Grace Kelly, Kissinger and Ted Kennedy, so says the legend, all used to party hard in this hip pad, which Irish architect Sam Stephenson converted for his family from a couple of stables in the late fifties. The house was not only glamorous but also pioneering for modern Irish architecture. Stephenson’s sunken lounge, so often photographed over the years, forms the heart of one of our favourite tips: the Bed and Breakfast Number 31. Noel and Dierdre Comer later acquired the house and its stylish interior and largely left Stephenson’s rooms in their original condition. A Georgian house and a small, pretty garden would be added to the property. The breakfast is exceptional, served in the beautiful winter garden and among the best in all of Dublin. Not all the newer rooms can hold their own against the original Stephenson chic, but this does not make Number 31 any less special. This special something is felt right from the beginning when Eduardo flits around the lounge greeting guests, serving delicious tea poured from a bright red pot. Like many true insiders’ tips the hotel is somewhat hidden from sight: guests can find Number 31’s blood-red entry in a narrow, crooked street in the south of central Dublin.
Leeson Close 31
Dublin 1 Dublin
phone: +353 1 6765011
price: double from 134 €, breakfast incl.
