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My Review

I stayed at Anantara The Marker for a total of 9 nights. So far, it’s my favorite hotel out of the half dozen or so hotels in Dublin that I’ve experienced. I would definitely stay again on my next trip.

Though I wouldn’t say it has a single “stand-out” feature, The Marker does a good job of delivering on all the aspects of a 5-star hotel. Rooms, service, food, amenities – it was all what I have come to expect from a luxury hotel. 

For more thoughts, check out my final video review of the hotel: 

Watch this video review of me checking in:

Rooms are average sized, but the bathrooms are quite large. Furnishings are high quality and really “feel luxury.” The same can be said for the bed, the bedding, the towels, and even the plush slippers. 

There is twice-daily housekeeping, which is always nice. A decent mini bar, a Nespresso machine, and enough storage and closet space for a couple (though it might be tight for a family). My room was super quiet. I never heard a peep from outside (and I’m a light sleeper). 

There were a few small downsides. The lighting is definitely dim and feels a bit like the inside of an Irish pub. The shower was nice and hot, but the pressure wasn’t fantastic. Oh, and I changed out of my first room because of an ugly stain on the bed that bothered me (though otherwise housekeeping was immaculate, so I’m pretty sure that was a one-off thing). 

Food & Beverage – My favorite part of this hotel was the massive breakfast buffet. This is the only hotel in Ireland where I found high quality fruits! There’s also a menu where you can order dishes directly.

The same breakfast restaurant becomes a fine dining establishment in the evening. There’s also a very stylish lobby cocktail bar that is always buzzing in the evenings. 

The coolest dining establishment is the epic rooftop, which has incredible views all the way to the sea. The rooftop is only open during the summer months, but during my September visit it was open on the weekends. It was a bit brisk up there, but the stunning views were worth it. 

I never ordered room service, but there was a decent menu available at all hours. 

Gym, Pool & Spa – The hotel has a large indoor pool with enough space to swim laps, though I never got in. It also has a spa that is apparently quite popular, as it was booked out when I tried to book a massage. I did go to the gym several times and, though it has the basic machines (including a squat rack), it was always quite packed. I would think a hotel of this size should dedicate more square footage to their gym. 

Service – Service is definitely at a 5-star level. I had several special requests that were all accommodated quickly. For example, I was doing a lot of work and spent a lot of time at the desk in my room. The chair was a little low for my height and felt a tad uncomfortable for longer working sessions. When a staff member asked how my stay was, I mentioned this and they immediately brought in a proper office chair. Probably not an issue for most guests, but it really helped me on my long stay. I will say, I think the breakfast restaurant sometimes felt understaffed on weekends, but overall the staff and service was great.

👉 Book the Anantara The Marker Hotel

Pros & Cons

About the Location

This was my first time staying in The Dublin Docklands, but I really liked it. The obvious downside is that it is just a little bit west of most attractions, so you need to walk 20-30 minutes to get to the sites. I didn’t mind because you can walk around the River Liffey, which is lovely, but the location is something to consider.

The Docklands themselves are a business district with a lot of tech workers (though the hotel seemed to cater to a mix of business and high end leisure travelers). The hotel is set right on the Grand Canal, which is just so lovely and peaceful. You step outside and immediately hear nothing but seagulls and the breeze coming off the canal.

This area is the quietest part of Dublin I’ve stayed in, but there’s still plenty to do. There are a number of restaurants right near the hotel (I loved the healthy options at Nutbutter). There’s a theatre across the street, a larger fresh grocery and a small Spar nearby, a pharmacy around the corner, and a few drinking establishments (check out Brewdog brewery). All in all, most of the things you need you can find within a couple of blocks.