Chic and comfort come to Dublin in the NYX of time
With a jampacked calendar of concerts, events, fun – and even sun – on the horizon, the capital is set to sizzle this summer. And with Dublin gearing up to host superstars such as Taylor Swift, Coldplay and Bruce Springsteen, NYX Hotel Dublin is the hottest hotel ticket in town.
The hip Portabello hotel flung open its doors earlier this year, breathing fresh, new air into both the sleepover and socialising scene.
Located just off Dublin’s Grand Canal, NYX is a stone’s throw from everywhere you want to get to in the city centre.
Its art deco design looks right at home and floor-toceiling bedroom windows provide the perfect setting to peer over the canal, take a gander at the swans wading through the water while sipping a refreshing cocktail.
The NYX brand has 13 hotels in cities including Madrid, Milan and London, and the Dublin offering takes inspiration from the continent but also has a quintessential Irish ambience. Its owners’ €31million investment has resulted in a chic citybreak hotel that exudes substance and style.
An art deco designed open-plan lobby, bar and restaurant sits at street level and has the right amount of trendy without being intimidating. Both vibrant and comfortable – it aims to cater to all tastes, ages and needs of any discerning traveller.
Rooms range from ‘Deluxe’ to ‘Superior’ and ‘Deluxe Space’ with many boasting expansive views over the canal or plaza, where a slice of city life can be taken in. And there’s also the swans for those who favour wildlife over nightlife. Or a bit of both.
I was treated to a stay in the NYX to sample what Dublin’s newest hotel has in store – and it surpassed all expectations. The beds are literally and figuratively the stuff of slumber-down in Dublin town dreams, with all rooms kitted out with a ‘DREAM’ bed by Ireland’s King Koil. Also very much to my liking was that despite the hustle, bustle and quacking of traffic and splish-splash of birds paddling about, the hotel’s soundproofing ensured a sublime night’s sleep.
White Company toiletries, mini-fridges, Nespresso machines and 50-inch TVs with Chromecast are also standard. And indeed a Nespresso is most welcome after a very enjoyable evening dining in the restaurant and sampling some pre- and post-dinner drinks.
The Bar at NYX has just unleashed its new all-day food menu which is all about laid-back dining and signature cocktails. The menu is as diverse and it is delectable. Whether you’re a lady who lunches light, or a diner with a preference for flavourful snacks, the menu has it all from signature sharing plates to burgers galore. Just make sure to leave room for the unmissable desert sundaes.
NYX Hotel Dublin’s Portabello location is only a few minutes’ stroll from the bars, restaurants, shops and attractions of the city. But for the highheeled brigade, where walking is not an option, a steady flow of taxis offers door-to-bar and back again service.
The bank of tablet selfcheck-in options takes the hustle out of queuing up, and for those who like to squeeze some fitness in between oodles of fun, the hotel also has a small, ‘state-of-the-art gym’ tucked away off a ground-floor corridor.