When major concerts such as the Oasis reunion tour hit Dublin last year, hotel room rates surged.
More than supply versus demand, the Irish capital’s accommodation stock hasn’t kept pace with visitor numbers, and industry analysts predict the city will need thousands more rooms in the coming years.
The takeaway is straightforward: if you’re planning a trip to the Irish capital, book early.
And when you do, consider one of the city’s newest openings, The Hoxton Dublin. It’s a renovation and restoration of the historic Central Hotel, a property that has been part of Dublin life for 150 years.
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The Hoxton may not have increased the city’s room count, but it has certainly added to the supply of interesting places to stay.
It has also added history. During construction, archaeologists uncovered artefacts and bones from the city’s Viking and medieval past, along with remnants of Dubh Linn, the tidal pool that gave Dublin its name. These finds are now displayed in the lobby.
Beyond this, visitors will find an inn shaped by Irish hospitality.
Hoxton is a brand from Ennismore, which began with a single London hotel in 2006 and has since become known for lively properties that reflect their locale, with a focus on public spaces and dining.
The “Hox” Dublin fits the brief. Set in the heart of the city’s Creative Quarter, it’s in walking distance of St Stephen’s Green, Trinity College and a mix of boutiques, bars and eateries. It also brings its own quartet of venues.
The original Central Hotel was home to The Library Bar, a popular local haunt once said to pour the best Guinness in the city.
The bar remains, reimagined by Ennismore’s in-house design studio, AIME. The brief was to preserve its character – from ornate plasterwork and tall sash windows to the marble fireplace – while giving the space a contemporary lift.
Elsewhere, a lobby bar nods to the traditional Irish pub, while the relaxed lobby lounge invites guests and locals to settle in behind cafe curtains, in low-slung armchairs and generous sofas.
The Hoxton also houses the Peruvian-leaning Cantina Valentina and the sandwich shop Dollars.
Later this year, the basement nightclub, Groundwork, is set to open. It’s far enough from the hotel’s 129 rooms to keep things quiet upstairs, but close enough for a short stumble to bed.
Accommodation spans Hoxton’s familiar categories: Snug, Cosy, Roomy and Biggy rooms.
Interiors draw on an autumnal Irish palette, with warm textures and botanical motifs that reference the building’s Victorian roots.
Elsewhere in the city, recent openings include The Leinster (February 2024), voco The Club Dublin and citizenM Dublin St Patrick’s (both mid-2025). A Sofitel is due to open at Dublin Airport late this year or early next, and other developments around the city are due to come online from next year.
Julietta Jameson is a freelance travel writer who would rather be in Rome, but her hometown Melbourne is a happy compromise.Connect via email.
