Fitzwilliam Hotel Dublin

"How did it strike you on arrival?Never one to shy away from color or pizazz, The Fitzwilliam is a Dublin hotel that will stop at nothing to please guests, from the airy lobby scented with lemongrass to the sexy bar tucked away at the back. It’s also home to Glovers Alley, a new restaurant with a pink 1920s dining room and a French-inspired menu. Nice. What’s the crowd like?Rather oddly for a city hotel, The Fitzwilliam attracts a core group of golfers who head out early each morning to the courses at Portmarnock or the Royal Dublin Golf Club. In addition, the hotel draws couples but, crucially, no large groups—a deliberate decision that helps maintain the boutique vibe. Excellent. Now, the good stuff: Tell us about your room.Rooms feature pops of color throughout—some even sport chartreuse bathtubs—and quaintly packaged Murdock toiletries (apparently one of Michelle Obama’s favorite brands). Go for a room at the deluxe end of the scale and you’ll get a modernist four-poster bed. The real gem, though, is the penthouse, which has a huge shag carpet and a gigantic limestone bath—oh, and a private butler. How about the little things; anything of note?The Fitzwilliam's whole customer-service spiel isn’t just marketing babble. Before your stay, someone will call to ask about what you want from your room and how he or she can help make your trip the best it can be. It’s an old-fashioned touch that makes all the difference. Anything stand out about other services and features? Whatever stuck with you.Join the flock of dining obsessives clamoring to try Glovers Alley, and fit in a meal there. Also, for drivers, there’s an underground car park with valet. Bottom line: worth it, and why?Vibrant and fun, this hotel also has a real sense of dedication to personalized customer service." - Nicola Brady