The Clarence
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Hotel Details
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The Clarence · Dublin, Ireland
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Expert Review: The Clarence
The Clarence, a distinguished Michelin Key Selected property in Dublin, Ireland, offers guests a blend of history, boutique luxury, and a vibrant city-centre experience. Owned by U2's Bono and The Edge, the hotel is celebrated for its prime location, attentive service, and unique design.
1. Overall Rating & Sentiment
The Clarence generally receives very positive feedback, often described as an "excellent boutique hotel" with an "awesome vibe". Guests frequently highlight its central location and the high quality of its staff and services. While some minor issues are occasionally noted, the overall sentiment points to a delightful and memorable stay for most visitors. On some platforms, it garners an impressive guest feedback score of around 17.9 out of 20.
2. Key Highlights
Guests consistently laud The Clarence for several standout features:
- Location: Its unparalleled position on the River Liffey, at the edge of the bustling Temple Bar district, is a major draw.
- Design & Vibe: The hotel offers a "chic, youthful vibe" with interiors that blend Regency architecture with earth tones and Shaker-style furnishings. It has a unique character, known as Dublin's "original rock'n'roll hotel".
- Service: Attentive, friendly, and helpful staff are frequently praised.
- Dining: The presence of a Michelin-star chef at Cleaver East restaurant is a significant highlight.
- U2 Connection: The ownership by Bono and The Edge adds to its allure and makes it a favourite stopover for celebrities.
3. Room Quality
The Clarence features 50 to 52 individually styled rooms and suites. Rooms are designed for simplicity and comfort, with Shaker-style oak furnishings primarily crafted by Irish artisans. Key features include:
- Beds: Many rooms boast "massive super king beds" dressed in fresh white linens.
- Design: Earth tones are accented with "vibrant pops of color" in luxe leather seating and rich carpets.
- Amenities: Accommodations typically include flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, Nespresso machines, and free WiFi. White bathrooms come with walk-in showers and separate toilets, along with Paul Costelloe toiletries, hairdryers, and shower caps.
- Views & Balconies: Some rooms offer patios or balconies with views of the city or the River Liffey. The Penthouse is particularly impressive, spanning two floors with a baby grand piano and a 700-square-foot rooftop terrace offering panoramic city views.
4. Dining Experience
The hotel offers a notable dining experience:
- Cleaver East: This popular dining venue features "fine Irish and European cuisine" overseen by a Michelin-star chef, often at "affordable prices".
- Breakfast: Guests have enjoyed "delicious, good value, warm breakfast" including tea, coffee, bangers, scrambled eggs, and bread. High-quality à la carte hot options are also praised.
- Octagon Bar: Located at the heart of the hotel, this "super stylish" bar is known for its award-winning cocktails, famed Irish whiskeys, and a relaxed ambiance, making it a popular meeting spot. A bar food menu is also available.
- The Study: This residents' lounge provides a "chilled out bliss" atmosphere with 24-hour food and beverage service, giving the hotel a warm, private home feel.
5. Service & Staff
The service at The Clarence consistently receives high praise. Guests frequently describe the staff as "friendly and helpful". They are noted for being "attentive," "courteous," and "enthusiastic". Many appreciate the staff's willingness to "go above and beyond," such as having rooms ready early or offering breakfast upon arrival.
6. Location & Accessibility
The Clarence boasts an "absolutely ideal" and "brilliant location" in the heart of Dublin. Situated on Wellington Quay overlooking the River Liffey, it is nestled in the cultural quarter of Temple Bar. This central position offers "easy walking access" to many major attractions:
- Nearby Attractions: Dublin Castle (3-4 min walk), Trinity College (6-8 min walk), Grafton Street (6 min walk), Ha'penny Bridge (5 min walk), Irish Whiskey Museum, and the Guinness Storehouse (20 minutes' walk).
- Transport: Pearse Station is 1.2 km away, and the Wellington Quay bus stop is approximately 600 metres. Dublin Airport is about 13 km away, with a taxi ride typically taking 20-30 minutes and costing around €35.
