The Westbury Hotel

There are bolder and brasher hotels in the Dublin city center, but guests who prefer a bit of classicism with their contemporary design find plenty to love about the Westbury, just off Grafton Street in what’s got to be one of the most desirable locations in town: not only is it yards from the city’s best shopping, but it’s sandwiched between Trinity College and St. Stephen’s Green on the one side and the notorious nightlife of Temple Bar on the other.

The interiors succeed in walking that fine line attempted by so many luxury boutiques: the look is contemporary enough to look fresh even to devoted design junkies, yet classic enough to avoid alienating all but the most staunch traditionalists. A light and airy neutral palette makes the most of the northern light, and subtly expands the spaces — it’s a city hotel that never feels cramped, and the deluxe rooms and the suites quickly get quite large indeed.

In a neighborhood plentifully supplied with bars and restaurants, a hotel needs to be at the top of its culinary game. The Gallery is semi-casual, with a view of Grafton Street and an enviable collection of Irish art, while Wilde is the fine dining restaurant named for the city’s wittiest son. Add a café and brasserie and a dark, glamorous ‘20s-styled cocktail bar and you’re in business.