Dog-Friendly Hilton Dublin

The Hilton Dublin Hotel is a 4-star dog-friendly hotel located right in the center of Dublin City. According to the hotel director, they were actually one of the first dog-friendly hotels in the city. It all started around 10 years ago when former U.S. Vice President Biden visited Dublin. He was traveling with his secret service team, and 60 of their super trained bomb sniffer dogs. The entire secret service team plus the pups took over one whole floor of the Hilton Dublin. They were all so well behaved, that the director decided why not allow dogs to stay in the hotel, so Hilton Dublin became the first 4-star pet-friendly accommodation in Dublin.

Poppy is no super-skilled bomb sniffer-outer dog, but she is a little pup that enjoys the finer things in life, and the Hilton Dublin did not disappoint. Arriving by car at the hotel is very easy, as it is located right off of Charlemont Street and there is free underground parking with a lift that takes you directly into the hotel lobby. If you are traveling by public transport on the Luas you can get off at the Charlemont stop, no more than 20m from the front doors. Dogs are allowed on the Luas, as long as they are enclosed in a pet carrier case/box. Their travel is also at the discretion of the Luas staff.

We arrived at the hotel and were greeted by a friendly staff member. They welcomed not only us, but also Poppy with open arms, and booked us in for dinner at a table on their outdoor, dog-friendly terrace in their on-site restaurant, Charlemont Bar and Bistro. The lobby is grand, and there are comfortable sofas and chairs all around. Dogs are welcome in their lobby, and they will even serve you breakfast there if it is one of the many rainy days and weather isn't cooperating. There is also the option of dining in their outdoor courtyard, which is quiet and intimate, allowing you to forget that you are in the heart of the capital. We enjoyed sitting out on the front terrace for dinner watching the people walking along the historic Grand Canal like an artery coming from the city.

The Hilton Dublin has a very generous pet policy, accepting up to 2 dogs of 35kgs each.  Each dog is welcomed with a water bowl, a large dog bed, and a welcome letter in their room. The welcome letter has a list of dog-friendly walks to do in the area, ranging from a 6-minute walk to a 35-minute drive away. They have contact details for a local pet sitter and a vet, which is only a 1-minute walk from the hotel. They even suggest following @PawsFriendly on Instagram for all of your dog-friendly suggestions when traveling around Ireland!

The hotel is in a great location, right next to the canal and near some of Dublin's historic sights. Our room was spacious with a large king-sized bed, flat-screen TVs, desk, and large bathroom. The modern hotel also has a fitness center, free wifi, and room service.

There are plenty of places to choose from when looking for a dog-friendly restaurant in the city of Dublin. Below are just some friendly places to check out, you can always find more dog-friendly listings to take your best friend on pawsfriendly.com

Nock Nock Cafe - (2-minute walk) 100% vegan and dog-friendly café that offers homemade dishes, treats, teas, and coffees. They welcome both small dogs and large dogs in their inside and outdoor seating areas and they even have homemade vegan treats!

One Kinda Folk - (4-minute walk) A hidden little gem in the middle of the city, you will find yourself sitting behind a beautiful ivy wall. They have good coffee, fresh pastries, and a range of vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free treats. Pups of all sizes are welcome in their indoor and outdoor seating area, and doggie treats are available.

Wall & Keogh Superior Teas - (6-minute walk) Loving the brew since 2010, this cafe is on a mission to find the finest loose leaf teas in the world and share them with their clients. All pups are welcome both in their inside and outside seating areas and they have water bowls and treats on hand! 

31 Lennox - (8-minute walk) A New York style cafe/restaurant that serves coffee, breakfast, lunch, brunch, and drinks. They love having their big and small four-legged clients in their outdoor terrace areas, and offer water bowls, treats, puppuccinos, and even a small dog-friendly menu!

Nick's Coffee - (9-minute walk) Claiming to have the best coffee in Dublin, there is only one way to know for sure, pay a visit to this great place with your pup! Dogs are allowed in all areas, without any size or breed restrictions. They offer water bowls, treats, puppuccinos, hugs, and lots of love and belly rubs! If you do visit, make sure you upload a photo of your pup and tag @dogsofnick!

