feeling like a local?
Stoneybatter, located on the Northside along the river, is not really on the tourist radar but is smack in the center of things at the same time. There are some great neighborhood pubs here, such as the Cobblestone, and excellent gastropubs, such as L. Mulligan Grocer.

What’s the best neighborhood overall?
The neighborhood that incorporates a handful of important historical sites and attractions, as well as great pubs, cool haunts, and excellent eateries is The Liberties, making it the best neighborhood in Dublin, overall.

So, with those questions answered, here’s a breakdown of each neighborhood, with suggested accommodations, so you know exactly where to stay in Dublin:

 

Where to Stay in Dublin for Foodies: Portobello

Located on the Southside of Dublin, Portobello is the birthplace of writer George Bernard Shaw and is closely associated with the drinking habits of James Joyce. These days, it happens to be one of Dublin’s best neighborhoods for people who like food.

Portobello’s roads are lined with excellent eateries, from Michelin-recommended restaurants to salt-of-the-earth spots to bustling brunch cafés. It’s all here. Come with an empty stomach, and you’ll leave very full.

Portobello is a small swath of the Southside, and accommodations within the boundaries of the neighborhood are hard to come by. But there are several options right on the border of the district.

Best Places to Stay in Portobello:

BUDGET: Harcourt Hotel — Housed in a series of 18th-century, brick Georgian townhouses (including one that Shaw once called home), the 100-room Harcourt has a bar on-site, as well as both a restaurant and a beer garden. The rooms aren’t huge but they feature nice touches of color that brighten up the space and have lots of natural light. The beds are comfy and there’s a flatscreen TV, desk, and free Wi-Fi in each room. The bathrooms are on the smaller side, but the water pressure is great (a big plus in my book).

MIDRANGE: Maldron Hotel Kevin Street — With a view of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the Maldron is a cozy place to stay right on the edge of Portobello. It’s a sleek four-star hotel with a simple, minimalist design. The rooms are large with lots of natural light, and the beds are large and comfortable. You also get flatscreen TVs, coffee/tea maker, desks, and free Wi-Fi. The bathrooms are spacious with showers that have good water pressure. I love the breakfast buffet, which has tons of variety and lots of fresh fruit.

LUXURY: The Dean — One of the hippest places in the area, The Dean has everything from small pod-size rooms to suites with foosball tables and everything in between. All rooms come with Irish-made snacks, rainfall showers, Nespresso coffee machines, Marshall amp Bluetooth speakers, and Grafton Barber bath products. I especially love the chill rooftop bar/restaurant with its views overlooking the city.
 

Where to Stay in Dublin for Families: The Docklands

The Docklands are set along both sides of the river and offer a mix of old and new. Here you’ll find plenty to see and do for the whole family, including setting foot on the replica famine ship The Jeanie Johnston (over 2 million people fled Ireland during the famine between 1845-55). You can also get out on the water and go paddleboarding or kayaking, and there’s even an escape room on a boat here too.

Nearby, you’ll find Merrion Square, which is awash in museums. The National Gallery, the National Museum, and the National History Museum are all here. Plus, there are plenty of family-friendly diversions in Merrion Square itself, including a large, active playground.

Best Places to Stay in the Docklands:

BUDGET: Latroupe Jacobs Inn Hostel – Located near Connolly Station, the city’s main bus station, this is my favorite hostel in the city. All of the dorm beds are super cozy pods with thick mattresses, as well as individual lights, curtains, and outlets. There’s a bar and restaurant on-site too, making it easy to socialize. They have private rooms for families, lots of common space for hanging out, and the bathrooms are spacious and clean.

MIDRANGE: The Alex — Just south of the Docklands, this is a stylish and sleek boutique hotel. The rooms feature Irish-made King Koil bedding, large smart TVs, AC, rainfall showers, and ultra-fast Wi-Fi. The hotel also has a gym and a few excellent in-house eateries. And, if you’re visiting the city for work, there’s a co-working area downstairs where you can charge your gear and be productive.

LUXURY: The Spencer Hotel – This four-star hotel overlooks the river and boasts an array of amenities, including a swimming pool, fitness center, and Nespresso machines in every room. Rooms are spacious and minimally designed in a soft, pastel color palate. They have lots of natural light too, thanks to the floor-to-ceiling windows. The bathrooms are also large, with a shower/tub combo and complimentary bath products. There’s also a bar and restaurant on-site and high-speed Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel.
 

Where to Stay in Dublin for Partying: Temple Bar

There once was a time — several decades ago, actually — when Temple Bar was a decrepit no-go zone. But things have dramatically changed. Today, it’s crammed with pubs. The streets are overflowing with beer-swilling locals and visitors. There are also art galleries, theaters, and museums for daytime activities, but once the sun starts to descend upon the horizon, there’s just one thing to do in this atmospheric neighborhood: hit the pubs.

