Parnell Street

Point A Hotel Dublin Parnell Street

★★★★★

Point A Dublin Parnell Street is the best choice in this guide for travellers who want a private hotel room at close to hostel prices, and who plan to spend very little time in it. Point A is a British budget boutique brand, and this was its first hotel outside the UK when it opened in January 2022, on the corner of Parnell Street and Moore Lane on the north side. Its 141 rooms are small, at around twelve to fourteen square metres, but they are cleverly designed and well equipped: Comfy Double and Comfy Twin rooms with Hypnos beds, reading lights, a power shower, a large smart TV, free Wi-Fi, a kettle with tea and coffee, and mood lighting controlled from a touchscreen. Rooms are spread from the lower ground floor to the sixth floor, and some have windows onto the street while others look into an inner light well, so ask about the outlook when booking if it matters to you. On the ground floor, the Moore Lane café bar serves an all-day menu from lunchtime to evening, drinks until late and late-night bites, and there is a lounge with power points for working. A continental breakfast with hot drinks, pastries, fruit and gluten-free and vegan options is included when you book directly as a member of the free loyalty scheme, or can be bought otherwise, and breakfast bags are available for early starts. The location is excellent for the price: O'Connell Street, the Spire and the GPO Museum are a few minutes' walk away, Henry Street's shops are around the corner, the Luas red line is close by, and Temple Bar and Trinity College are about ten minutes on foot.

Honest drawbacks: the rooms are compact, with no wardrobe or desk, only a small ledge, and bathrooms are tight. Some rooms facing the light well look across to other rooms, so you need to keep the sheer curtain closed. There are no leisure facilities, no meeting rooms and no on-site parking; the hotel offers a discount at the Q-Park at the Spire for pre-booked spaces. Early check-in from noon and late check-out until mid-afternoon are available for a fee, subject to availability, and luggage can be left for free on the day of departure, though not overnight.

Who it suits: solo travellers, couples and friends on a budget who want privacy and a good bed rather than a social hostel, and short-break visitors who will be out sightseeing all day. Families with children will be more comfortable at the Moxy's family rooms or an aparthotel such as Staycity Christchurch, and anyone wanting space should look elsewhere.

Making the most of it: use the money saved for experiences, such as a Kilmainham Gaol tour, a Teeling tasting or a day trip to Glendalough. The north side around Parnell Street has a lively, multicultural food scene with good-value restaurants, and the Moore Street market, where the 1916 rebels made their last stand, is next door. After dark, the area is busy, and as in any city centre, it is sensible to stick to main streets late at night.