I recently took advantage of Aer Lingus’ Dublin stopover on the way to London, and needed a convenient place to stay for a quick 48 hour visit. The Morrison, a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, was a brand I trusted, walking distance to many Dublin attractions, and family-friendly (since I was staying with my teenage daughter). Located on the River Liffey in Dublin’s historic downtown, The Morrison, a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel is just steps from the iconic Ha’Penny and Millennial pedestrian bridges, just a hop, skip, and jump from the Temple Bar quarter. We found The Morrison to be a trendy, boutique hotel that’s very family-friendly, and a great choice for exploring Dublin. Grab a warm chocolate chip cookie and continue reading the full review of The Morrison, a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel.
Lobby and Foyer
The staff at The Morrison, a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel set the tone the minute we walked in the door. Our flight landed in Dublin insanely early (5:10 am or something like that, who remembers when your brain is mush). We headed to the hotel to drop our bags and figured we’d wander around Dublin until our room was ready. The check-in staff apologized profused that our room wasn’t ready yet (we never expected it to be ready so early). They welcomed us fully, directed us downstairs to the fitness center to wash and freshen up, gave us our warm chocolate chip cookies, and escorted us to breakfast at The Halo (more on that later). The Morrison’s immediate hospitality truly set the tone for our visit.
The foyer is decked out in contemporary furniture and purple hues. Redesigned in 2013, The Morrison’s aesthetic features lyrics from Irish songwriters along the walls paying homage to the hotel’s heritage of hosting performers over the years.
You’ll find complimentary high speed Wi-Fi throughout the hotel. The Morrison says its the fastest complimentary access in Dublin. I didn’t make comparisons with all of Dublin, but the Wi-Fi was certainly fast-enough for myself and my internet loving millenial daughter.
After we walked to some Dublin sights including St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublinia, Christ Church Cathedral, and the Dublin Castle, we returned to the hotel and the friendly front desk staff quickly checked us in and directed us to our room (even though it was still an early check-in, around 1:00pm).
Accomodations
Our double room on the Mezzanine had plenty of space for my daughter and I. She commented the pink glow light nightstands and pillows looked like a “teenage girl’s room.” The beds were firm, and there were plenty of plugs, outlets, and USB connections to keep electronic devices charged. Our room featured two twin beds, desk, comfortable couch, hairdryer, safe, ironing board & iron, bottled water, and tea & coffee making services. In the closet we found comfy robes and slippers.
The bathroom had a large sink, bath, rainforest head shower, and handheld spray nozzle. Crabtree & Evelyn products were also featured including verbena and lavender soaps.
Fitness Center
The fitness facility takes up the lower level of The Morrison, and contains cardiovascular equipment, weights, and space for stretching and yoga as well as a small seating area. There are also separate bathrooms and changing areas located on this level.
Restaurants and Dining
Make sure when you make your reservation at The Morrison to get breakfast with your room in order to, “wake up and be awesome.” Breakfast is served in the Halo at the Morrison. Billed as the buffet to end all breakfast buffets, I’m not sure if it was the be all/end all, but it was certainly very, very good. The Halo is a very comfortable setting, aside from a freakish bird-lady statue that you cannot keep your eyes off of, and has everything you could want.
There is a fantastic full Irish spread that includes eggs, meats, potatoes, and traditional Irish puddings. You’ll also find yogurt, smoothies, fresh fruit and a wide variety of breads and pastries. Don’t like any of that, there’s made to order pancakes, French toast, etc. (all included in the price). The Morrison’s breakfast even includes a coffee barista to hand-make your specialty coffee drinks (again, no extra charge). Plus, the wait staff couldn’t have been friendlier – helpful, as I often spent an hour or so on my own chatting with them waiting for my millennial daughter to awaken.
The Morrison also has a full-service restaurant, The Morrison Grill, that features a “Josper Coal Grill Oven.” This is a Spanish type of cooking method that combines an oven and a grill heating up to 500 degrees Celsius (over 900 degrees Fahrenheit). There’s also the Quay 14 bar, that offers a manly twist on the traditional afternoon tea. Quay 14’s Gentlemen’s Tea features steak sandwiches, beer sliders, smoked rasher scones and whiskey chocolate truffles combine with pints of ale such Wicklow Wolf.
Recreation and Activities
The Morrison is located right on the River Liffey, steps away from the iconic, 200-year-old, cast-iron Ha’Penny Pedestrian Bridge. Cross the Ha’Penny, and you are in the Temple Bar quarter full of pubs, restaurants, and nightlife.
Head through the Temple Bar quarter, and it’s an easy walk to Trinity College home to the Book of Kells in the Dublin Library, or, in the other direction, the cathedrals (St. Patrick’s and Christ Church) and Dublin Castle.
The Morrison, a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, was a perfect, family-friendly Dublin hotel for our short visit to the city. Conveniently located to many key Dublin attractions, including the Guinness Storehouse, and a friendly, hospitable home base. Book a room with breakfast, and you will be set for a day of touring Dublin.
DISCLOSURE: Dave Parfitt was hosted by The Morrison, a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel and received complimentary accommodations and breakfast. However, all opinions expressed are also those of the author. For more family travel news, reviews, and trip reports, be sure to follow Adventures by Daddy on instagram, twitter and “like” our facebook page too.
