Providing a bridge in Ireland’s capital city between the old and new, the traditional and trendy, The Marker Hotel sits at the intersection of a historic housing district and a new development of luxury residential apartments, The Marker Residences owned by the hotel. In the past, the area served as a marker for the nearest point in which boats could visit Dublin, and now the hotel sits as an urban retreat for today’s modern traveler.

Situated in what is known as the South Docklands, adjacent to Grand Canal Square, the hotel's location has many attributes. Theater lovers will be delighted to know that a proverbial ‘hop, skip and jump’ takes them to the front door of one of Dublin’s leading performing arts centers. Located 100 yards away, the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre hosts a diverse series of shows, ranging from classical music and opera to traditional Irish music and other productions. The Marker is also a 25-minute walk along Dublin’s Liffey River to the older and more traditional, Abbey Theatre, founded by former national poet W.B. Yeats and friends at the turn of the 20th century.

Due to its proximity to the large body of water located across an open square outside its front door, boating, surfing and sailing activities are plentiful. Aviva, one of Ireland’s national stadiums where soccer, rugby and other sporting and musical events take place, is just a short walk away. With the centenary commemoration of the Easter 1916 Irish revolution approaching, history buffs will appreciate the fact that Boland’s Bakery and Mill, a strategic building held by the Irish Volunteers led by later-to-be President, Éamon de Valera during the week-long siege, is nearby.

Back on property, behind a glass-fronted façade that overlooks the theater and band of water, The Marker features a spacious lobby area that doubles as a café, brasserie and bar where people gather with friends and family for chit-chats or informal business meetings. Dublin’s Convention Centre, the National Bank and global tech giants such as Google, Facebook and LinkedIn are all located nearby in a burgeoning technology corridor known as Silicon Docks. Inspired by the rugged coast of County Clare, from which the hotel’s architect originates, the lobby’s ceiling is an attempt to replicate it. An elevator in the far corner leads to a large, open, rooftop bar granting panoramic views over much of Dublin’s cityscape.

With 187 rooms on six floors, the hotel boasts an ample-sized spa on the mezzanine level reached discreetly via the room elevator and along a walnut wood-floored corridor. Carefully designed, it is a lesson in convenience with a central 75-foot infinity pool bordered by a sauna, steam-room, large Jacuzzi and several leather recliners along the walls for leisurely reading and conversation. The area’s color design — subdued neutrals of grey and black — create an atmosphere of relaxation, and guests can enjoy freshly-squeezed juice, fresh fruits and an assortment of herbal infusions including jasmine, mint and white tea at the spa's reception.

Serving many traditional Irish products, dining at the hotel means opening yourself up to trying new foods. Breakfast features items such as Tommy Doherty's black pudding (blood sausage made from pork blood and oatmeal), while the dinner menu serves boar chops from Ballinwillin Farm Shop in Mitchelstown, County Cork. The Tom Crean Pale Ale from Dingle in Ireland’s southwestern county of Kerry, named after a local man who was part of an historic expedition to the South Pole many years ago, is also served on property. 

Sunday's Le Drunch (the latest food trend to emerge from Paris, a later alternative to brunch), is an enjoyable occasion with an animated atmosphere created by convivial clients and a comprehensive menu. The bar is well-stocked and non-alcoholic drinks include freshly pressed juice mixes such as beetroot, carrot and ginger or fresh coconut milk served in the shell.

Starters include Thai soup, spicy without being overly so, featuring well-cooked chicken nuggets, sweet-corn, chili, fresh coconut and a smooth coriander broth. Reflecting the menu’s diversity, there’s also seared tuna Niçoise with quail eggs, green olives, onion and green beans with a balsamic vinegar sauce, and the choice of a generous serving of onion rings with chili aioli on a maple-wood board. Entrées include a surf ‘n turf dish, with an 8-ounce John Stone rib-eye, Tiger prawns, aioli and slow roasted plum tomatoes or pan-fried grey mullet with scallops accompanied by asparagus, broccoli and Béarnaise sauce.

If Dublin is your destination, The Marker Hotel should be your accommodation of choice. Tucked away in an architecturally and historically rich area away, it's wonderfully situated away from the dense traffic of central Dublin, yet still within walking distance of many of the capital city’s main attractions.