Inside ‘Ireland’s best hotel’, where Taylor Swift once booked an entire floor – with
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‘Ireland’s best hotel’ is a pretty bold title to live up to.
From the moment I ascend The Westbury’s grand central staircase though, welcomed by plush velvet sofas, decadent chandeliers and smiling faces at reception – despite it being just 8.30am and far too early to check in – it’s already clear to see why Condé Nast Traveller decided to bestow such a title on it.
The Westbury’s location is a big part of what makes it so special – it’s perfect for a Dublin novice like me.
This grand hotel lies just off the famous Grafton Street and a five-minute walk from St Stephen’s Green and Trinity College, making it an ideal base for shopping and sightseeing.
You really do get the best of both worlds. Inside, the hotel is an oasis of calm, with gentle piano music drifting through the lobby.
Outside, revellers spill from the pubs, Guinness in hand, while buskers perform and artists paint on the bustling streets.
Daily Mail deputy travel editor Hayley Minn checks into The Westbury – dubbed ‘Ireland’s best hotel’
We take full advantage of the hotel’s prime location on our first evening, starting with martinis at The Sidecar, The Westbury’s art deco bar, where drinks arrive on a silver trolley. It feels like something out of The Great Gatsby.
We then head across the hotel’s marble-floored lobby to Wilde, a restaurant named after Oscar Wilde that possesses all the sophistication and flamboyance of the celebrated Dublin-born author.
We’re served excellent prawns and chateaubriand, alongside Guinness-soaked bread and an oozing chocolate fondant for dessert. But it’s the crisp bottle of Gavi, personally recommended by a friendly and knowledgeable sommelier, that makes the meal sing.
The plush Westbury hotel lies just off Dublin’s Grafton Street in the heart of the Irish capital
Hayley and her husband dine at Wilde (pictured), a restaurant named after Oscar Wilde that possesses all the sophistication and flamboyance of the celebrated Dublin-born author
Wine in hand, sitting beside windows overlooking the city, we’re eventually drawn to the streets below for an after-dinner drink that quickly turns into an impromptu pub crawl.
We walk for less than two minutes before spotting Sheehan’s, a pub packed with people drinking and chatting outside. The atmosphere is electric and everyone is incredibly friendly. My husband also enjoys what he later declares to be ‘the best Guinness he’s ever tasted’.
On the way back to the hotel, we stumble across Bar Rua, where a talented singer strums his guitar through Ed Sheeran, Harry Styles and Oasis tracks. Everyone is on their feet dancing and chatting to strangers. You’d never get this in London.
It’s hard to believe just how central the hotel is as we stumble back to our lavish room, taking the wonderfully grand lift – complete with its own bench.
It’s no wonder Taylor Swift reportedly booked out an entire floor for herself and her entourage during her Eras Tour in 2024.
Hayley surrounded by all the fresh flowers that decorate hotel restaurant Wilde
LEFT: Hayley and her husband share a chateaubriand. RIGHT: Butler’s chocolates are served by the bedside during turndown service
The Westbury’s lift has a huge bench to sit down in after a long day of shopping and drinking
Our room – one of the hotel’s 27 suites – feels worlds away from the bustle below. Perched on the sixth floor, it blends classic luxury with modern comforts and subtle Irish touches.
Each evening, turndown service includes a box containing two divine Butler’s chocolates, placed beside the bed atop a notepad bearing one of Oscar Wilde’s most famous quotes: ‘I have the simplest tastes. I am always satisfied with the best.’
It’s a small touch, but one that perfectly reflects the hotel’s attention to detail – and love for Dublin.
The pièce de résistance, however, is the marble bathroom, complete with a deep bathtub that could comfortably fit two and a television built into the wall.
I spend one evening soaking in bubbles, champagne in hand, while watching reruns of Modern Family.
The hotel room’s pièce de résistance is the marble bathroom, complete with a deep bathtub that could comfortably fit two and a television built into the wall
Breakfast, also served at Wilde, is equally impressive. The buffet features flaky pastries, fresh fruit and yogurt, while the à la carte menu offers everything from a full Irish breakfast to eggs Benedict.
Fuelled for the day ahead, we take a short stroll to the chaos of Temple Bar – just for one drink – before heading further afield, as Dublin isn’t just about the drinking, of course.
Just a 15-minute walk away from the hotel is Tara Street station, where we get a Dublin Area Rapid Transit (DART) train for half an hour to the coast, to Dalkey.
In the beaming sun, it’s absolutely beautiful, and we enjoy some delicious local ice cream before getting a €10 ferry to Dalkey Island, which you can walk around in just 15 minutes.
As we get back to the city, we stop off at Xian Street Food to try Dublin’s famous spice bag – a bag full of salt and chilli chips and chicken. Xian has been awarded ‘Dublin’s best spice bag’ for five years on the trot.
Hayley spent the day on Dalkey Island – just a 30-minute train ride and short ferry away from Dublin
Hayley tried a spice bag from Xian Street Food – which has won ‘Dublin’s best spice bag’ for five years on the trot
Sitting in St Stephen’s Green eating the local delicacy, we agree that this is as good a reason to come to Dublin as the Guinness, before retreating to the calm of the hotel once more.
It’s easy to see why A-list stars and visiting dignitaries choose The Westbury when they’re in Dublin. Plenty of hotels offer luxury, but few combine it with such an unbeatable location and genuine Irish warmth.
‘Ireland’s best hotel’ is a label that feels entirely deserved – and not nearly as bold as it first sounds.