3 Best Hotels in The Liberties and Around, Dublin

Smithfield's newest hotel might look a little mundane with its redbrick, officelike exterior, but inside it's a lot more fun. Street art is what sets the cool Hendrick apart from the crowd, with 259 original pieces crammed into every nook and public space. Rooms can be small and very white, but their clever designs (with an extra bunk bed in some doubles) and striking splashes of colorful art help compensate. The cocktail bar is already a favorite hangout for locals.

Expect few frills at this functional budget (at least, budget by city-center standards) hotel, on a hill facing Christ Church Cathedral and within walking distance of most city-center attractions. The big but somewhat spartan rooms are decorated in primary colors and have utilitarian furniture. The restaurant and bar are equally functional. Their midweek and off-season rates can be an extremely good value. Both this location and the branch at Custom House Quay offer a low, fixed room rate for up to three adults or two adults and two children.

The sleek glass-and-concrete Radisson, just off South Great George's Street, offers to-the-point business accommodations with a dash of cool contemporary style, proof positive that it is possible to be elegant and functional at the same time. Each room at the front—all clean lines and minimal fuss—has one wall that is basically a huge window, crisp Irish linens, and a bathroom with earthy wood and stone finishes. The cocktail bar Sure is a hit with the locals.