Having never been to Dublin before, I picked the Gardiner Lodge without much to go on. Happily, I made the right decision. In fact, I feel like I hit the jackpot. I have been here for almost a week and I have had nothing but the most positive experiences. The people at the desk are supremely knowledgeable, attentive, friendly, and helpful. The kitchen staff serves up a wonderful breakfast every morning under the natural light in the solarium/dining room. For those mornings when I could not wait until 8am (at which point the Irish breakfasts begin to appear), a continental buffet has been waiting for me at 7am. The rooms must surely have been remodeled recently; mine looks and feels brand new. The Gardiner is perfectly located for my purposes, just above the corner of Gardiner and Talbot. Two wonderful (and very different) pubs--the Celt (with Irish music) and Grainger's (with peace and quiet)--are within a stone's throw on Talbot. There is espresso to be had on the intersection itself. Gardiner Street is busy with traffic, but no street noise ever reached my room (#16); only the sound of the occasional seagull. Dublin north of the river is not as ”well-heeled” as Dublin south of the river, and that's exactly the way I like it. Talbot is a wonderfully unassuming street with a pleasing mix of restaurants, formal and informal. Bottom line: I will come back to the Gardiner Lodge the next time I am here.
Very Good
0 Reviews