Luxury Break in Dublin - Croke Park Hotel Review
Croke Park Hotel Dublin - Hotel Review, Ireland
Location: Drumcondra, Dublin
Price: ££
Value for Money: 4/5
Overall: 4/5
Perfect for: business, couples and family getaways
I recently visited Dublin for a weekend getaway and stayed at Croke Park Hotel, a four star hotel that is part of the Doyle Collection of luxury and urban hotels which includes the gorgeous London hotels - The Marylebone and The Bloomsbury.
We took the Airlink 757 bus from the airport and it took around 30 minutes plus an extra 15 minutes walk to the hotel.
First Impressions
I really liked the design of the hotel and really feel the hotels in the Doyle Collection always stand out with their design yet still feel unique and individual at the same time. The building itself looks modern from the outside and as soon as you step in you get a sense of warmth and comfort emanating from the warm lighting and soft furnishings in the spacious seating areas on either side of the reception area.
The staff are all very friendly and extremely knowledgeable about the hotel and its history. For me, the staff reflect the character of the hotel and I really enjoyed discussing the various artworks around the hotel with the staff and learning more about how the hotel came to be.
Location
We took the Airlink 757 bus from the airport and it took around 30 minutes plus an extra 10 minutes walk to the hotel. The hotel is located right opposite the historic Croke Park Stadium which is the home of Ireland’s native Gaelic games and the city’s leading venue for international conferences and headline concerts including the likes of Beyonce, Ed Sheeran, U2 and Coldplay. If you’re planning to watch an event at the stadium then it is without doubt the perfect hotel to stay at for complete convenience.
The iconic Croke Park Stadium opposite the hotel
The area of Drumcondra where the hotel is located is quite residential apart from the stadium but does have a few pubs and restaurants. However, the city centre is of course where you want if you’ve come to explore Dublin for a short time and it is around a 30 minute walk to get to Temple Bar, the busy riverside neighbourhood where tourists flock to for pubs, restaurants, live music and everything in between.
Of course, you can take a bus or a taxi but I think the location is a little inconvenient if you have limited time to explore the city. You’re not in the heart of the city but on the plus side it’s a quiet area and closer to the airport if you need to catch an early flight.
Our Room
The welcome macaroons and rose that we found upon entering our room was a lovely gesture.
We stayed on the fourth floor and upon entering the room we were very impressed with how modern and spacious the room was. I really liked the soft greys and whites coming from the carpet, curtains and bed runner, and the desk didn’t encroach on the space. I also liked the fact that the walls were bare except for a large mirror as it really didn’t need any paintings to detract attention away from the room.
The view outside our window was of the stadium which was nice enough but in essence the stadium looks like it needs a bit of a revamp and some much needed colour.
Along with the desk there is a good quality Nespresso machine with a selection of coffee capsules as well as a kettle with a selection of tea bags. There is also complimentary bottled water, a good sized fridge, ironing board, safe, bathrobes and slippers. Essentially everything you need to have a pleasant stay. The 55” TV also has the ability to cast from your phone so if you want to unwind at night by watching Netflix you have that choice.
The bathroom was also modern and light with a shower as well as a bath, which is always a nice bonus. For me, the shower is an important element of a hotel stay and I have to say the shower was fantastic. The temperature and power settings were easy to control and the pressure was perfect. With the fabulous White Company toiletries that are included I could have stayed in that shower for a long time!
The Executive Lounge
Being on the fourth floor, we had complimentary access to the Executive Lounge, a private space with 24-hour access. The lounge has tea & coffee making facilities, complimentary snacks, fruit juices and bottled water served throughout the day. There is also a complimentary continental breakfast buffet served each morning. With plenty of comfy chairs and a roaring fireplace, it’s the ultimate place to unwind and relax. As our flight was early, we used the lounge to have breakfast and it was just a really great luxury to have.
Dining at The Hawthorn Restaurant
The Hawthorn is the hotel’s restaurant and again is beautifully designed with stylish light fixtures, vibrant coloured walls and comfy banquettes. We chose to dine on the terrace which is again beautifully designed and has a gorgeous bar area which is perfect for sampling a few cocktails whilst looking out across the adjacent river.
The menu offers a good selection of contemporary European and international dishes that use the best organic product that Ireland has to offer. For starters, my husband and I tried the Pan Seared Scallops with mango, bonito, dashi and Seared Duck Breast with charred orange, plum, cucumber, black kale. Both dishes looked stunning and tasted delicious. The scallops themselves were cooked perfectly and were tender and sweet and I really enjoyed the flavour combination with the mango and dashi.
The duck breast was cooked to perfection and had a beautiful five spice type rub on it that gave it an Asian taste. It was a great start to our dinner together with a bottle of a lovely Cabernet Sauvignon.
For mains, I went for the Belmullet Rack of Lamb and my husband went for the 10oz Dry Aged Beef Striploin. I asked for the lamb to be medium and it was cooked exactly how I wanted it. There was plenty of meat on the rack and I really liked the herb crust around it. The lamb ragout that came with it took me back to Morocco, with flavours of cumin, fennel and sumac coming through. It was a great dish and every component was delicious and went together harmoniously.
The beef striploin was, according to my husband, ‘out of this world.’ It was cooked to medium rare and the meat melted in the mouth and was incredibly juicy. The peppercorn sauce was also lovely and is of course the ultimate sauce pairing with steak. The steak came with two sides and we chose the Broccolini and Triple Cooked Fries. The broccolini was tender and crunchy and a really nice accompaniment to both dishes. The fries were huge and quite nice but could have done with being more crispy as we found them a little soft.
For dessert, we went for the Tiramisu and Summer Berry Pavlova. I adore tiramisu and this one ticked a lot of boxes. It was a good sized portion and had lots of cream with really nice flavour of coffee running through it all. The pavlova was delicious and I really like the strawberry ice cream that accompanied it.
It was a really nice dessert and I polished the whole thing off. After a couple of coffees we headed back to the room very content and happy with dinner. The servers were very friendly and accommodating and I really liked the relaxed ambience of the restaurant. Whether you choose to stay at the Croke Park Hotel or not, dining at The Hawthorn is a must.
Breakfast at Croke Park Hotel
Breakfast is served from 6am to 10am in the main dining room, with most items laid out in a buffet style including a selection of pastries and bread, fresh fruit, cheeses, cereal and yoghurt. This is alongside the usual breakfast items including bacon, eggs, sausages, hash browns, tomatoes, and mushrooms.
You can also get freshly cooked dishes including omelettes and poached eggs. Tea and coffee is served on arrival and there is a selection of fresh juices including orange, cranberry and apple.
We really enjoyed the breakfast and it really set us up for the day ahead exploring the city centre.
Overall
The Croke Park Hotel is a modern and stylish hotel that offers everything you need for a relaxing weekend away. It’s very suitable for couples and families and for those who are in Dublin for business reasons. It’s a shame that it isn’t more central but it’s not worlds away from the centre and we had no issues getting to and from the hotel.
The rooms are designed and equipped to a high quality and are incredibly comfortable. All in all, it’s a great hotel to enjoy a few days away and I am once again impressed by the high standard of hotels from the Doyle Collection.
Book your stay at the Croke Park hotel in Dublin.
Address: Jones's Road, Drumcondra, Dublin 3, D03 E5Y8, Ireland
Phone number: +353 1 871 4444
My stay at Croke Park Hotel was complimentary, all opinions are my own.
