Hotel Riu Plaza The Gresham Dublin

The hotel offers a memorable stay, distinguished by its exceptional staff service, an outstanding breakfast buffet, and a prime central location that places guests at the heart of the city. Many guests highlight the genuine warmth and attentiveness of the staff, who consistently go above and beyond to ensure a pleasant experience. The breakfast is frequently lauded as a highlight, offering an extensive and delicious selection that caters to diverse tastes. This combination of top-tier service and culinary excellence, coupled with its highly convenient position, makes the hotel an ideal choice for a variety of travelers. Sightseers will appreciate the easy access to major attractions, while business travelers benefit from its central accessibility. Families and couples alike find the comfortable accommodations and welcoming atmosphere perfect for a city getaway. To maximize your visit, guests recommend taking full advantage of the comprehensive breakfast offerings and utilizing the excellent public transport links directly outside the hotel.

Facilities & Amenities
Guests frequently comment on the hotel's array of facilities, though some aspects receive mixed feedback. The bar and lounge areas, including Toddy's and the Writers Bar, are often praised for their pleasant atmosphere and attentive staff, providing comfortable spaces for relaxation and socializing. A fitness center or gym is available for guests, though some note the absence of a swimming pool. The hotel's elevator arrangements can be complex, with some rooms requiring the use of two different lifts or involving long corridors, which can be a minor inconvenience for some. Rooms are generally equipped with a mini-fridge, adding convenience for storing beverages. While most guests find the air conditioning effective, some report issues with units not working optimally or being difficult to regulate, occasionally leading to rooms being too warm. The hotel also provides Wi-Fi for guests to stay connected.

Cleanliness & Room Comfort
The hotel consistently receives high praise for its cleanliness, with many guests describing rooms as spotless, impeccably clean, and well-maintained. The beds are a standout feature, frequently highlighted as super comfortable, large, and ensuring a restful night's sleep. While most guests find the pillows comfortable, some express a preference for softer options. Rooms are generally described as spacious and well-appointed, though a few guests found their rooms to be on the smaller side for the price. The bathrooms are often noted for being clean, spacious, and featuring good water pressure, with some offering walk-in showers. However, some guests experienced issues with the hot water temperature, reporting it as either too hot or lukewarm, and a few mentioned slippery bathroom floors. Noise levels receive mixed feedback; while many rooms are quiet, some guests reported disturbances from hallway noise, street noise, or external air conditioning units.

Dining & Food Quality
The breakfast at the hotel is overwhelmingly lauded as a major highlight, consistently described as amazing, excellent, huge, and fantastic. Guests appreciate the wide variety of options available, including fresh and healthy choices, with many noting it as one of the best hotel breakfasts they have experienced. The breakfast buffet is well-managed, even during busy periods, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable start to the day for all guests. The hotel's restaurants and bar also receive positive feedback for their food quality, with many guests choosing to dine on-site due to the delicious offerings. While the bar food is generally considered to be of a high standard, some guests noted that the restaurant waiting staff could benefit from additional training, occasionally appearing unfriendly or slow to attend to diners. The quality of coffee served, particularly espresso, is also frequently commended.

Location & Accessibility
The hotel's central location is a significant draw, consistently praised as prime, excellent, and placing guests at the heart of the city. Many popular attractions, including Temple Bar, Trinity College, and Grafton Street, are within easy walking distance, making it ideal for exploring Dublin on foot. The hotel also boasts exceptional public transport accessibility, with the airport bus, Aircoach, LUAS light rail, and city buses stopping directly outside the entrance. This convenient access to transport greatly simplifies travel to and from the airport and around the city. While parking is available, guests frequently mention that it can be expensive, even with hotel discounts, and some found the garage difficult to navigate. A few guests noted concerns about the surrounding area at night, though the hotel itself is considered safe and secure.

Staff & Service
The hotel's staff consistently receives exceptional praise, being described as friendly, helpful, attentive, and professional across all departments. Guests highlight their genuine warmth and willingness to go above and beyond, making every interaction a positive one. The check-in and check-out processes are frequently noted as quick, efficient, and welcoming. Staff members are commended for their attentive service, from promptly delivering luggage to providing helpful advice on navigating the city. Many guests appreciate specific gestures, such as staff arranging early coffee or assisting with room upgrades when issues arise. While the vast majority of feedback is overwhelmingly positive, a few guests experienced isolated instances of less interactive or empathetic service from some restaurant staff, or minor issues with booking retrieval. Overall, the dedication of the staff to providing excellent service is a defining characteristic of the guest experience.

Additional Information
Guests should be aware that the hotel is undergoing renovation and modernization in certain areas, which some found to be a minor inconvenience due to dust or temporary closures, though many appreciate the updated decor. The hotel's large size and complex layout mean that some rooms can be challenging to locate, occasionally requiring guests to use multiple elevators or navigate long corridors. Despite its size, the hotel is frequently busy, particularly during breakfast service. The hotel is noted for accommodating special occasions, with staff often providing thoughtful touches like room upgrades or treats for birthdays and anniversaries. Some guests mentioned that the hotel is popular with tour groups and airline staff. A unique policy noted by some is the requirement to provide a name and room number to enter the hotel at night, enhancing security.