The Fitzwilliam Hotel Dublin
Hotel · Ballsbridge ·
Modern rooms with chic decor, acclaimed restaurant, and glam bar
Modern rooms with chic decor, acclaimed restaurant, and glam bar
"Client care is the headline here, with staff reaching out before you arrive to ask how they can help you make the most of your stay, whether your focus is shopping on nearby Grafton Street, hitting museums and galleries, or exploring the city’s bars and restaurants. Personalization is the watchword, though you’re encouraged not to overlook the in-house offerings, especially Glover’s Alley by Chef Andy MacFadden, a Michelin Guide–listed restaurant overlooking St. Stephen’s Green. Practical perks include an underground car park for excursions to County Wicklow and a location directly opposite a Luas tram stop. Rooms are sophisticated and warm, with pops of color, marble-patterned bathrooms, and high-end toiletries, while higher floors look out over the park and some add balconies equipped with heaters for year-round alfresco drinks. For those chasing maximum glamour, the Project Orange–designed penthouse is pitched as a masterclass in tasteful excess." - Ciara McQuillan, Matt Charlton
"A centrally located Dublin hotel converted from a former movie theater with quirky, elegant design touches; rooms overlook St. Stephen’s Green, some include four-poster beds and standalone bathtubs, and the location provides easy access to city shopping and attractions." - Taras Grescoe
"At just 25 years old, the Fitzwilliam felt like the youngest property on the list but firmly focused on the present; I appreciated its "Dublin by Design" guided tour of the city’s most fashionable indie retailers." - Peter Terzian Peter Terzian Peter Terzian is the features editor of Travel + Leisure, where he has been on staff since 2017. He has been an editor at Elle Decor, Culture and Travel, and Out magazines, as well as Newsday, the Long Island newspaper. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"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
