"How did it strike you on arrival?Fresh off a renovation and rebranding, The Alex, which stands on a site formerly occupied by a train station, is officially one of Dublin's cool kids. Its airy lobby is home to a posh co-working space where guests and passersby type away on laptops among sleek Art Deco fixtures and forest-green marble tables. The hotel nods to its history through design details like a ticker sign above the elevators and leather luggage straps affixed to wardrobe drawers. The bar's scalloped pink couches are the perfect spot to post up with a glass of wine, and there’s a little coffee shop that serves Cloud Picker blends. Nice. What’s the crowd like?During the week, guests, many of whom come from the nearby tech companies (Facebook, Google), use the lobby for meetings or post-work engagements. Irish visitors make up much of the weekend crowd. Noted. Now, the good stuff: Tell us about your room.With deep-green velvet cushions, retro telephones, and blue wood panels, the rooms at The Alex have an endearingly chic vibe. They're outfitted with super-soft beds covered with herringbone throws from Foxford Woolen Mills, an Irish heritage brand; 1950s-style radios; and (supremely useful, but often absent) bedside electrical outlets. Executive-level rooms also have Nespresso machines and offer access to the lounge, a funky little room with regularly replenished snacks and drinks. How about the little things, like amenities or bright spots—anything make your heart leap?As befits a hotel with a lot of business guests, the Wi-Fi is super speedy in the rooms and common spaces. Anything stand out about other services and features? Whether it’s childcare, gyms, spas, even parking—whatever stuck with you.There’s a well-equipped gym across the street. Bottom line: what's the biggest takeaway from staying here?A lot of work has gone into this hotel, which is as practical as it is attractive." - Nicola Brady
