It’s the location that clinched it for me at the Grafton, because staying here, you are quite literally right in the middle of the action. On the corner of Drury Street and Stephen Street, this modern hotel is in the perfect position to stumble straight home after a night on the Guinness (followed by the swift consumption of a spice bag) in town. I was still licking the salt and spices from my fingertips when I rolled into bed feeling sufficiently fed and watered. Fear not though, because despite its proximity to the hubbub, the room is well soundproofed. You can easily escape the hordes of stag dos, after work drinkers and tourists in the tranquility of your room. Plus, you can watch them all below while you sip a cup of tea, swaddled in a fluffy white robe. Regal stuff.
Why stay at the Grafton?
First opening in 2019, the Grafton re-emerged from the chrysalis of lockdown in 2021 with a full makeover. The vibe they are going for is very much art deco glam, with a side of Studio 54. In the lobby, glittery pillars have been dressed up like disco balls, while gold accents can be found in furniture and fittings all over the digs. It has an aura of old-school glamour that occasionally verges on the gaudy (personally, I wasn’t a fan of the rooms’ blue and gold carpets). But overall the atmosphere is lively, welcoming and doesn’t take itself too seriously. The bright lobby could easily serve as an all-day hangout or decent place to get a bit of work done – there were often people lounging on the plush blue and yellow sofas, which are flanked by a coffee bar on one side.
What are the rooms like at the Grafton?
With 128 rooms, prices start at £154 per night. The rooms have everything you need for a comfortable stay, and carpets aside, inside they are very pleasant. I stayed in a deluxe king room which was spacious, with a huge, snuggly bed. The bathroom was kitted out with a powerful rainfall shower stocked with delicious-smelling Malin and Goetz products. The room had a large non-smart TV with regular channels, but no access to Netflix or other streaming platforms. The Grafton also has large family rooms for four, with a double bed and bunk bed, and terrace rooms with private outdoor spaces.
What is there to eat and drink?
Breakfast feels more functional than stylish, and the Grafton offers a standard but nice buffet. There were well-cooked sausages and bacon, alongside some run of the mill tomatoes, mushrooms, hashbrowns and eggs. There were also pastries, fruit, yoghurt, fresh orange juice and everything else you’d expect. I enjoyed toasted soda bread with lashings of Irish butter.
The restaurant’s appearance was a bit dark and dinghy – it doesn’t get much natural light and the low ceiling seemed to be unfinished and just painted black. It was all exposed pipes and vents, but instead of giving industrial chic felt a bit like being inside a nightclub with the lights on. Still, it did the job for a filling start to the day.
Bartely’s, the restaurant, serves up decent pub grub – think fish and chips, burgers, steak, nachos – as well as some more traditional fare like Irish smoked salmon and pan seared lamb rump. For drinks, it’s all about the cocktails. Bartley’s signature concoctions with inventive ingredients (think Hennessy with a Guinness reduction infused with hazelnut and cardamom) can be sipped in the gilded bar, or on the terrace on the corner of the buzzy street.
What is the service like at Grafton?
The staff were always friendly, smiling and there to help. The 24-hour front desk meant that when I realised I forgot my toothpaste at 2am, a complimentary tube was delivered to my door minutes after a call down to reception. Breakfast until 11am on weekends, and a midday checkout were both very welcome for a booze-heavy weekend in Dublin.
What’s the area like around the Grafton?
The location couldn’t be better for a long weekend in the Irish capital. It’s a 10-minute walk to some of the city’s biggest tourist attractions: St Stephen’s Green, Trinity College, Dublin Castle and Temple Bar.
It’s also round the corner from some of the best and most famous pubs: Palace Bar, O'Donoghues – where you knee-slap the night away at an authentic trad session –, and Kehoes were all a short walk away. Slightly further, over the river, is the Sackville Lounge, a cosy, dark wood-panelled cocktail bar with a truly indulgent Irish coffee (it has Guinness and Kerrygold butter in it) and the best one I had all weekend. Set in a former traditional boozer, the Sackville is the new sister venue of the wildly popular Bar 1661.
The Grafton is also very well placed for a spot of retail therapy. The areas surrounding Temple Bar and St Stephen’s Green are filled with boutiques, vintage shops and high-street names, while more unique spots like Ulysses Rare Books – a cosy antique bookshop selling first editions of James Joyce, Seamus Heaney and Samuel Beckett – was well worth a visit.
And just opposite the hotel is the hypey TikTok sensation Bambino, an American-style pizza by the slice spot that often has queues up the street.
Why book a stay at the Grafton?
The lively central location is absolutely the jewel in the Grafton’s crown. I enjoyed watching drinkers pour out of the pubs from the window of my hotel room, and I could see exactly when the Bambino queue was the busiest, strategically planning my visit for the quietest time (I suggest the mid-afternoon lull). The hotel offers a variety of well-priced rooms, from deluxe suites to family-friendly options, and is an ideal place for a weekend getaway in Dublin.
DETAILS
Address: 32 Stephen Street Lower, Dublin 2, D02 WV05
Price per night: Prices start at €170 per night
Closest transport link: Dublin Bus stops on George’s Street, Dawson Street and St Stephens Green