Brew Town Cafe - (9-minutes) - A cafe located in the heart of Dublin, they offer good coffee, specialty teas, and gourmet food. All sized dogs are welcome to sit inside and out, and they have water bowls and treats available. 

The Cake Cafe - (10-minute walk) - With a beautiful sunny courtyard and yummy cakes, this hidden gem is not to be missed. They welcome all dog breeds and sizes inside and out. They also have water bowls and puppuccinos! 

Farmer Browns Rathmines - (12-minute walk) Offering brunch, soup and sandwiches, burgers, nachos, wings, and more, this dog-friendly cafe is worth the visit. For our pups, they have water bowls, treats, puppuccinos, and even a dog bed! All sized dogs are welcome in their covered outdoor area.

MVP - (15-minute walk) “Your local dog-friendly boozer!” Offering coffees, toasties, soups, pastries, wines, cheese, and more! They absolutely love their furry clients of all sizes and are happy to have them both inside and out. They have water bowls, treats, toys on sale, and puppy-themed merchandise. They also run an offer for free puppuccinos!

Network Cafe - (16-minute walk) - They have plenty of healthy vegan and vegetarian options on their menu, and also offer brunch and sandwiches. All sized dogs are allowed to sit both inside and outside and they also have a water bowl for any thirsty pups!

Catch-22 - (19-minute walk) - Serving some of the best fish and seafood in Dublin, this restaurant also loves welcoming pups! They have water bowls for our furry friends, and all sizes and breeds are welcome on their outdoor terrace with a maximum of 2 dogs per table.

BrewDog Dublin - (36-minute walk) - We followed the canal all the way down to the Grand Canal. The walk itself is well worth doing, as there are sidewalks the entire time, and you get transported back in time as you pass the intricate levy system. Arriving at the Grand Canal, there are lots of trendy bars and restaurants. BrewDog is a dog-friendly brewery and restaurant that offers craft beer and a selection of food from pizza and burgers to salads and bowls. There are even plenty of vegan and veggie options on the menu! It is a great spot to sit with any sized dog, either on their terrace or inside, and there are plenty of water bowls around for the pups too!

Dartmouth Square - (5-minute walk) Only a short walk away from the hotel, this little square is quiet and located in the center of the residential area. It is a perfect place if you want a bit of tranquility from the city. The park is open daily from 10:00 - 20:30.

Iveagh Gardens (10-minute walk) - You will instantly be transported back in time when you set foot in this secret garden.  We took Poppy for her early morning bathroom walk here, and they were almost empty. In the afternoon when we visited again, the gardens were not busy at all. They ask that all dogs remain on lead, however both times we were there we saw a few dogs running and playing fetch with their owners.

St. Stephen Green (10-minute walk) - Located in Dublin’s city center and a short walk from the hotel is the famous St. Stephen's Green, which is 22 acres and the largest of the public parks in Dublin's main Georgian garden squares. We walked through the park on our way to Grafton Street, which is located adjacent to the park. The pathways were plenty big and there were lots of bins located throughout the park.

For more ideas on Dublin dog parks, have a look at our blog article, dedicated to off-lead dog parks in Dublin. In the article, we list the best places to go if you are looking for an off-lead park or a separate small dog area. You will for sure be able to find the perfect spot, whether that includes a dog run or an enclosed area for you to take your furry friend.

Dog-Friendly Activities Near Hilton Dublin

Overall we had a lovely time staying in Dublin and The Hilton Dublin is perfectly located, being only a few walking minutes away from Dublin's center, allowing you to explore the historical areas of the city as well as being close enough to the motorway to pop into your car and take a little day trip. The lovely staff at the hotel are happy to answer any questions or offer their assistance. Poppy enjoyed having the green space of the canal right in front of the hotel, and being able to dine al fresco with us.

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Please note, the prices and information in this article were correct at the time of publishing. Check out PawsFriendly.com to see the most up-to-date pet policies of the places in this article and thousands of more dog-friendly businesses across Ireland.