DUBLIN - Ireland 2014 - page 151

Near St. Stephen's Green
Dublin is filled with worn-yet-comfy townhouses. Albany House and Fitzwilliam Town-
house are dependable, basic lodgings, while Buswells and Grafton Capital are cushier.
$$ Buswells Hotel, one of the city's oldest, is a pleasant Georgian-style haven with 67
reasonably priced rooms in the heart of the city (Sb-€99-139, Db-€109-159, Tb-€139-169,
breakfast-€10, Wi-Fi, between Trinity College and St. Stephen's Green at 23-25 Moles-
worth Street, tel. [phone], www.buswells.ie , [e-mail] ).
$$ Grafton Capital Hotel has a good central location and 75 rooms. The popular
downstairs pub is noisy on weekend nights, so light sleepers should request a room
facing the back (Sb-€69-109, Db-€79-129, Tb-€99-159, breakfast-€10, Wi-Fi in lobby,
2 blocks west of St. Stephen's Green on Lower Stephen's Street, tel. [phone],
www.graftoncapitalhotel.com , [e-mail] ) .
$$ Albany House 's 43 restful rooms come with high ceilings, Georgian elegance, and
some street noise—request a quieter room at the back (Sb-€60-110, Db-€120-140, Tb-
€120-170, Una promises 10 percent off when booking direct by phone or email with this
book in 2014, Wi-Fi, just one block south of St. Stephen's Green at 84 Harcourt Street, tel.
01/475-1092, www.albanyhousedublin.com , [e-mail] ) .
$$ Fitzwilliam Townhouse rents 14 basic rooms in a Georgian townhouse near St.
Stephen'sGreen(Sb-€55-89,Db-€65-115,Tb-€79-125,Qb-€89-135,breakfast-€8-10,free
Wi-Fi, 41 Upper Fitzwilliam Street, tel. [phone], www.fitzwilliamtownhouse.com ,
[e-mail] ) .
$ Avalon House Hostel, near Grafton Street, rents 282 simple, clean backpacker beds
in refurbished rooms (dorm beds-€16-22, S-€25-30, Sb-€35, twin D-€50-60, twin Db-
€60-70, includes continental breakfast, elevator, guest computer, free Wi-Fi, launderette,
kitchen, lockers-€2/day, helpful staff, a few minutes off Grafton Street at 55 Aungier
Street, tel. [phone], www.avalon-house.ie , [e-mail] ).
Away from the Center, Southeast of St. Stephen's Green
Thelistingsthatfollowareuniqueplaces(exceptforthebusiness-classMespilHotel),and
they charge accordingly. If you're going to break the bank, do it here.
$$$ Number 31 is a hidden gem reached via gritty little Leeson Close (a lane off
Lower Leeson Street). Ask Noel about the VIPs who attended dinner parties here 50
years ago. Its understated elegance is top-notch, with six rooms in a former coach house
and 15 rooms in an adjacent Georgian house; the two buildings are connected by a quiet
little garden. Guests appreciate the special touches (such as a sunken living room) and
tasty breakfasts served in a classy glass atrium (Sb-€110-180, Db-€150-220, Tb-€190-280,