The Tara Towers Hotel Merrion Road, The Tara Towers Hotel, Dublin, Ireland | (888) 710-7049
Many rooms overlook Dublin Bay and surrounding mountains
Bus stops right outside hotel
Rooms are spacious and have coffee/tea facilities
Ocras Restaurant has a daily carvery
PJ Branagan's Bar has live music some nights
Free Wi-Fi
Meeting and conference rooms available
Drinks at bar are expensive (common in Dublin)
Decor is a bit dated
Stains and worn furnishings throughout rooms
Fee for parking and breakfast
No room service
The 111-room, mid-range Tara Towers Hotel is along the western edge of Dublin, with views of the bay and surrounding mountains. Prices are low but amenities are few; there's no fitness or business center and there's a charge for parking and breakfast. Rooms are spacious, and though some are refurbished, stains and worn furnishings are still prevalent. The on-site Ocras Restaurant is a nice spot for Irish fare and PJ Branagan's Bar is a cozy spot to grab a drink or watch a sporting event on the TVs. For travelers who don't mind the simple decor and location removed from downtown, it's a good value. For a similarly priced hotel closer to downtown, check out Cassidys Hotel.
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Scene
This hotel primarily draws couples on a budget; the bar attracts a crowd with live music and TVs.
Off a main road along the western edge of Dublin, Tara Towers Hotel has a concrete boxy structure that hints at the simple decor inside. Through the glass door entrance, there's a wooden reception desk with a granite countertop that's manned 24/7, a brochure rack, and single computer. The lobby is bland but comfortable enough with several black leather couches and armchairs situated next to a burning fireplace and modern artwork on the walls. PJ Branagan's Bar has a homey pub atmosphere due to its mismatched seating, billiards table, and cozy fireplaces. The Ocras Restaurant is sleeker than the rest of the hotel and features neutral tone chairs around wooden tables with roses in vases. A middle section surrounded by wooden columns and a white metal gate adds interest. Some rooms have lovely views of the Dublin Bay and surrounding mountains, while others look over unattractive roofs. Patrons of the hotel are primarily couples who want a value hotel and don't mind being a little removed from downtown; some families and business travelers also find the hotel fits the bill.
Location
On the western edge of Dublin with views of Dublin Bay and surrounding mountains
Tara Towers Hotel is located about 20 minutes from the city center of Dublin, along the western edge. This allows some of the rooms to have scenic views of Dublin Bay (past the main road) and the surrounding mountains. There's also a cemetery adjacent to the hotel and some rooms overlook its grounds.The hotel is located off a main road and a bus stops in front of it for easy transportation to downtown. Wi-Fi is also provided on city buses. The hotel is four minutes from St. Vincent Hospital and the Elm Park Golf and Sports Club. The hotel is around 35 minutes from the airport, depending on traffic. There's parking at the hotel but it's run by a separate company, and costs a (reasonable) nightly fee.
Rooms
Spacious rooms with simple furnishings, but many show signs of wear and tear
The 111 bedrooms at Tara Towers Hotel include twins, doubles and triples and most are spacious. Furnishings are simple but vary room to room. Some rooms have brown leather couches, TV armoires, and teal patterned armchairs; others have bright red carpets that match the bedding and drapes; and yet others have neutral carpeting and purple blankets. Many rooms show signs of serious wear and tear -- such as stains on the carpet, dressers with several missing handles, and chipped wood. The bathrooms are small but clean, either with shower/tub combos or glass showers. Each room has a multi-channel TV, but many are tube-style. Coffee/tea facilities, hairdryers, and toiletries are all provided. Rooms either overlook the main road and Dublin Bay, the surrounding mountains, or rooftops.
Features
An Irish restaurant, bar, and several meeting rooms
Ocras Restaurant serves both traditional Irish cuisine and Mediterranean fare in a modern space with wooden tables and brown chairs. They have a carvery lunch and serve main dishes for dinner such as Irish lamb shank and Italian-style chicken escallops. Many guests frequent PJ Branagan's Bar for its relaxed setting, including various seating arrangements around fireplaces and a billiards table. It has live music, TVs for sporting events, and comfort food dishes such as shepherd's pie and barbecue ribs. There are multiple meeting rooms of various sizes available.
