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The Fitzwilliam Hotel

If a comfortable city centre base is what you're after, you won't get more central than this stylish contemporary hotel, and, behind the deceptively low-key frontage, lies an impressively sleek interior created by Sir Terence Conran's design group: public areas combine elegant minimalism with luxury fabrics and finishes, notably leather upholstery and a fine pewter counter in the bar, which is a chic place to meet in the Grafton Street area.

In addition to the hotel's premier restaurant, Thornton's (see separate entry), breakfast, lunch and dinner are served daily in their chic informal restaurant Citron, on the mezzanine level, which is popular with Dubliners escaping from the retail experience.

Some of the bedrooms overlook the Green and, while quite compact for a luxury hotel, all are finished to a high standard with air-conditioning, safe, broadband, stereo CD player and minibar, and care has been lavished on the bathrooms too, including designer toiletries.

There's an in-house hair & beauty salon, Free Spirit, and the hotel has a great hidden asset - Ireland's largest roof garden.

: On a mezzanine with a balcony overlooking a floating indoor bridge connecting two sides of the hotel, this city-centre restaurant is modern and vibrant with citrus recessed neon lighting, soft greys, mirrors, and dark woods. Ideal for Grafton Street shoppers, it offers high quality food ranging from superior snack food - perfect for a quick lunch - to more elaborate dishes that befit a lingering meal. Typically, a refreshing Gazpacho comes with cucumber spaghetti and a selection of delicious warm breads, a main course of chargrilled chicken is served atop a perfectly mixed Caesar dressing and roast cod and clams accompany well-dressed papardella pasta. There is also a choice of sushi – from Ebi or Californian Maki to a fish-based Mariawase selection of prawn, mackerel, salmon, tuna and squid. Service is professional and friendly - and there’s a great wine list too. Open all day. Informal meals also served at fashionable ‘The Inn on the Green’ bar. Conference/banqueting (80/60). 3 conference rooms. Secretarial services. Children welcome; (under12s free in parents' room; cots available free of charge). 24 hour room service. Rooms 128 (2 suites, 128 executive, 90 no-smoking, 4 for disabled). Lift. B&B about €160pps. No service charge. Open all year. Amex, Diners, MasterCard, Visa, Laser.