Discovering Dublin with the five-star Anantara The Marker luxury hotel

View across the river of the Anantara Hotel

Behiye Hassan with baking ingredients in front of her wearing an apron ready to do a baking class

Dublin is increasingly a destination for discerning travellers, but can you get a real taste of the Irish capital during a weekend break? Behiye Hassan went to find out…

Dublin has long been a favourite for Brits seeking a city break with quick flights that don't eat into precious downtime. And with a rich history stretching back 1,000 years, friendly locals up for the craic, great food and drink, and culture coursing down every street, Ireland’s capital has more than earned its nickname The Fair City.

Now with a plethora of luxury hotels to choose from, it’s an increasingly chic choice too, so I headed to the five-star Anantara The Marker hotel, just a 20-minute walk from the city centre, for a taste of Dublin. The Marker’s an impressive building near the River Liffey in a newly gentrified part of the city called the Silicon Docks (it’s home to the city’s tech industry). The area also once served as the main hub for goods shipped in from Europe, with markers along the docks indicating where the ships should stop – hence the hotel’s name.

Originally built in 2013, The Marker underwent extensive renovation last year to become the Dublin outpost of Anantara, the Bangkok-born luxury hotel chain. And today, it’s an ultra-contemporary vision, from the external architecture to the interior decor and furnishings, while remaining incredibly welcoming.

My spacious and tastefully decorated first-floor room had fantastic views over the Grand Canal Square waterfront, with all mod cons, such as a Nespresso machine and a Chromecast on the multichannel TV, plus an absolutely gorgeous marble bathroom. (Luckily, it had a really comfy bed too: there’s so much to do in Dublin, you’ll need, a good rest at the Marker.)

View of the river with Anantara The Maker Dublin in the background

close up of the outside the Anantara The Marker Dublin

The rooftop bar and it's view of Dublin on a sunny day at Anantara Dublin

interior view of bedroom at Anantara Dublin

white marble hotel bathroom at Anantara Dublin

Rooftop bar at the Anantara Dublin at dusk

An afternoon tea stand with cakes, sandwiches and pastries accompanied by a bottle of champagne and two full glasses.

I thought the best way to begin sampling the city was with a walking tour, which the hotel can arrange. We went with Pat Liddy’s Walking Tours starting at the National Gallery of Ireland, before taking in the Georgian and literary history of Dublin’s Merrion Square, including the Oscar Wilde Memorial Statue, and the handsome government buildings of the Taoiseach. We ended at the iconic Grafton Street and a coffee at the legendary Bewley’s, the century-old stained-glass temple to caffeine.

Back at the hotel, you can refuel with delicious food, c/o head chef Gareth Mullins, who majors on Irish ingredients at his Forbes Street fine dining restaurant. He’s big on keeping produce local and avoiding as much food waste as possible. Whet your appetite with a cocktail at the hotel’s Rooftop Bar & Terrace – dubbed the best in Dublin – before sampling the likes of blue tail lobster with potato salad (other parts of the lobster were then served for dinner), roasted king scallops and smoked black pudding or dry-aged beef from County Longford.

Breakfast is also stuffed with Irish produce – even the butter is made in the hotel – and you have to try at least one full Irish. There’s even bread and butter pudding with Guinness custard, made using all the leftover pastries that don’t get eaten the day before. It’s so popular, they make 12 trays a day.

State of Oscar Wilde on Dublin city centre

Exterior of a building in Dublin City centre which has colourful swirls going across it

beautiful old building seen on sightseeing tour of Dublin

exterior of Bewleys coffee and book shop

Bread and Butter pudding at Anantara Dublin

The hotel also offers a unique way to experience the wonders of Dublin through food with its Spice Spoons excursion. We started at Howth, a working fishing village east of the city, and boarded a Howth Cliff Cruises boat for a short trip around Ireland’s Eye and Lambay islands off the coast, which are havens for wildlife, including the adorable puffins we spotted. The harbour is also a hotbed for seal spotting – we saw two as we disembarked.

Next, we paid a visit to Kish Fish seafood market, where we were shown how salmon is cured and smoked, followed by delicious fresh fish and chips in the café afterwards. Back at Forbes Street, there was soda bread making and an Irish coffee masterclass by Gareth – who also taught us how to shuck oysters. Despite being useless in the kitchen, I really enjoyed our cookery classes. And as we got to keep our aprons and recipe card, I’ll be trying it again at home.

The main counter with various types of fish at Kish Fish

The cooking ingredients for the baking class on a marble counter

A hand of a member of staff during whiskey into a glass

After all that sea air and exertion in the kitchen, a pampering session at the hotel’s award-winning Anantara Spa was just what was needed. A sophisticated, calming space with minimalist decor, it features a 23-metre infinity pool, jacuzzi, sauna, eucalyptus-infused steam room and relaxation room, plus a fully equipped gym if you’re feeling energetic.

I had the Balance full body massage using Seabody products – the sustainable Irish brand which uses seaweed from the country’s coastline to award-winning effect. Employing wavelike massage techniques, my therapist Ajandra paid really good attention to my shoulders and got all the knots out, leaving me deeply relaxed. The uplifting scent of grapefruit and balancing ylang-ylang from the products left me feeling refreshed too. And after a complimentary orange juice and mango sorbet in the relaxation room, I was fit for nothing bar chilling by the pool.

My last day at The Marker involved more water, with wild swimming at the beautiful Whiterock Beach in the Dublin suburb of Killiney, a scenic 35-minute drive from the hotel. The Marker works with wild swimming coaches for the excursion, and those who don’t want to plunge into the chilly Irish Sea can watch or have a leisurely beach stroll. There’s hot chocolate and pastries afterwards to restore blood sugar levels for swimmers before changing into dry clothes. Though I remained beachbound, those who swam said it was a fantastic experience.

Which sums up my time at The Marker. It really is the ideal base from which to savour this marvellous city, from the fresh air and sealife, to the fabulous history and culture or the delicious Irish cuisine. I’ll be back for another bite.