Kinlay HouseEditor's Pick

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Some hostels are noteworthy for their enormity; others for their quirks or beyond-the-call staff. The Kinlay House hostel, located barely five minutes from the Temple Bar action, is remarkable first and foremost because it is housed in a beautiful building.

The big dorm rooms at Kinlay House aren’t earth-shattering one way or the other, but against Dublin type the metal bunk beds are painted red, not blue. Dorm rooms come in a dizzying range of configurations, from singles to 20-bed monstrosities. Some of the smaller rooms have private bathrooms. The rest share facilities.

The hostel’s lovely brick building, located across the street from Christ Church Cathedral and the Dublin Castle, was constructed in the 1860s as a trade school for country boys. Grand 19th-century touches, such as sweeping staircases and high wood-beamed ceilings, made us appreciate Ireland's strict preservation laws.

The Kinlay House public rooms are capacious and attractive. All the hostel basics (shared kitchen, TV lounge) are in place, and there are also some less typical amenities on offer: free calls via Skype, a bike rental service (at €10 per day) and a free pasta dinner on Tuesday nights.

A light breakfast is included in the nightly rate, while a cooked breakfast is available for a charge. Wi-Fi is free, as is the shared Internet station.

» Alex Robertson Textor

Note: This hotel was visited by a EuroCheapo editor and is recommended based on cleanliness, location, price and overall quality. EuroCheapo did not charge this hotel to be listed.