More photosThe Harding Hotel is tucked away on Fishamble Street, one of Dublin’s oldest and most historic thoroughfares. It sits right in the heart of the medieval city, offering a quieter, traditional charm while remaining just steps away from the bustling Temple Bar district and the iconic River Liffey.
The hotel’s most famous feature is its onsite bar, Darkey Kelly’s. The name carries a dark local legend; it is said that the area was once home to a woman named Darkey Kelly, who was executed in 1761 after being accused of being Ireland’s first female serial killer. Today, the pub honors this history with a much lighter touch, featuring regular live traditional Irish music.
The location is a dream for sightseeing. You are essentially neighbors with the magnificent Christ Church Cathedral, and major landmarks like Dublin Castle and the Chester Beatty Museum are just a short walk away. Whether you are hunting for history or want to be near the city’s vibrant social scene, the hotel serves as a perfect, central home base.
While the property is a modern, purpose-built facility, it feels deeply connected to the legacy of the city. Guests often remark on the convenience of being able to stroll to Trinity College or the shops of Grafton Street, making it an excellent spot for anyone wanting to soak up the true spirit of Dublin.
Expert reviews
“Comfy and friendly, the Harding Hotel is situated on Fishamble Lane, where Handel’s “Messiah” premiered in 1742. More specifically, it’s located directly across from Christchurch Cathedral, which is visible from some rooms, and is within walking distance of all of Dublin’s main sights.”
What guests liked
- Friendly staff
- Excellent location
- Comfortable beds
- Boutique style
- Excellent Wifi
- Large rooms
Location
Recent guest reviews
11 June 2026
Very nice hotel with great staff wonderful breakfast and a good value
The hotel was very centrally located and I was happy with my choice. The breakfast was amazing and so were the staff. My room was comfortable and had everything that I needed. I would definitely stay at the Harding again and would highly recommend it.
Nothing
10 June 2026
Very good stay
I booked a small single room. It was clean and comfortable and it was all I needed. It had a desk and a small wall mounted TV. The bathroom was clean and plenty of hot water. There is a restaurant and a lively bar on site. The location was excellent, The airport bus drops off and picks up a stones throw away
The wifi signal was not great and at times I had trouble connecting.
9 June 2026
Charming hotel with comfy beds in a great location.
We loved the location and the layout. It felt like an old charming hotel (a definite positive) with a fun rooftop view from our room and lively bar downstairs. It was quiet, even being on a main road and with the pub below. The breakfast was also nice!
I didn’t love that parking was down the road a bit, but that was clearly communicated and doesn’t count against the hotel in my mind.
8 June 2026
Great location with very friendly and helpful staff.
Staff were excellent and very friendly and location was perfect.
7 June 2026
Comfortable and enjoyable
I have stayed there on many occasions. That part of Dublin is familiar to me.
Not applicable
5 June 2026
Excellent location, decent accommodations and wonderful staff little bit overpriced for what you got, but still a pretty
Excellent location
Needed a little bit of Maintenance
4 June 2026
I’ve stayed here in the past, I’d stay here again.❤️
Lovely, convenient location, with a bistro restaurant and a pub onsite.
Maybe, maybe, the tableware is a tad mismatched, size wise, relative to the table space. That’s about the only shortfall we noticed.
3 June 2026
Positive impressions about our experience
I liked the size of the room, it was big and comfortable. I liked breakfasts in this hotel, especially the one with salmon. And I enjoyed interacting with the personnel of the hotel; they were so nice.
I'm trying to remind any negative things and, to be honest, I can't find anything that I can mention. I asked my daughter if she could tell me anything about this block, and she told me the same - she was happy with the experience.
31 May 2026
Fun one night at Harding !
Great location, friendly staff, excellent breakfast.
Nothing
31 May 2026
The stay was comfortable and convenient and the staff were wonderful.
The location is perfect. Breakfast was delicious! The staff were so lovely and helpful.
The toilet didn’t flush a second time. The shower pressure was very weak.
