In burgeoning south county Dublin, Sandyford has become the focus for extensive development, and this Dublin hotels located within sight of the M50 motorway, five minutes walk from the Luas tramline, (15 minutes to the city centre) and about 20 minutes by car to the ferry at Dun Laoghaire - and once you get there it's very handy to Leopardstown Race Course and Dundrum Shopping Centre. It may look no different to the glass and concrete exteriors of the neighbouring office blocks and private Beacon Hospital, but inside it's a different story and it is a model of cutting edge design.
Although it resembles its sister hotel, The Morgan in Temple Bar and The Spencer at the IFSC (see entries), The Beacon is bolder, more designer led. The open plan, light-filled foyer has the appeal of an art gallery with elegant candelabras, moulded wall sculpture and bizarre seating arrangements as exemplified by a cleverly adapted four poster bed. It is unashamedly a business hotel with air-conditioned meeting rooms equipped to the highest standards, also free underground parking for guests, accessible by lift from the lobby.
Bedrooms are ultra modern, a happy amalgam of provocative lighting, both over and under the bed, beds set playfully at an angle and crimson velour "headboards"; pristine Philippe Starck bathrooms are behind sliding, opaque glass doors, emphasising the streamlined experience, and housekeeping overall is excellent.
There is a ground floor bar and a Thai Restaurant which doubles as breakfast room - breakfast, as in the Morgan, is as an extra and expensive at about €15-18.
Reception is cool and uninvolved - and, despite the sexy ambience, it may not be a place for lingering; business guests are not inclined to stay late in the bar at night and weekday breakfasts are speedily consumed.
