Review: Hyatt Centric The Liberties Dublin

Hyatt Centric The Liberties Dublin was the perfect hotel to host us during St Patrick’s Day weekend in Ireland’s largest city. While Dublin is a large city, not many centrally located hotels are available for points booking, and this is only one of two available that you can redeem Hyatt points towards.

While it’s not overly luxurious, this hotel gets the job done and provides a consistent chain experience while within walking distance of Dublin’s most significant attractions. Let’s dive into my review to showcase what this property offers for your next visit to Dublin.

Booking & Check-In

Booking this two-night stay was a challenge, as it was one of Dublin’s busiest weekends of the year. I had initially made a two-night booking at the Aloft down the street, but the price was steep: 63,000 Marriott Bonvoy points and 450 Euros.

As I knew I wasn’t thrilled with my Marriott booking, I booked flexible rates that I could cancel if I found a better deal. I continued to search World of Hyatt for award nights until both nights presented themselves. With a quick call to the Hyatt Globalist line, we used points advance to hold the rooms and transferred 33,000 points from a combination of Chase Ultimate Rewards and Bilt Rewards.

The cash rates were 400 Euros+ per night, meaning those 33,000 points had a value of $1,178 CAD or 3.5 Cents Per Point.

Check-in was straightforward. We were reminded of our complimentary breakfast benefit as World of Hyatt Globalist members and our free parking on award stays. If you’re not a World of Hyatt Globalist member staying on an award night, the underground parking is 21 Euro per night, which is reasonable considering the area. 

I booked the two nights separately as the free night availability was for two separate room types. When searching for a two-night stay, the hotel showed no available rooms, but individually, one night had a King room available, and the second night had a Queen room available. 

This is an excellent trick to keep in mind when trying to find award availability. We messaged before the stay, and the reservations team was happy to accommodate us in a King room for the two nights, so we did not have to change rooms between nights 1 and 2.

The check-in area is aesthetically pleasing and has plenty of seating.

Next to the check-in area are pamphlets and a touch screen that includes some highlights about the area. There’s also a Whisky Wall with loads of info about the nearby distilleries and the ‘Whisky Triangle’ in The Liberties.

Location

Aptly named, the Hyatt Centric The Liberties is close to The Liberties neighborhood in Dublin.

We were only a 15-minute walk from Temple Bar and the Guinness Storehouse. It was the perfect home base for our 48 hours in Dublin before heading to the JW Marriott Phu Quoc.

Parking

Parking was available in an underground garage owned and operated by the hotel. It’s free for Globalist members when either redeeming points or a World of Hyatt Free Night Award. Otherwise, it will cost 21 euros per day.

Room – 1 King Bed

We did not receive an upgrade during our stay, but as we planned to soak in the atmosphere of St Patrick’s Day in Ireland’s capital, I wasn’t fussed. We did get a high-floor room, though, and it had a great view of the hotel I originally booked!

The rest of the room was newly renovated, but ultimately, a standard hotel room. The king bed was comfortable, and in typical Hyatt fashion, the TV was Chromecast enabled.

There is a small sitting area that we used for more luggage storage rather than a place to eat or relax. But during a more extended stay, it may have come in handy.

There are USB and outlets on either side of the bed, which are very handy. This hotel also sells UK power adapters for 5 euros if you misplace yours like we did!

There’s a big green initiative at this hotel. The thermostat automatically turns off when you’re not in the room, which is kind of a pain, but the air conditioner does a good job of adjusting the temperature quickly once you arrive back. The thermostat also had quite detailed controls, which was appreciated.

The desk is in the same area as the thermostat. It had a funky mirror that matched my outfit!

On the desk was a smartly arranged info deck with everything you needed to know about the hotel and some bottled water.

Adjacent to the desk in the hallway was a small closet with a coffee machine and kettle.

Additionally, the safe, mini fridge, laundry menu, and a pair of robes with slippers were also located in the closet.

The hallway to the bathroom also included an umbrella, coat hooks, and a full-length mirror, which was an efficient use of space.

The bathroom had everything we needed, but it was a little light on towels.

The shower amenities were large refillable bottles, a two-in-one shower gel/shampoo, and conditioner.

Restaurants & Bars

There’s only one dining establishment in the Hyatt Centric, split into bar and restaurant areas. Both are called The Liberties.

The Liberties – Hyatt Globalist Complimentary Breakfast

Globalist breakfast is included for everyone staying on the reservation. It’s quite generous, as you can order as much as you like from the continental section of the menu and one a la carte item per person.

Espresso beverages are also included in the breakfast offering; their cappuccinos are exquisitely crafted. We opted for one order of Bread and Pastries from the continental menu: The Centric Special and the Ham & Cheese Omelette.

Additionally, the breakfast seating has much more natural light than the bar area.

The Liberties Bar

Our first afternoon at the hotel was filled with excitement as Ireland prepared to face off against Scotland in the Six Nations Rugby Championship. While we’re not rugby fans, there was a buzz around the hotel and city. After failing to find a pub with open seats nearby, we retreated to the hotel, which proved an excellent choice.

We ordered some Korean BBQ chicken wings, truffle fries, and local beer to accompany the game. The food was superb, especially considering it’s a hotel bar.

The bar is dramatically decorated, and while no hotel bar can compete with Louix Loius at the St Regis Toronto, it is still a beautiful setting.

Facilities

Fitness Center

The fitness center is located on the basement level and is near the parkade.

Being in the basement, the fitness center doesn’t have any windows, but as you can see, it’s reasonably well-equipped with a variety of cardio and weight equipment!

History Wall

The history wall is a super neat feature unique to the Hyatt Centric The Liberties Dublin! According to the hotel, over 900 years of history are recorded about the area. It’s all documented in the hallway that leads to the elevators, and if you’re visiting on a Wednesday or Thursday, you can book a historian to guide you through it!

The most interesting feature is opposite the collage of picture frames, where a plaster recreation of a Tanning Pit was found while excavating the site.

The plaque next to the sculpture reads:

What Once Was Here

Vivienne Roche RHA

The tanning of leather was undertaken on the site of the hotel during the 13th and 14th centuries. This large relief sculpture made in stucco plaster has the timber walls of a tanning pit as its inspiration source.

The surface detail of the side of the wooden pit was modelled in clay before moulds were taken for casting in plaster. The upper part of the sculpture represents the ground plane as the pit was being excavated.

Conclusion

The Hyatt Centric The Liberties is a solid hotel while exploring Dublin. It’s not overly luxurious or noteworthy as a redemption option, but on busy weekends in the city, it’s great to redeem points instead of paying cash rates. 

The hotel is in an excellent location that makes walking to Dublin’s main attractions easy. If you’re lucky enough, you can even learn about the hotel’s 900 years of history when the historian is on site.