Best Places to Stay in Temple Bar:

BUDGET: Abigail’s Hostel — Located in the northwestern part of the district, this is a fun and lively hostel. The interior is covered in all kinds of art and murals and there are several huge common areas where you can hang out. While the bunks are just basic metal ones, there are lockers under each bed and individual lights. They also organize daily free walking tours in case you want to see the sights and meet other travelers.

MIDRANGE: Clarence Hotel — A boutique four-star hotel, this property has an arty, quirky design that features lots of colorful art and wallpaper. The rooms were designed by Irish artisans and feature stylish custom furnishings like white oak floors, colorful and plush headboards, and unique artwork on the walls. The bathrooms have rainfall showers, limestone flooring, and tiled walls. In-room amenities include the standard offerings, including a flatscreen TV, desk, minibar, and coffee/tea maker. Don’t miss the awesome on-site cocktail bar!

LUXURY: Temple Bar Hotel — This modern four-star hotel has eight room types (from pods to family quarters), each with its own unique furniture and artwork. Rooms are spacious and simply decorated, featuring flatscreen TVs, tea/coffee makers, desks, outlets near the bed (a big plus for me), and comfy bathrobes. The bathrooms are bright and spacious and the showers have great water pressure. There’s a bar on-site (where you can watch live sports) as well as two restaurants.
 

Where to Stay in Dublin for Hipsters: The Liberties

Liquor and the Lord: on the surface, this is what sums up The Liberties. The neighborhood, in the southwest of the historic center, is home to St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Christ Church Cathedral, the Teeling Whiskey Distillery, and the Guinness Brewery.

But The Liberties has also become a headquarters for the city’s hipster set as well. If you’re a fan of finely brewed coffee, craft spirits, or funky boutiques, the Liberties is the neighborhood for you.

Best Places to Stay in The Liberties:

BUDGET: Garden Lane Backpackers Hostel — This hostel feels like staying at a friend’s house. It’s one of the quieter hostels in the city, though it’s social (just not rowdy). There’s a fully equipped kitchen in case you want to cook your meals, as well as a rooftop terrace where you take in the view as you eat and drink with friends. The dorm beds have curtains and the mattresses are super thick so you can get a good night’s sleep. Each bed has its own light and outlet too.

MIDRANGE: Hyatt Centric The Liberties — Housed in a historic red-brick building, the Liberties outpost of the Hyatt has generous rooms that include blackout curtains, in-room coffee and tea, AC, and luxury bath products. There’s also a 24-hour fitness center. It’s your standard upscale chain hotel, offering a lot of value for the price.

LUXURY: Radisson Blu Royal Hotel — Located just to the east of the Liberties, the Radisson Blu is housed in a modern building and is about as comfortable a property you’ll find in the area. There’s a large, modern gym on the premises, and the in-house restaurant serves up modern Irish cuisine. The decor in the rooms feels a bit dated, but the rooms are a good size and have large rain showers as well as all the amenities you’d expect from a four-star hotel (free Wi-Fi, flatscreen TV, outlets near the bed, desk, coffee/tea maker).
 

Where to Stay in Dublin for Feeling like a Local: Stoneybatter/Smithfield

Located on the Northside, Stoneybatter and the adjacent Smithfield) have some of the most local vibes in the center of Dublin. Pubs like the Cobblestone, where you can hear “trad music” on a nightly basis, and L. Mulligan Grocer, a favorite foodie spot for high-quality pub grub, are worth going to even if you’re not staying in the neighborhood. Stoneybatter and Smithfield are also great places to while away an afternoon at a third-wave coffeehouse or an intimate pub.

Stoneybatter is, in fact, so “local” that there aren’t really any places to stay here. The best accommodation options are in neighboring Smithfield.

Best Places to Stay in Smithfield:

BUDGET: The Generator — The Dublin outpost of this European hostel chain has fun, social common rooms as well as an industrial-chic in-house bar. The dorm beds have thick mattresses and lockers, and there is plenty of common space for hanging out and meeting travelers.

MIDRANGE: The Hendrick — Rooms at this midrange hotel feature hardwood floors, plus-sized TVs, fancy bath products, and comfy mattresses. The rooms aren’t huge, but they make good use of the space and have all the standard amenities, including flatscreen TVs, coffee/tea makers, desks, and Wi-Fi. Some rooms even have bunk beds, which makes it a nice choice for traveling families. The bathrooms are well-lit and the showers have good pressure. There’s a bar on-site if you get thirsty too.

LUXURY: The Ashling — This luxury four-star property, where the River Liffey meets Stoneybatter, has 226 comfortable and spacious rooms, many of which offer beautiful views over the city. The rooms are large and well-lit and each room is equipped with USB-port-laden desks, bottled water, coffee and tea, and branded bath products. The bathrooms are large and spacious too. I especially liked the elegant in-house eatery; it serves upscale takes on Irish cuisine.

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Dublin is an achingly fun city. While it may be a little pub and party-heavy, the Irish capital is also loaded with world-class museums, Michelin-starred restaurants, and swaths of peaceful green parks. No matter what you’re interested in, Dublin won’t disappoint.