31 May 2026
Overall satisfied.would defently go back there again
The breakfast could have more variation like continental breakfast
And downstairs there was a good bar with great live music but unfortunately last order was 11:30 pm compared to rest of The Temple bars
29 May 2026
Hospitable, comfortable - highly recommend!
Excellent staff, on site restaurant and pub right in the heart of Dublin, full of history!
Toilets/plumbing
24 May 2026
Very enjoyable,comfortable, and great entertainment in bar.
Friendleness of staff at all locations!
Liked it all!
24 May 2026
Great place to stay - would recommend
Conveniently located near Temple Bar area but far enough away so noise/crowds didn’t affect sleep.
15 May 2026
Great location, adequate room, friendly and helpful staff. Recommend.
Location
Smallish room
12 May 2026
Great place, large bed was to small beds together, did not have wash clothes to use.
Great pancakes and French toast
10 May 2026
Fantastic location with the friendliest staff and the best pub and restaurant attached - a real gem.
This is now my first choice for hotel every time I travel to Dublin, for work or pleasure. Stepping into the hotel I knew it was going to be good as it looked well kept and was busy. The staff were friendly and the room, although small, was clean and was all I needed. That evening I dined in the Cooper Alley Bistro not even realizing it was connected. It was one of the best meals I've had in a long time. The atmosphere was buzzing, and each dish wash better than before. I stopped by the pub later and I couldn't believe it - live Irish music with a packed crowd. Such fun. What really blew me away was breakfast. I was shown to Cooper Alley Bistro by a connecting door that I didn't know was there. The choices were incredible and the food was, again, absolutely outstanding. The staff on my second day were, if possible, even friendlier than on my first day. It was an absolute pleasure to say here and I'll be back.
Extremely small room, but everything else made up for it.
9 May 2026
Extremely helpful and friendly staff
Location, location, location
Very noisy from partying folks in the local restaurant
9 May 2026
A fantastic stay!
Excellent 24/7 help from staff, very comfy room and beds, incredible breakfast and enough options, really friendly and lively bar downstairs, able to check in earlier than expected, able to leave luggage at the hotel before check in and after check in if your plane isn't till later. Fantastic experience! Where our room was positioned, we had an incredible view of Christchurch Cathedral from our window (right across the road from it!) and we woke up to church bells every morning. Excellent location, about a 5 minute walk away from Temple Bar and very close to everything you'll want to visit!
Nothing to comment on!
8 May 2026
Friendly staff, good WiFi, strategic location, good breakfast. I don’t mind with the noise.
Strategic location, nice breakfast, value for money
Near bar, no sound proof
7 May 2026
Good location, value for money
Great location. Good value for money. Very clean.
Decor is a bit dated, but the hotel is comfortable and clean.
4 May 2026
Will be back
Super location, comfy beds, outstanding staff
Bedroom was tiny
3 May 2026
Comfortable and quiet hotel, right near historic medievel part of Dublin.
All very good and there's a great pub next door downstairs, with excellent live music.
In the room there's a light along the floor of the entrance to the bathroom, which can be distracting when you're trying to sleep - however you can just place a towel over it.
1 May 2026
We loved the location
Location to center city
Nothing
Hotel facilities
Food & Drink
- - Restaurant
- - Bar
- - Special diet menus (on request)
- - Kids' meals (additional charge)
- - Wine/champagne (additional charge)
- - Coffee house on site
Services
- - 24-hour front desk
- - Fax/photocopying
- - Luggage storage
- - Trouser press
- - Vending machine (drinks)
- - Vending machine (snacks)
- - Daily housekeeping
General
- - Non-smoking rooms
- - Lift
- - Safety deposit box
- - Heating
- - Non-smoking throughout
- - Air conditioning
- - Designated smoking area
Activities
- - Evening entertainment
- - Live music/performance
- - Live sport events (broadcast)
Miscellaneous
- - Key card access
- - Smoke alarms
- - CCTV in common areas
- - CCTV outside property
- - Fire extinguishers
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14 June 2026
We had a lovely time and can't wait to return.