3 Best Hotels in Grand Canal Dock Area, Dublin

The terrace bar at the tastefully modern Gibson Hotel has to be the dream spot to view the impressive skyline and shimmering waterways of Dublin's trendy docklands area. A Nordic, spacious feel to the design ensures rooms flooded with natural light, and many open onto private courtyards, creating a calm oasis in the bustling city. Floating shelves, lighting strips cleverly hidden under the beds, and a strong green-organic ethos add to the chilled-out vibe. Towering bamboo and surreal murals give the public spaces a dash of the exotic. The Coda Eatery prides itself on using local produce and creating wholesome, healthy dishes.

Dublin's newest boutique hotel combines a 19th-century town house and a former warehouse with an impressive steel-and-glass box. There's an authentic industrial look to the design inside too, with brushed concrete and original brickwork. Located near the IFSC, it's perfect for business travelers but has enough style to entice pleasure-seekers too. Quirky corridor carpets and a stunning art collection add to the cool vibe, and the rooms in the old warehouse have a lovely, open loft feel. The Mayson Bar includes a serene terrace out back, and Ryleigh's, the rooftop steak house, boasts great views out over the city.

Built with business guests in mind, this high-rise hotel in the middle of the International Financial Services Centre has been a surprise hit with all travelers interested in the business of good value and clean, quiet rooms with good amenities. The office-block-like exterior is indistinguishable from many of the financial institutions that surround it, but inside the refurbished public spaces are imaginatively lit and quietly elegant. The bedrooms—big by Dublin standards—are all straight lines and contemporary light-oak furnishings. Shades of blue and taupe create a calm environment (the hotel claims its environment is guided by Eastern philosophy, no less), but for true serenity try to get a room at the front with great views out over the Liffey. The Spencer Cocktail Bar attracts a hip, after-work crowd.