The Clarence Hotel
"Above the Liffey, away from the noise."
The First Feeling
The river arrives first. You step out of a cab on Wellington Quay and the Liffey is doing its slow thing under the Ha'penny Bridge. The hotel sits above it, calmly.
What People Get Wrong
Booking a city-facing room to save on the suite.
The river is the entire reason to choose The Clarence. A river-facing room above the third floor is the only version of this hotel worth booking.
The Atmosphere
An 1852 hotel restored into a contemporary expression of its bones: dark timber, brass, river-facing windows and the celebrated Octagon Bar at the heart of the ground floor.
The Room to Request
River-facing suite, top two floors.
Request a river-facing suite on the top two floors. The lower river rooms lose the skyline at sunset; the top floors keep it all the way to the Custom House.
Check AvailabilityThe Daily Rhythm
Morning
Coffee with the river under the window, a walk along the quays to the National Gallery.
Afternoon
Dublin Castle, Christ Church and the Chester Beatty, all within ten minutes on foot.
Evening
An Octagon Bar cocktail, dinner at Cleaver East, a final drink at the river-facing window.
Small things you remember later
- Golden hour reflected off the Liffey onto the bedroom ceiling.
- The Ha'penny Bridge from a top-floor window.
- The Octagon Bar's first cocktail of the evening.
- Temple Bar going quiet two streets away.
Practical Intelligence
Perfect for honeymooners
Great for solo travelers
The Emotional Role
The river-side Dublin classic, reborn.
Owned by Bono and The Edge, the Clarence is the discreet way to stay in Temple Bar. One night here on either side of a country trip is enough.
Who this hotel is for
Best for travelers who want a liffey-side address.
Experience The Clarence Hotel
If you understand the feeling of this place, you will naturally want to stay.
Check AvailabilityEdited by Deborah Nuñez
The Ireland Edit only recommends hotels we have stayed in, visited in person, or vetted against a checked-in editorial network. We never accept payment for inclusion.
Frequently asked questions
- Who should stay at The Clarence Hotel?
- You want a Liffey-side address. You'll use Temple Bar but want to retreat above it. You care about the architectural restoration as much as the view.
- Where is The Clarence Hotel located?
- Wellington Quay, Temple Bar Dublin About You're here from Dublin.
- Why does The Ireland Edit recommend The Clarence Hotel?
- The restoration is stunning, the river views are unmatched, and the location is everything you want to be near without the noise of Temple Bar in the room.
- What does The Clarence Hotel pair best with?
- Owned by Bono and The Edge, the Clarence is the discreet way to stay in Temple Bar. One night here on either side of a country trip is enough.
- When is The Clarence Hotel not the right choice?
- The river is the entire reason to choose The Clarence. A river-facing room above the third floor is the only version of this hotel worth booking.
- When is the best time of year to visit The Clarence Hotel?
- May to September for the Liffey at its best; December for the Christmas lights along the quays.
- How long should I stay at The Clarence Hotel?
- 2 nights.
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Read Before You Book
Why we recommend The Clarence Hotel.
The philosophy that sits behind the recommendation. The essays we would send a friend before they book.
The Irish Hotel Test We Use Before Booking
Six questions we apply before booking any room in Ireland. The November test, the dinner-twice test, the landscape-over-room test.
Why We Never Stay One Night Anywhere In Ireland
Every hotel change costs you half a day. Luxury, in Ireland, is staying put.
What I Tell Every American Friend Before Their First Trip
Cut the itinerary in half, then cut it again. The letter we send before every first visit.
The Ireland Edit Way
The essays that shape how we travel Ireland.
The Irish Hotel Test We Use Before Booking
Six questions we apply before booking any room in Ireland. The November test, the dinner-twice test, the landscape-over-room test.
Why We Never Stay One Night Anywhere In Ireland
Every hotel change costs you half a day. Luxury, in Ireland, is staying put.
The Concierge Letter
The letter we send to a hotel before arrival. What to ask for, and what not to.
What I Tell Every American Friend Before Their First Trip
Cut the itinerary in half, then cut it again. The letter we send before every first visit.