The Leinster lies in a moment of calm between the hubbub of Merrion Square and the popular Grand Canal. From the outside, The Leinster is a peaceful home away from home. From the inside, it caveats: well yes, if that home was brimful of cutting-edge design choices, and outdoor hot tub and a celebrity chef. In this 55-room boutique hotel, every detail feels intentional – yet form follows function, and that adds up to an elevated stay.
Why stay at The Leinster?
Opened in 2024 on the site of a dilapidated nightclub, The Leinster is the newest launch from the McKillen family, who became the OG disruptors of the Dublin service industry when they threw open the doors to The Dean nearby in 2014. Since then they’ve launched a smattering of design-forward hotels across Ireland. Each has its own personality but you can clock they’re from the same family. Now owned by The Dean Group, The Leinster follows suit.
If calm interiors begets a calm stay, look away now. At The Leinster, plush velvets, brushed gold, upscale maximalism and interesting art compete with its dining and drinks to be the hotel’s prime draw. Every angle makes for a picture-perfect background – even the emergency exit staircase – and the light floral scent of Baccarat Rouge around the hotel only adds to the sensory pleasure.
Embedding the hotel within the bosom of Dublin’s creative community, all 300-odd paintings in the hotel are from Irish artists – except for the most prominent one, strangely: the Damien Hirst piece behind reception.
What are the rooms like at The Leinster?
The 55 rooms range from 16sqm to the 40sqm suites that feature a copper bathtub and balcony overlooking Georgian Dublin. Honestly? I stayed in a 20sqm Superior room, and it felt spacious – it was certainly enough for a king-sized bed with a floral embroidered headboard, and a living area that made an impressive Zoom background when WFH (working from hotel).
The touches – like a Nespresso machine, portable phone charger, and Dyson hairdryer – are what really make the room. Even noseying through the minibar is extra fun: it’s kitted out with glass jars of pre-made cocktails from The Collins Club (€23) and well-picked wines (a Gavi and a Valpolicella, both €28 for a half-bottle). And you can buy emergency kits for sanitation, sex, or sleep (€18-24 each).
The bathrooms are small but lavish, especially with their Japanese-style toilets and linen wallpaper. The Brooks & Co toiletries give a lovely, coconutty unisex aroma. Best of all, after a sauna session, I realised they’d found space for a hot towel rail on which I could dry my wet swimsuit. Nice.
What are the best things to eat and drink at The Leinster?
For an aperitif, The Collins Club by the lobby serve a smart range of impeccably balanced cocktails, labelled with their main flavour (‘passion fruit’ ‘chocolate & yuzu’) rather than groanworthy puns. Many of these cocktails are concocted in their basement lab, like the palo santo paloma (€16): a tangy grapefruit option, infused with the earthiness of palo santo sticks sourced from Latin America – our waiter had a stick at the ready to explain the process.
Jean-Georges Vongerichten (the French-American chef whose restaurants have accumulated a small galaxy of Michelin stars) expands his empire with Jean-Georges, his first Irish venture, aided by executive chef Ross Bryans. The restaurant is a feast for the eyes before you’ve taken a bite: on the top floor, its glassy exterior offers sweeping views of the hotchpot roofs of urban Dublin, and the inviting booths, backlit bar and wooden panel ceiling deliver a warm ambience.
Then there’s the dishes, which add Asian flourishes to modern European fayre – the beautifully delicate bites of organic Irish salmon crispy sushi with a sticky soy glaze and dab of chipotle mayo (€16), enjoyed with a gently-spicy yuzu highball (€16), showed this off in fine style. My main of paccheri pasta with flavoursome meatballs in a smoky tomato sauce, (€27) was more traditionally Italian.
The restaurant is also where breakfast is served. The menu is extensive, with continental selection (€10) for a lighter meal. My dish of eggs Florentine served with crispy potatoes and tomato and basil (€15) didn’t hit the highs of the dinner service. Elements were noticeably under or overcooked, and the tomato and basil was a small garnish that needn’t have been advertised.
What is the service like at The Leinster?
There isn’t an abundance of staff, but those present were relaxed and felt like instant friends in the most authentic of ways. In the few minutes I waited for my friends at The Collins Club, the de facto maître d' of the bar and I had swapped stories about our hometowns, and the reception staff checked in with me whenever I drifted through reception.
What is the fitness and spa like at The Leinster?
Any spa facility that’s free for guests in a city centre hotel is immediately welcome. Beeline through the fitness room that houses a myriad of equipment (apart from elliptical machines) to get to the outdoor hot tub. It fits around five people comfortably, so it might get squeezy at peak times.
Downstairs, the sauna and steam room aren’t the hottest, but it’s a nice compact facility with extra dressing gowns and slippers in case you left them in your room like this forgetful reviewer (no spare towels were found, but I survived).
What’s the area like around The Leinster?
It’s within Georgian Dublin, the posh part of Dublin city centre, where the refined architecture is a draw unto itself. Offices take up the real estate in the vicinity, so the area immediately around the hotel is quiet – yet it’s a five-minute walk to the Oscar Wilde House, a 15-minute walk to the retail epicentre of Grafton Street and 25 to Temple Bar, so the location strikes a nice balance. It’s well-serviced too – buses and the airport coach are almost on the doorstep, while Pearse train station, which whisks you to the north and south coasts in quicksmart time, is a 10-minute walk away.
Why you should you book a stay at The Leinster
The Leinster won’t suit every budget, but for the most part it’s worth the splash-out – few things are ordinary here, and the design and detail are gifts that keep giving. While the central location works for every type of visitor from solo women to groups, it’s especially suited to those who plan to linger in their rooms – they’re too beautiful to leave.
DETAILS
Address: 7 Mount Street Lower, Dublin 2, D02 WK33, Ireland
Price per night: Starting from €166 per night
Closest transport: Merrion Square is a well-serviced bus stop, and Pearse train station is a 10-minute walk