If you’ve ever set foot in one of the world’s Ace Hotels you’ll immediately feel at home in The Dean, Dublin’s newest, and undeniably hippest hotel.
More like the pad of a creative 30-something than a hotel, its New York-vibe lobby and bar are the last things you’d expect to find behind the handsome Georgian townhouse facade. With moody lighting, poured concrete, parquet floors, chrome tables and retro chairs the industrial-meets-vintage styling is fresh and exciting.
The dark lobby is designed with The Dean Bar at one end and the check-in desk at the other. With low lighting and low furniture the space attracts a mix of professionals by day and revellers by night, whether for informal meetings, pre-dinner cocktails or late night partying on weekends, when there are guest DJs.
A second bar, the lively Rooftop Bar, has a large terrace boasting great views of Dublin, and serves late on weekends. (Couple this with the strip of nightclubs on Harcourt Street and you may find some of the bedrooms noisier than others.) Complete with leather banquettes, heaters and blankets it’s an impressive space to be used year-round, with a large barbecue in situ for warmer evenings.
Much like the Ace Hotels you’ll find record players, vinyl and Marshall amps in some bedrooms along with quirky touches like Netflix, mini Smeg fridges, Irish snacks and Grafton Barber toiletries.
There’s a good choice of rooms, from cosy ModPods (compact and chic) to Punk Bunks (triples with cool bunks for sharing) to roomier doubles and suites with colourful furniture and great design.
The penthouse, with two bedrooms, bar and a games room, complete with 8-seat poker table and Fouzz Ball table, can be hired for private parties. Original artworks throughout The Dean are all Irish, especially commissioned, and available for guests to buy.
Meals are served all day in Sophie’s, the top floor restaurant, with The Dean Bar also serving a buffet-style Rotisserie lunch at street level.
SOPHIE’S
On the top floor, with 360-degree views across the city, you’ll find Sophie’s, a bright and spacious restaurant that serves, breakfast, brunch (on weekends), dinner and drinks. (However, on The Guide’s visit neither lift was working, which could render the fifth floor off limits for some).
Décor is industrial, with concrete ceilings, exposed duct piping and a large central bar. Designed to accommodate large groups for dinner the smaller tables are great for breakfast or hot-desking, if guests need a comfy, well lit space to work in while sipping Clement & Pekoe tea or coffee.
Menus are casual New York-Italian, offering interesting pasta dishes rough tagliatelle with oxtail and apricot ragu and pistachios and soft herb gnocchi, with egg, walnut and celery and sourdough crumb.
Some dishes, like crispy salt and pepper squid, with chilli, rocket and aioli are excellent. Although not all dishes are equally successful, an especially delicious dessert may round off the meal nicely, ending a meal here on high note.
The wine list includes a wide choice by the glass and a separate list offers a good range of cocktails.
In the Guide's experience, staff need better training here: seating guests promptly, presenting menus, refilling wine glasses are all basics that could be improved on. Service is pleasant but staff seem under pressure in such a big space.
