We Stayed at the Hotel Voted #3 In Ireland By Condé Nast Traveler Readers – Here’s What It’s Like
Anantara is an award-winning, traveler-favorite chain with over 50 hotels and resorts across Asia, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the Indian Ocean. Since 2001, they’ve genuinely connected travelers with places, their people, and their stories by embracing hotel surroundings and the destination’s culture. Recently, they were voted into the #2 spot in USA Today’s 10 Best Luxury Hotel Brands from around the world.
“Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas ranks highly in the USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards year after year,” said Maggie Tyner, Readers’ Choice Awards editor. “Offering stunning locations and exceptional service, it’s no wonder our readers love this luxury hotel brand.”
“I stayed at two Anantara Bangkok properties last year. It was my first experience with the hotel brand, and the entire experience blew me away,” shares frequent traveler Marjolein Dilven. “The attention to detail and outstanding service makes their properties very special. What I love most about Anantara is how they focus on wellness. The feeling that you’re coming home after a day of exploring, knowing you don’t have to worry about a thing, is unmatched.”
Planning a Trip To Ireland?
World-class golf courses, stunning coasts and mountains, a vibrant and welcoming culture, and a culinary scene anchored in farm-to-table sourcing are only a few of Ireland’s allures.
Whether you’re looking to escape the scorching summer heat, trace family genealogy, or enjoy real-life Westeros, most Ireland adventures start or end in Dublin and its international airport. If you’re searching for a Dublin hotel that not just checks all the boxes but exceeds ones you didn’t even think about, stop looking. To use common Irish slang, their hotels are all class.
A Striking Dublin Icon, Recently Renovated
In 2023, after the property joined Anantara, multi-million dollar investments in the hotel were completed. All 186 guest rooms were refurbished, the stunning lobby and bar upgraded, and the buzzed-about destination restaurant Forbes Street by Gareth Mullins was added. No wonder the property is a member of Leading Hotels of the World.
The Docklands Neighborhood
A landmark in the newly modernized Docklands, the hotel sits at the former final point of the Grand Canal, which historically connected Dublin to villages and towns across the country via the River Shannon. Today, the 10,000-square-meter Grand Canal Square is a popular meeting point day and night.
Unmissable red-angled pillars, beautifully lit at night, symbolize the area’s history and innovation. In typical Irish fashion, there’s a rich story behind them. An homage to the previous cast iron markers that illustrated the end of the canal journey, they are more than public art pieces but a symbol of reaching one’s destination.
Dubbed Silicon Docks, the area is home to global tech and finance companies and one of the trendiest places to live, work and play. Travelers can feel like locals while being close to must-see Dublin attractions.
A Central Location That’s Still A Haven
Tucked into a waterfront neighborhood, the hotel is close to many of Dublin’s top attractions while remaining a quiet haven to retreat to at the end of the day. A five-minute walk takes explorers to the iconic Samuel Beckett Bridge and the River Liffey, home to EPIC, the Irish Emigration Museum, the Famine Memorial, and the Custom House.
Continue walking along the river to the famed Temple Bar neighborhood, down to Grafton Street, and to the urban park St. Stephens Green. Or loop down to Trinity College, the home of The Book of Kells and the brand new interactive experience that brings its historical significance to life.
Concertgoers or sporting fans staying at the hotel can walk to Aviva Stadium, seen from the property.
Stunning Views From Oversized Windows
The Anantara Marker Dublin Hotel offers a contemporary, elemental style inspired by Ireland’s landscapes. Each room features floor-to-ceiling windows that flood accommodations with natural light. Geometric shape patterns can be seen throughout the bedrooms, hallways, bars, and restaurants, inspired by the natural beauty of Ireland’s Burren Landscape and hexagonal stones found in the Giant’s Causeway.
Designed with a mix of comfort, beauty, and functionality, luxe rooms include bespoke furniture crafted by Irish designers. Travelers or families looking for more space can spread out in one of their five jaw-dropping suites with separate living and sleeping rooms and well-appointed high-end marble bathrooms.
From a Sumputous Breakfast Buffet to Fine Dining
Fuel up at their breakfast buffet with hot and cold dishes made with the freshest ingredients from land and sea. Take the chance to try an Irish breakfast or fresh baked goods with world-renowned Irish butter.
If you’re in town Tuesday through Saturday, don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy a Gareth Mullins meal at Forbes Street. Shortlisted for Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant for the Irish Restaurant Awards 2024 it offers the finest meat, seafood, expertly paired wines, and even a kids menu. In the land of storytellers, there’s a story behind every option and the places it came from. For example, they’ve sourced the best meat in Ireland from John Stone Beef in County Longford, dry age them in-house, and cook them to perfection for a melt-in-your mouth-meal. But leave room for dessert, which is crafted into delicious works of art.
The Rooftop Bar and Terrace
End your day on the hotel rooftop to watch the sunset as far as the eye can see. Enjoy cocktails and light bites as you witness the vibrant colors explode over mountains on one side and the Irish Sea on the other.
Their Award-Winning Spa
After a day exploring the bustling city, escape to Ireland’s top rated spa, a blissful, tranquil city cocoon. As you settle in for a spa appointment, a dip in the 75-foot-long infinity pool, a soak in the jacuzzi, or relax in the sauna or eucalyptus-infused steam room, you forget that you’re right in the heart of Dublin.
Popular with hotel guests and even those not staying at the property, book your luxurious treatment, facial, or massage before arrival. Now featuring offerings from award-winning local skincare company Seabody, which uses the power of ocean plants from the country’s Atlantic coastline to deliver luxurious and efficacious products.
And It Is All Family Friendly
When The Anantara The Marker Dublin Hotel invited my family to stay during our Ireland adventure, I wondered how welcoming a high-end luxury hotel would be to kids. They blew me away. From the family swimming times at the spa pool to the fine dining kid’s menu to the patient and accommodating waiters at breakfast, kids are more than welcome; they are celebrated guests who even have their own robes waiting the bathroom.
The hotel staff set up a tent with children’s books and stuffed animals in our room to make sure the kids felt at home from the minute we arrived. My daughter spent time cuddling with the sheep in her own space, erasing any uneasiness kids sometimes feel in a new place.
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