The Mercantile Hotel — Hotel in Dublin

Room 301 in the Mercantile Hotel may just be the worst hotel experience of your life. My wife and I travel domestically quite a bit, with a few abroad trips each year, and for us, this was the worst hotel I've ever had the displeasure of staying in. I don't review places often because most places will have their own quirks and flaws and that just comes with the experience; however, in this case, the hotel and hotel management should feel ashamed for actually using room 301 (or any other room with similar qualities) for guests. Their response to many other reviewers bringing up the same issues as I am about to (as recently as a night ago to over a year ago) and seeing that nothing has changed over this time period made me even more adamant to alert potential travellers of this lousy hotel.

This isn't your typical tourist complaint of "check in was delayed 15 minutes" or "the bartender didn't let my Guinness sit long enough" or "the hotel restaurant didn't have a good salad."

This review is about sleep... And, I get it, it's a lot to ask to be able to actually lay down in bed and go to sleep at a hotel, right? [sarcasm face] But for this hotel, it is. The two largest issues are the windows and the beds.

Let's start with the single window in the hotel room which has zero sound proofing. And I do mean zero. In reality of this hotel, though, it couldn't matter any less; window open or window shut, the noise level is all the same. They've got a small vent (I assume for air flow, but it doesn't work so I'm not actually sure) that can't be closed and so all the noise just comes in unimpeded, anyway. So, why does this all matter? First, look all around this place on Google maps and you'll see you are sitting around about 12 bars in a one block radius (including one literally in the same building), many of which have live music until about midnight. Account for all the drunks shouting and yelling and, well, doing what they do best, and you've got another hour or more of noise outside. You'll want to try to take advantage of 2 AM to 3 AM time frame, as it may be the only chance you have to sleep! At about 3 AM, the street cleaners start coming out and have no desire to do their job without screaming at the top of their lungs (for what purpose? I have no idea). Finally, you'll hear what sounds like a jackhammer begin at about 430 AM and last about an hour. I'm still not sure what it was or why, but I can assure you that the noise will be there. Normal traffic, including a bunch of loud trucks, will ensure you won't get any lasting silence for the remainder of your stay in bed.

And somehow, the noise likely won't be the thing most prohibitive to your sleep. No, that'll be the sometimes lumpy, sometimes saggy but overall tilted beds. Both hard AND soft... Just in all the wrong places. The addition of a few springs poking out will make you afraid of rolling over in fear of either poking an eye out or starting a train of momentum that ends with you on the floor.

There are a lot of other things wrong with the hotel that I typically wouldn't complain about in my stays at other hotels, but it is worth mentioning as a cherry on top of an overall terrible stay. The rooms are extremely outdated (for example, there are only two wall outlets in the ENTIRE room), the carpet has that funky smell (I think you know what I'm talking about... And it makes you feel sick in the deepest part of your stomach every time you walk bare foot on it), opening a window does not make it any cooler in the room (lack of air flow) and I could go on.

For brevity, save yourself from a terrible night of sleep and choose another...

During our recent trip to Dublin with two friends, we had the pleasure of staying at The Mercantile, and the experience exceeded our expectations from the very beginning. Originally, we had planned to stay elsewhere, but due to unforeseen issues with our initial accommodation, we found ourselves in need of a hotel at short notice. Luckily, we came across The Mercantile, and it turned out to be the best decision we could have made.

From the moment we arrived, we were warmly welcomed by Bruno at the reception. We explained our situation, and he immediately went out of his way to assist us. Within minutes, he arranged a comfortable room for the three of us. His kindness, professionalism, and willingness to help set the tone for the rest of our stay.

The hotel itself is modern, having opened only recently, and everything is of good quality. Our room was clean, comfortable, and met the standards the hotel presents itself with. The location is simply unbeatable, right in Temple Bar District, making it easy to explore Dublin’s vibrant atmosphere while still enjoying a relaxing and quiet stay inside the hotel.

We were also impressed by the additional facilities. The morning buffet offered a good variety of fresh, pre-selected dishes, perfect for starting the day. The café and bar created a welcoming atmosphere to relax, enjoy some tea of play card games, and the overall vibe of the hotel was stylish yet comfortable.

What stood out most, however, was the staff. Every member of the team we encountered was friendly, professional, and genuinely eager to ensure we had a great stay. Their attentiveness and hospitality made all the difference and truly elevated the experience.

Overall, The Mercantile is a gem in Dublin, excellent location, comfortable rooms, great atmosphere, and great service. We are grateful for everyone’s help and would happily recommend this hotel to anyone...

Let me just say... Breakfast was AMAZING at their connected little cafe and the breakfast staff was absolutely wonderful. ...everything else was crappy to put it nicely. I understand we were in Temple Bar district so there will be noise and lots of people with very little parking so those aren't considered in any part of this review. However, the reception staff was flat out rude. We checked in, asked where the best/nearest parking area was and were directed to one that was a bit of a walk when there was one (come to find out) so much closer and CHEAPER than the one we were directed too. When I asked for directions it was quite clear I was being obnoxious to ask her to circle it on the map. My mom then asked if there was a simple fan available and we apparently were being obnoxious once again as we were rudely replied to. Of course.. the rooms were LOUD, VERY VERY LOUD.. until 6am loud. Certainly don't plan on sleeping a bit unless you don't return until then especially because the only way their beds would be considered comfortable would be if you were horribly wasted and without feeling. the rooms were absolutely tiny, barely room to walk much less place a bag and the bathroom was filled with broken tiles and shower. I understand the building is old, but it certainly wasn't what I would expect for their price point. The bar was packed mainly because the entire upstairs was reserved for one person or another both nights we stayed there. We much rather preferred going to Oneills down the road or even to Sweeney Mongrel's just next door. I wouldn't recommend staying here at all.. I could certainly forget all the other things but the pure rudeness from their reception staff was without question, horrible. I felt like a complete inconvenience for even being there as a paying customer. Such a...