7. Value & Pricing
Despite being a luxury boutique hotel and a Michelin Key selection, The Clarence is often considered to offer "great value for money" and "exceptional value" compared to the average hotel in Dublin. Typical price ranges for rooms can vary, with examples such as $129-$235 (USD) or €110-€274 (EUR) depending on the room type and booking platform.
8. Common Complaints
While overwhelmingly positive, some recurring issues are mentioned in guest feedback:
- Noise: Due to its central location in the lively Temple Bar district, rooms can be "prone to noise" from the vibrant nightlife, especially those with river-view balconies. Double glazing helps but doesn't always eliminate the sound.
- Room Comfort/Maintenance: Some reviews mention issues such as a "lack of air conditioning" and bathrooms that could benefit from updates, with reports of "chipped and marked" baths or drainage problems.
- Lobby Space: A few guests have noted limited lobby space, which can make it difficult to socialize or relax during the day in common areas.
Sources
Points to Consider
- •While overwhelmingly positive, some recurring issues are mentioned in guest feedback:
Google Reviews
1,005 reviews
Recent Guest Reviews
Andrés Ávila Fernández
The hotel is temporarily closed according to Google, and I can confirm this is true on September 4, 2025. I visited at night; some lighting would have been nice to see the facade. I came here because a nephew of mine worked there for a few months when the hotel was owned by members of U2. I would have loved to have a cocktail there, maybe another time.
Miguel Bocquier
Best hotel in Dublin!! I had a nice room with a view on the river on my request. The staff is super friendly and nice. My room was just a bit small for the price but I guess it is Dublin everything is so expensive in this town. 😅 And I had a king size bed. And the location is amazing in the center close to temple bar district but just one minute away so we escape the noise. And I loved the nice l...
Response from the owner
Hello Miguel,<br>Thank you very much for nice review! We are happy to hear that you enjoyed your stay. Perfect location you cannot beat that. Thank you for the nice words about our friendly staff.<br>...
Elizabeth Gipson
I have so many fond memories of The Clarence. When I heard of the substantial renovations it was about to undergo, I decided to book a stay there at the end of July as a sort of 'goodbye' to the scene of so many good times. Though some of the rooms have been looking a bit worn of late, 303 was still in great condition. Check-in was easy, and the sets of double windows minimized noise from the quay...
Megan Reilly Cayten
This hotel is perfect - charming and modern, perfectly located and the absolute best service - shoutout to Jose and Michael in particular. The bar and lobby area are lovely places to spend time and there are lots of thoughtful touches like a mending kit in the bathroom and flexibility on late checkout. Highly recommend Room 403 which has windows onto the river for a glorious sunset and sunrise and...
Response from the owner
Hi Megan,<br>Thank you very much for the lovely review and the nice words! I will make sure to share them with the rest of the staff, especially Jose and Michael who made your stay more memorable.<br>...
Bilyana Kovacheva
The keyword here is location, location, location. The hotel is located in the city center, right next to all the bars, pubs, and restaurants in Temple Bar District. The staff was lovely and we can confirm that there really is a 24-hour reception. The lobby bar is so aborable and chic. The rooms are renovated, the bathrooms are a little dated. All in all, we were very pleased by the experience!
Response from the owner
Hello Bilyana,<br>Thank you very much for your wonderful review! We really appreciate your kind words about our helpful staff. Yes you are right you cannot beat our convenient location. We are happy t...
H
This hotel is beautifully decorated, the staff are genuinely friendly, and the spaces are impeccably clean. However, a note for those who struggle to sleep when overheated: the temperature is centrally controlled by the hotel, likely on a timer. Our room would get warm, prompting us to call the front desk to have the heat turned off, which they politely accommodated. The room would cool down (help...
Response from the owner
Hello H,<br>Thank you very much for your review! We appreciate the kind words about our friendly staff. Great to hear that you like the decor of the hotel and the high standard of the cleanless. Than...
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