22 hours ago
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A heatwave in Dublin may sound bizarre as the Irish capital sees up to 152 ‘wet days’ a year, but I was really given a show with the epic sunshine we enjoyed throughout our trip.
And as the five-star Anantara The Marker came in to the view with the Docklands on its doorstep, I reckoned that hail, rain, or shine, we would be grand.
This area is at the centre of Dublin’s growing tech industry – one part has been renamed Googletown – with companies like TikTok, Google and Airbnb all choosing it as their European HQ.
Not that visitors will care. The selling point for them is that it’s a stone’s throw from town and about 20 minutes drive from Dublin Airport.
Or maybe that the hotel is home to not only the ‘best spa’ in the city, but the best hotel rooftop bar, too.
First impressions
Overlooking the Titanic-like Board Gáis Theatre, the hotel is just a short walk from the city centre.
The Marker’s pedestrian-friendly plaza is lit up at night with red and green illuminations. These represent the Grand Canal’s 82 miles once lined with cast iron ‘markers’ that guided travellers. The final marker was right where the hotel is located, hence its name.
On the go since 2013, the hotel was taken over by Anantara in 2023.
Originating in Thailand, where the hotel has 15 locations, The Marker is the first Anantara property in Ireland and offers guests ways to explore Dublin through ‘Land, Sea and Spirit’ experiences from crystal engraving, wild swimming to Irish coffee making.
Portuguese architect Manuel Aires Mateus draws on the Cliffs of Moher for its chequerboard exterior, and guests arrive into an airy, 67-metre-long space with a cantilevered ceiling intended to evoke the Giant’s Causeway in County Antrim.
The rooms
The hotel houses 187 guest rooms on Grand Canal Square, with prices starting from €400 per night.
Floor to ceiling windows capture epic views of Grand Canal Square or the Bord Gáis theatre, depending on your position.
Grey walls give the rooms a cave-like feel and echo the hues of the Irish countryside, with carpets that are a deep, heather purple.
Wooden panelling houses a built-in 55-inch TV (with Chrome Cast) and a Nespresso Zenius machine with pods.
The furniture is modern with a gorse yellow armchair and plaid blankets from Foxford Mills in County Mayo.
Bathrooms are white marble with showers, Villeroy & Boch baths and toiletries are by Irish, seaweed-derived Voya brand.
The spa
The hero of this place is, without question, the spa. It was recently named Dublin Spa of the Year by Irish Tatler.
Dimly lit and tranquil, it has a beautiful 23-metre infinty pool surrounded by dark tiled walls and comfortable loungers.
The steam room is scented with eucalyptus and the sauna is a lovely temperature. There’s a whirlpool tub to melt your worries away in, too.
It’s open from 6am to 9.30pm and entry is complimentary, as is the gym, which is kitted out with state of the art equipment. In summer, they sometimes offer free yoga on the rooftop, too.
Treatments range from a Thai Qi flow massage and sculpting massages to a full body salt scrub, a frangipani nourishing body wrap, detox wrap to 30, and indulgent Elemis facials. Prices from €85 to €200.
I got a 45-minute massage with my choice of essential oil from rose, lavender or peppermint and felt like I was floating all evening.
If you’re into it, Anantara also offers 90 minute ‘journeys’ based on the concept of ‘nam jai’.
The signature begins with a foot cleanse, infused with the exotic aromas of frangipani flowers and hibiscus which holds deep cultural significance in Thailand, symbolising a fresh start and the release of negative energy.
Next, a relaxing, restorative massage is tailored to your needs with your choice of oils – monoi and coconut, rosemary and pine, or orange and fennel – to nourish the skin and promote a sense of calm.
Then a facial designed to revitalise and hydrate your skin, leaving it radiant and glowing. You’ll forget you’re in Dublin.
Food and drink
The crown jewel of the Anantara is the rooftop bar, which has a 360-view of the Irish sea and Croke Park.
A gorgeous perch for sunset, it recently took home the coveted Gold award for five-star hotel bar of the year at the 2025 Irish Bar of the Year Awards.
The cocktail menu is genuinely impressive. I had the blue Cenote Azul which hit perfectly during the heatwave.
After, we ate melt-in-the-mouth belly pork, lime bbq prawns and wagyu steak slices on hot corn tortillas, served in a beautifully embroidered pouch to keep them warm.
The star of the show, though, is Gareth Mullin’s restaurant, Forbes Street, where the scallops and steak were all cooked to perfection.
Flaggy Shore Dainties or local oysters and Oscitera caviar are on the menu as well as a huge variety of Irish farmhouse cheese.
Forbes Street really proves Irish bread is the best in the world as they bake their soda bread on site and serve it with lashings of homemade butter.
Any extras?
The Marker offers innovative ways to explore Dublin through ‘Land, Sea and Spirit’ experiences.
Guests can visit the Kildangan Stud, a paddock in County Kildare owned by Dubai’s Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. We met prize racehorses and foals just a few weeks old.
Copying an experience from the Thai locations is ‘Spice Spoons’, where you visit the fishing village of Howth, then have a cooking class with Executive Chef Gareth Mullins using ingredients from the local market.
Perhaps most fitting for summer is a trip to Forty Foot, a popular sea swimming spot just ten miles away in Sandycove. A local favourite, it features in the opening scenes of James Joyce’s Ulysses.
In-hotel experiences include an Irish coffee masterclass, where we were taught to mix sugar with Jameson whiskey, add coffee to the mix and then pour over cream to give a Guinness-like look and a rich taste.
Experiences costs vary, so enquire with the hotel before your stay.
The verdict
My room felt a bit dark and narrow but nonetheless luxurious, so for one night for anyone with disposable cash, I would say it is absolutely worth it.
The Anantara brand originates in Thailand, where the hotel has 15 locations. It has also made its name as the Amalfi location is on HBO hit The White Lotus.
But in Dublin, does it deliver the epic service it’s become known for?
Yes, with bells on. The staff are truly exceptional.
Dubliner Guest Experience and Guardianship Manager, Derek Brennan, has the warmth of Father Christmas and took us on a walking tour of the area on his 70th birthday. He also hosts a daily evening ceremony where he reads WB Yeats’ poetry.
Hotel manager Ludo De Jong wrote us all personalised cards which added a personal touch. He also joined us for dinner and showed us what five-star hospitality looks like.
I would very much like to go back.
Everything you need to know, at a glance
Currency: Euro.
Check in /check out: 3pm and noon.
Disability access? Yes. Wheelchair access and eight accessibility rooms, at 377sqft each, larger than its deluxe and premium rooms.
The main entrance has a DDA (Disability Discrimination Act) compliant door manned by the friendly porter. Inside the lobby, the floor is flat and there are no steps to access the elevators, which are large enough to hold 17 people. Guests can also check in at a lower concierge desk, after helping themselves to a glass of complimentary iced tea (also at hip-height.)
Standout feature: Forbes street restaurant.
Perfect for: A luxurious escape or an overnight stay after the theatre.
Not right for: Travellers on a budget.
Bengali (Bangladesh) · 
English (United States) ·