Hotel review: Top marks for Dublin hotel set in a great location

As far as having a central location goes, it doesn’t get much better than Brooks Hotel on Dublin’s Drury Steet.

The hotel, nestled among a host of trendy bars and eateries, is less than a five minute walk away from Grafton Street and St Stephen’s Green, as well as the Luas.

The hotel was purchased by the MHL Hotel Collection in 2023, which also includes the InterContinental Dublin, Powerscourt Hotel Resort & Spa in Wicklow, The Limerick Strand Hotel, and Glenlo Abbey Hotel & Estate.

It has recently undergone a refurbishment and investment programme. which is reported to have cost of excess of €6 million.

This investment is apparent as soon as we walk in the door with thoughtful, contemporary decor. The lobby of the boutique hotel is small and almost has the feel of being in a family hotel. Each time we alighted from the lift, we were greeted by staff from the front desk.

Artwork is dotted throughout the hotel with several Irish artists represented including Oisin Roche, Jonathan Aiken, and Vicki Crowley.

The owners have also invested in a cinema. While we didn’t avail of this during our stay, the 26-seat venue is available to residents and can be hired for private events.

The bedrooms have also benefited from an upgrade with Respa beds and duck and goose feather bedding. I have to say my sleep here was one of the best I’ve experienced in a hotel.

The rooms aren’t huge, and nor would I expect them to be for a city centre hotel, but they pack in plenty of amenities including a smart TV, coffee-pod machine, bathrobes, toiletries from Dublin Herbalists, and complimentary cookies, which are always welcome. The grey colour palette in our room gave it a contemporary yet luxurious feel.

We dined in the hotel’s 62 Drury Street Bar & Brasserie, which offers an all-day dining menu. The restaurant has a casual vibe with low seating. We opted for the Buffalo Burrata (€16) and Sauteéd Tiger Prawns (€16) to start, followed by the Rump of Wicklow Lamb (€28) and 8oz Striploin Steak (€36) for mains which didn’t disappoint. Staff were attentive and courses were well spaced for a relaxed feel. My only criticism was that gluten-free options were limited on the menu.

Breakfast was served here the following morning with both a buffet style breakfast and a la carte breakfast menu. The buffet was well stocked and had plenty of options.

The hotel has a great bar menu, but is also surrounded by a host of venues nearby that are worth a visit including Drury Buildings.

We decided to see how easy it would be to get to the hotel for our stay only using public transport and found it easy to find, and very accessible. The location is ideal for anyone from Cork taking in a show at the Gaiety, planning a shopping trip, or a city break. Given its proximity to the Luas, it’s a great option too for those attending concerts or sporting events on the outskirts of the city.

The hotel does not have a car park, but parking is available across the road in the Drury Street multi-storey car park.

It’s a hotel that we will definitely return to.

Rates start from €170 in low season and €240 in high season.

• The Echo was a guest of Brooks Hotel.
• See: www.brookshotel.ie