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Conrad Dublin & Alex Restaurant

Situated directly opposite the National Concert Hall and just a stroll away from St Stephen's Green, this fine city centre hotel celebrated its twentieth anniversary in 2005 with the completion of a €15 million refurbishment programme which saw the entire hotel renovated and upgraded.

This is an extremely comfortable place to stay - friendly staff are well-trained and helpful, and many of the pleasantly contemporary guestrooms enjoy views of the piazza below and across the city; nice touches include providing an umbrella in each room - and also a laminated jogging map of the area with one- and three-mile routes outlined.

The Conrad has particular appeal for business guests, as all of the bedrooms also double as an efficient office, with ergonomic workstation, broadband, dataports, international powerpoints and at least three direct dial telephones with voice-mail - and the hotel also has extensive state-of-the-art conference and meeting facilities, a fitness centre and underground parking.

Public areas include a raised lounge, which makes an ideal meeting place, and the popular Alfie's Bar & Grill, which is home to locals and visitors alike and opens on to a sheltered terrace.

Conference/banqueting (300/240). Executive boardroom (12). Business centre; secretarial services; video conferencing; free broadband wifi. Underground carpark (100). Children welcome (under 18s free in parents' room, cots available, baby sitting arranged).

Rooms 191 (16 suites, 6 junior suites, 165 no-smoking, 1 for disabled). Lift. 24 hr room service. Turndown service. Room rate from €189, no SC. Open all year.

Alex:

The bright, spacious, split level restaurant offers a smart, modern dining experience, with vibrant décor and elegant comfortable furnishings set off by Elizabeth Cope paintings and low music.

Impeccably professional staff are quick to show diners to tables smartly set with a white linen, stylish cutlery and gleaming glassware.

A well presented menu focuses on optimum freshness and seasonality, offering tempting contemporary dishes with a strong emphasis on seafood, although there are also attractive meat and vegetarian choices.

Classic dishes such as 10oz Irish rib eye are treated pleasingly simply, making for uncomplicated dishes that allow the sheer quality and clean flavours of the ingredients to shine through.

A well chosen wine list reflects the restaurant’s demand for quality, and includes a special monthly wine selection which focuses on a particular country.

Even though sometimes lacking in atmosphere, Alex makes up for this in faultless service and a good all round dining experience.

Seats 92; air conditioning, children welcome. B 7-10.30am; L 12.30-2.30pm, D 5.30-9.30pm daily. Set 3 course L €25, set 3 course D €32; house wine from €29. Restaurant closed D 25 Dec, L 26 Dec. Amex, Diners, MasterCard, Visa, Laser.

Directions:

On the south-eastern corner of St Stephen's Green, opposite the National Concert Hall.