Hotel review: Simple, but exceptional food at Dublin city centre hotel

Arriving at the Hilton Dublin City at Charlemont Place on a bright, but breezy spring afternoon, it’s easy to forget just how close you are to the bustling city centre.

While the hotel is located just metres from the Luas (green line), it is the leafy banks of the Grand Canal which command attention. As we ascend the steps to the lobby, people amble past at their leisure on foot, soaking up the spring sunshine.

The hotel has been a part of the streetscape for a number of years, but recently underwent a major refurbishment.

As we entered, I was struck by the sheer size of the lobby. It is spacious by any standard, but for a hotel that is less than a kilometre from Grafton Street, it is strikingly so. The hotel’s Sixth Lock bar and restaurant are located just off the lobby and are relatively quiet as we check in.

We stayed in a king deluxe room, which had the benefit of corner windows and enjoyed fantastic views of the surrounding areas.

The room had all the amenities you’d expect from a modern four-star hotel; a king-sized bed with crisp white sheets, smart TV; and coffee machine. The grey and navy colour palette lent a luxurious feel to the accommodation.

Given that the Luas runs nearby, it was not surprising that at times we could hear the tram passing by.

That evening we dined in the Sixth Lock bar, opting for the Hot Buffalo Chicken Wings (€14.50) and the Seafood Chowder (€15.50) to start, and the 10oz Irish Black Angus Ribeye Steak for the main course (€42).

For dessert, we chose the Bread and Butter Pudding (€10) and the selection of Wexford Ice-Cream and Sorbets (€8.50). The menu here may have been simple, but the food was exceptional.

The staff were very attentive, despite it being a busy evening. Live music added to the atmosphere, and we didn’t feel in any rush to leave our table. A decent selection of cocktails was available, and we were impressed with those we ordered.

The following morning, there was a great selection from the buffet for breakfast- including a decent range of gluten-free options such as muffins and bagels.

The hotel has an on-site leisure centre and conference facilities, although we didn’t use these during our stay.

We did hop on the Luas to take a trip to Dundrum, which was about 15 minutes away, making the hotel a great spot for a shopping trip. It’s also an ideal spot for anyone travelling for a match (the Aviva is just over 2km away) or a concert.

The proximity to the Luas means the hotel is well linked by public transport, but it also has a car park on site.

This is a hotel I’d recommend to anyone heading to Dublin for an overnight - and don’t overlook the hotel restaurant in favour of heading into the city - the food here really didn’t disappoint.

• The Echo was a guest of the Hilton Dublin City.

• See: www.hilton.com