The Wilder Townhouse
Dublin, Ireland
Good Hotel Guide Review
Once a home for retired governesses and for ‘bewildered women’, this Victorian red brick property a stroll from St Stephen’s Green also draws its name from Oscar Wilde’s association with Dublin. Today, it has been transformed for hoteliers Frankie and Josephine Whelehan into a luxurious boutique hotel with a ‘stunning combination of white paint, mirrors, modern paintings and eccentric antiques’. Bedrooms, ranging from ‘shoebox’ to suites, have amusing artwork and quirky features, perhaps a dressmaker’s form, gilded butterflies in a bell jar, a log-effect fire, velvet Art Deco chairs. All have Parisian toiletries, books by Irish authors, here and there a bon mot (‘Life is too short to be taken seriously’ – Oscar Wilde). Bathrooms have a walk-in rainforest shower. Craft gins and ‘excellent light bites’ such as a charcuterie or cheese plate are served in a ‘charming tea room’ which opens on to a ‘flowery terrace’. ‘Delicious breakfasts’ might include eggs Benedict or, should you prefer it, you can sit serenely over a muffin (‘One should always eat muffins quite calmly,’ as Wilde also wrote). (Anne Chisholm)
Hotel details
Address
22 Adelaide Road
Dublin
2
Ireland
Telephone
00 353 1 969 65 9
Bedrooms
42. Some suitable for disabled.
Open
all year except 23–27 Dec.
Facilities
Gin and Tea Rooms, Garden Room, terrace, in-room TV (terrestrial), 8 parking spaces, public rooms wheelchair accessible.
Background music
in lobby and bar.
Children
all ages welcomed, but not an ideal place for children, under-3s stay free.
Dogs
not allowed.
Credit cards
Amex, MC, Visa.
Prices
B&B doubles from €169.
Special offers
'Together Again' Package Special Offer
Especially for couples the “Together Again” package promises all of the ingredients for the perfect romantic and luxurious getaway. This package includes a bottle of chilled Bollinger Champagne awaiting in guests’ room on arrival, a personalised bouquet of flowers designed by a leading Dublin florist, Maison Margiela toiletries, lavender pillow spray and sleep masks with late check-out and breakfast in bed, from €299 per couple.
Book now