Renowned Asian hospitality brand Anantara have been busy in Europe of late, with new properties in Nice and the Amalfi Coast launching to much fanfare this year. Adding to the buzz is Anantara The Marker Dublin Hotel—the company’s seventh outpost on the continent and its first in Ireland—a reimagining of an earlier property right on the waterfront in the city’s iconic Docklands. Here, four exciting reasons to check in.
Ireland-Influenced Design
Taking its name from the milestones along Ireland’s Grand Canal, which began at the same location, the new property is a luxurious blend of local inspiration and top-notch hospitality. Enhancing the sense of place, the design draws from the geometric shapes woven into the very fabric of Ireland, whether that’s the unique hexagonal stones of the Giant’s Causeway or the karst landscape of the Burren. The influence of these elements runs from the ground floor bar and lobby to the rooftop bar, as well as the 187 guest rooms. All of these were renovated during the pandemic, with even entry level Premium rooms equipped with marble bathrooms and Malin+Goetz toiletries.
Local Exploration
Nowadays any restaurant worth its salt insists on using local ingredients as much as possible, but signature restaurant Forbes Street by Gareth Mullin takes you right to the source. Thanks to Anantara’s “Spice Spoons” initiative (so named for its roots offering guests the chance to explore food markets in Thailand) guest can visit the nearby fishing village of Howth, take a boat around the bay, and stop off at one of Ireland’s most acclaimed salmon smokehouses. And if you’re in the mood for even more, ahem, immersion, you can pick from one of several spots for guided wild swimming, including Sandycove’s Forty Foot, immortalized in James Joyce’s Ulysses. There are plenty of other less taxing experiences on offer, too, from learning how to make the perfect Irish coffee to serene rooftop yoga.
World-Class Spa
Nowhere are Anantara’s Thai roots more evident than in their award-winning spa. Guests can enjoy the 75-foot infinity pool, sauna, and eucalyptus-infused steam room, plus a wealth of treatments including a bespoke five-element aroma facial, a heated lava shell body massage, and even a body envelopment using a “Tree of Life” balm. On a rainy Dublin winter’s day, you’ll almost believe you’ve been transported to Koh Samui.
Location, Location, Location
Now something of a tech hub, the Docklands make a great jumping off point for exploring the city. As well as paddleboarding right in front of the hotel at Surfdock Watersports, you’re within easy walking distance of EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum (10 minutes), Trinity College (15 minutes) and the historic heart of Dublin (20 minutes). The beach at Sandymount is not much further. And once you’ve taken in those views from the hotel’s rooftop, you can mix things up with a visit to the Dublin outpost of cult beer maker, BrewDog, just along the waterfront.
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