For the last leg of our Ireland tour, we landed at the Iveagh Garden Hotel in Dublin, a green energy role model. Opened in 2018, this four-story hotel of red brick with a Georgian arch doorway and plant festooned window boxes takes sustainability and guest satisfaction seriously.
This is a lovely hotel where guests’ comfort comes in the well-appointed rooms and aesthetically pleasing spaces. Whether one is traveling with a group in need of gathering spots or looking for solitude, this hotel has options that please.
Classic Meets Contemporary at Iveagh Garden Hotel
While we waited to check in, I browsed the lobby a bit. This elegant space is fitted with a mix of classic and modern lighting and furniture. The splashes of bright blue and gold are a palate that pops with a contemporary vibe. This past meets the present decor works well. One can imagine earlier times in Dublin while enjoying contemporary elements of today’s tastes. The white-mantled fireplace is an elegant touch. In addition to the lobby’s hangout spots, Elle’s Bistro, Elle’s Bar, and the Garden Terrace are places to head for food and libations.
Dining and Drinking Options
Elle’s Bar and Elle’s Bistro, with their warm browns, moss greens and greys, offer a mix of seating from two toppers to tables that can sit several people. One can also grab a seat at the long stylish bar. Here, cocktails are artfully crafted, the beer and wine list are extensive, and the list of whiskey is impressive. I got a cue from a sign in the elevator of whiskey options and ordered a whiskey tasting flight of three to cap off dinner.
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A section of Elle’s Bistro has a library ambiance, thanks to shelves filled with books and art objects. For the feel of an open-air flower garden patio, head to the Garden Terrace. In the evening, it becomes a relaxing oasis to settle in after a day of sightseeing.
Food at the Iveagh Garden Hotel is excellent. Ingredients are locally sourced as much as possible and Irish fare is part of the menu selections. In the morning, an extensive buffet breakfast with a wide variety of hot and cold items is served. The yogurt is about the best I’ve had. So creamy. So yummy.
Guest Rooms at the Iveagh Garden Inn
Guest rooms, like the rest of the hotel, blend contemporary with classic. Our Deluxe Triple Room with a double and a single bed was spacious and tasteful. The gold tones of the throw pillows and bed scarfs were a lovely contrast to the earth-tone highlight wall. The headboard, a combination of leather padding and wood, had mounted contemporary bedside lighting and plenty of outlets, including an outlet for a USB phone charging cord. Other room features include a tea kettle with tea and instant coffee, still and sparkling water, a hair dryer, a large flat screen TV, and an iron and an ironing board. The bathroom, with its large walk-in rainfall shower and sleek marble vanity, was equally splendid.
About Iveagh Garden Hotel’s Sustainability
The Iveagh Garden Hotel is an example of what can happen when a historic building is changed into something new. When the hotel first opened in 2018, the goal was sustainability. Its unique location helped. The hotel’s main power source flows beneath it. Thanks to the River Swan, one of Dublin’s hidden rivers, Iveagh Garden Hotel is a role model for going green. The river is used to power the hotel’s heating and cooling systems. LED lighting throughout the hotel hits another sustainability high mark. So are the sensors that turn lights off in a guest room when it isn’t in use. Plus, the elevator is a low-energy model.
The Hotel’s Location
The Iveagh Garden Hotel’s proximity to the tram stop on Harcourt Street, DART, the rapid transit system and rail stations makes getting around easy. We walked to the close by Iveagh Gardens. The gardens were designed in 1865 and are quite splendid. Later, s friend and I walked to Devitt’s Pub to listen to some live music and catch a bit of the local scene. The pub was about a 5-minute walk from the hotel.
Although Iveagh Garden Hotel doesn’t have workout facilities, guests can get a day pass for a fee to the nearby Icon Health Club. Contact the hotel’s receptionist desk.
The hotel’s 145 guest rooms range from a Deluxe with one full-size bed to a Presidential Suite to a City Pod. City Pods are small rooms with the single traveler in mind. Our room rate was included in our tour. Currently, Hotels.com rates start at $118 for the Deluxe Double. The Presidential Suite is $412. If you want breakfast, add $40.00.
Check rates online at Expedia, Booking.com, or Hotels.com.
