The Marker review: Is the Anantara's five-star hotel one of Dublin's finest offerings?

First impressions

It’s a glimmering, shimmering September day in Dublin’s Docklands as I arrive in the capital and, after crossing the Samuel Beckett Bridge and wandering along the Liffey dotted with yachts pleasure craft, The Marker appears before me like the perfect maritime haven.

The hotel’s facade — inspired by Ireland’s geology — dovetails into a scape of some of the city’s boldest architecture and that innovative design carries through indoors. 

A colossal, open-plan ground floor almost has the air of a museum exhibition space where chic, colour-popped lounge bars flow into a slick, clean-lined white lobby, all canopied by an extravagant honeycomb-blocked ceiling, a nod to The Burren, I’m told.

There’s an instant air of a world hotel here and you can see why Anantara, a luxury global group originating in Thailand, selected The Marker as one of its few European offerings. 

A few foreign influencer types are panning their phones around me as I check in and if they were seeking some aesthetic content, it looks like they’ve cherry-picked the perfect place. 

Following a friendly check-in, I’m chaperoned to the lifts and arrive at my second-floor room via a moodily lit corridor inspired by Newgrange.

Suite talk

I was staying in one of the hotel’s city-view deluxe rooms overlooking the Grand Canal. Anantara The Marker aspires to “set a new standard in city living” with its rooms and at first sight, the room certainly seems like a dreamy urban pad. 

A darker palette of greys, panelled wood, and a royal blue carpet is softened with lighter tones provided by the white leather-backed king bed and the contemporary gilded light fixtures which flank its sides. 

A real peace lily gives a fresh pop of green, too. Elsewhere, there’s a twin armchair seating area to soak in the floor-to-ceiling views, a workstation, plus a striking smoked mirror wall which hosts a coffee station. 

A luxurious grey marble ensuite features a rain shower, tub, fluffy robes and is stocked with Voya skincare products. 

One gripe: The trio of faux-effect mounted photographs of Ireland hanging above the bed feel quite generic, and dare I say cheap, for a room of this price point, but all in all, it’s a fine, luxurious base which, thanks to those fine views, really connects you with the city.

Food and drink

Centre stage to Anantara The Marker’s food story is its recently launched and aspiring destination restaurant Forbes Street by Gareth Mullins.

I’m a regular listener to Gareth’s weekly cooking slot on Pat Kenny’s Newstalk show so I was excited to finally put some flavours to the name. And flavours they were. 

I started with Flaggy Shore oysters (€9) from the Burren served on a bed of crushed ice with a moreish shot of Bloody Mary — sublime — followed by a perfectly seared, marbled rib-eye (€40) with my chosen accompaniments of a zingy Chimichurri sauce, house cut chips (€6) and a rocket with parmesan salad (€6). 

For dessert, North County Dublin rhubarb (€12) was imaginatively served with smoked vanilla, herbs and yes, crispy potatoes. It was a really delicious, unpretentious meal where farm-fresh ingredients were served simply but perfectly. 

I could see international diners around me going wild for the menu and provenance too.

Breakfast the next morning was served in the same restaurant space where an indulgent buffet complemented an extensive cooked-to-order menu featuring everything from sirloin minute steaks to boxty with organic salmon and trout caviar. 

I ordered an heirloom tomato salad but was a little disappointed when it featured just a single tomato variety. It’s also worth noting that breakfast rates here will set you back €31 per person.

At your service

The Marker aims to offer guests an urban resort experience and a trove of amenities are on hand to realise their mission. 

For leisure and wellness, there’s an ambient 23m infinity pool along with jacuzzi, sauna, and eucalyptus-infused steam room. 

There’s also a high-spec gym while the hotel spa, which highlights its focus on using indigenous Irish products, offers treatments from €85 for a 30-minute facial or massage. 

The hotel has also curated a number of experiences and packages for guests including locally guided Docklands walks, wellness in the wilds swimming getaways, and rooftop yoga sessions.

Speaking of the rooftop, The Marker bills its rooftop bar as Dublin’s finest with its 360-degree views of the city from the mountains to the sea. 

I headed there after dinner at Forbes Street and enjoyed a sundowner before a live DJ set. For a glorious Saturday evening, however, the crowd is thin and as a result, the atmosphere feels a little disjointed. 

Perhaps some relaxed lounge beats would have suited the vibe better... an atmosphere bar is set perhaps too high when you’ve a soundtrack of dance tunes with a sparse audience.

Check out?

Anantara The Marker is a contemporary, luxury Dublin base which will appeal to everyone from visiting tech executives to theatre staycationers seeking the perfect base for a Bord Gáis visit. 

I found some components, like the rooftop bar, room character, and evening ambience a few beats off, but with some more fine-tuning the property could rightly bill itself as one of Dublin’s finest oases.

Details

• Advance purchase room-only rates start from €255 with bed and breakfast rates from €315 for two. 
• A €490 Urban Retreat & Dining package also includes dinner for two at Forbes Street by Gareth Mullins plus a cocktail at the rooftop bar. 
• That’s bookable only by calling 01 6875130 or emailing rsv.themarker@anantara-hotels.com.
• Tom was a guest of the hotel.
• anantara.com/en/the-marker-dublin