Dublin: The Clarence (5 Star Hotel)

0.3 business

Address: 6-8 wellington quay , Dublin 2, Ireland
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Lonely Planet review

  • Fionn Davenport
  • Lonely Planet author
Owned by Bono and The Edge of U2, the Clarence is one of the hottest beds in town for sure, but it is so hyped it disappoints some visitors. To set the record straight - the hotel is down-to-earth, elegant and understated. Excellent service, a classy bar and one of the best eats in town make this a top spot, but definitely not swankier than your wildest dreams.

The hotel is about to undergo a huge revamp courtesy of an ultra-modern design by Sir Norman Foster. In the meantime, the hotel's rock-star associations remain very much in the background: Bono's little bolthole has neither TV sets cascading from the windows nor groupie-clad tour buses lining up outside for a peek. The genteel atmosphere is more 1930s gentlemen's club than Hollywood extravaganza: the 50-odd lavish-albeit-smallish rooms decorated in an ecclesiastical theme with white and cardinal colour schemes, offer the comfort of Egyptian cotton linen, beautifully simple bathrooms, white American oak furniture and original artwork by U2 band mate, Guggi - once of Dublin cult band The Virgin Prunes. Savour the pleasures of a Prada facial or Ayurvedic head massage in the hotel's Treatment Room before slipping down to the Octagon Bar for a beautifully made bilini.

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Atmosphere: Elegant and Busy

Check-in / Check-out Earliest check-in: 2:00 PM
Latest check-out time: 12:00 PM