3* Generator Dublin

The Morrison gets one of those Dublin locations that works especially well for LGBTQ+ travellers. You’re right on the Liffey: cross the bridge and Temple Bar is immediately in front of you, while head north for a few minutes and you’ll reach Capel Street, PantiBar and Pennylane. That means you can choose between different parts of Dublin’s nightlife without needing taxis, while O’Connell Street, Trinity College, Grafton Street and most of the major central sights are walkable too. Jervis Luas stop is just behind the hotel when your feet eventually object. The atmosphere is contemporary and polished without feeling excessively formal, and staying on the north bank keeps you slightly removed from Temple Bar’s late-night chaos. GayMapper tip: our favourite Dublin all-rounder for combining gay nightlife, sightseeing and a genuinely convenient city-centre location.

NYX Hotel Dublin Christchurch drops you right into one of the most useful parts of central Dublin. Christchurch Cathedral is opposite, Dublin Castle is around the corner and Temple Bar starts just a few streets away. For a night out, Street 66 is particularly close, while The George and the bars around Capel Street are all comfortably walkable. There are also enough pubs, restaurants and cafés around this part of town to make choosing dinner considerably harder than getting there. The hotel has a colourful, music-influenced look and a livelier feel than many of Dublin’s four-star hotels, with DJs and live music on selected nights. GayMapper tip: a great choice if you want to walk to both the sightseeing and the nightlife and would prefer your hotel to have a bit of personality too.

Generator gives you a slightly different Dublin experience in Smithfield, a lively neighbourhood west of the main shopping streets with cafés, pubs and the Jameson Distillery right outside. Smithfield Luas stop is beside the hostel, so getting into the centre is easy, although plenty is walkable too. Capel Street — home to PantiBar and Pennylane — is around a 15-minute stroll away, while the Guinness Storehouse and the Liberties are particularly convenient from this side of town. Private rooms are available if dorm life has lost its charm, while the bar and regular events keep things sociable downstairs. GayMapper tip: a good fit if you want a lively, affordable stay with a bit of neighbourhood character rather than being dropped straight into touristy Temple Bar.

Jacobs Inn is a good base if you want to keep Dublin accommodation costs under control without heading out to the suburbs. It’s opposite Connolly Station, so DART, Luas and mainline trains are right there, while O’Connell Street and the city centre are an easy walk away. There’s a choice of private rooms and dorms, and the large bar, terrace and regular events give the place a genuinely sociable atmosphere. That makes it particularly useful for solo travellers who’d like the option of meeting people rather than disappearing into a hotel room every evening. PantiBar and Pennylane on Capel Street are around a 15-minute walk away, while The George and the south-side gay scene are easily reached across the river. GayMapper tip: a strong budget option for solo travellers, friends and anyone who values good transport links almost as much as cheap(er) Dublin accommodation.

The Merchant House is for travellers who like the idea of staying right in old Dublin but don’t particularly want a conventional five-star hotel. There are just a handful of large suites inside an 18th-century townhouse in Temple Bar, so it feels much more private and individual. Step outside and you’re surrounded by pubs, restaurants and historic streets, with Street 66 just around the corner and The George easily walkable. Capel Street is only across the river, so most of Dublin’s LGBTQ+ nightlife can be reached on foot. There are a couple of quirks worth knowing about: there’s no conventional hotel reception and the historic building has stairs rather than a lift. Being in Temple Bar also means accepting that Dublin occasionally gets a little enthusiastic after dark. GayMapper tip: a romantic choice for couples who want space, history and nightlife outside the door rather than all the trappings of a large luxury hotel.

The Westbury gives you proper five-star Dublin without making you choose between luxury and location. It’s tucked just off Grafton Street, with The George only a few minutes away and the restaurants and bars of the Creative Quarter all around you. You can walk from here to St Stephen’s Green, Trinity College, Temple Bar and Dublin Castle, so there’s very little reason to bother with transport during a typical weekend. The surrounding streets stay lively into the evening but feel rather more civilised than the busiest parts of Temple Bar. Back at the hotel, service is polished without being stiff, and The Gallery overlooking Grafton Street is a Dublin institution for afternoon tea or a drink when the weather encourages staying indoors. GayMapper tip: the splurge choice for a special Dublin weekend when you want five-star service and the gay scene still close enough to walk home from.