Pros

  • Central location in lively Temple Bar district
  • Fun and sociable atmosphere
  • Dorms and private rooms have ensuite bathrooms; women-only dorms available
  • Bunks have individual shelves, lights, and USB sockets
  • Free sheets provided in all rooms; free towels in private rooms
  • Pleasant ground-floor lounge with well-equipped kitchen
  • Continental breakfast included in rates
  • Free luggage storage room; and lockers and lobby computer available for a fee
  • Free daily walking tour; nightly pub crawl (for a fee)
  • Secure, discounted parking nearby and shuttle bus to airport
  • Free Wi-Fi throughout
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Cons

  • Wi-Fi signal shaky in rooms
  • No lockers in rooms
  • Complaints about maintenance and housekeeping
  • Thin walls means room noise travels
  • Dorm rooms do not come with free towels
  • Dorm guests must make up and strip their own beds
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Bottom Line

Located in the lively Temple Bar area of central Dublin, the two-pearl Abigails Hostel offers a mix of dorm and private rooms, including women-only dorms, all with ensuite bathrooms. Bunks have built-in shelves, lights, and power sockets, and sheets are provided free. While it's not an all-out party hostel, there’s still a lively vibe, and the ground-floor lounge has a full kitchen with a dining space. Freebies include a continental breakfast, walking tours, luggage storage, and Wi-Fi, but the signal can be weak in rooms. Not all rooms are well-insulated against noise, and guests have complained about maintenance and housekeeping. Travelers might want to also check out the stylish Generator Hostel Dublin, which packs such amenities as a bar and cinema, for similar rates.

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Amenities

  • Cribs
  • Internet

Oyster Hotel Review

Abigails Hostel

Scene

Large common lounge with social vibe

While not exactly a party hostel, Abigails Hostel is popular among groups of backpackers who can often be found socializing in the pleasant ground-floor lounge whose floor-to-ceiling shop-front-style windows look out on the street. The design is bright and functional -- with silk-screen-style wall art and lots of lipstick-red accents. White plastic tables and chairs, and leather tub seats and sofas provide plenty of seating. The modern kitchen is stylishly decked out in red, and hallways are painted white and yellow, with a few giant murals livening up the walls. 

See More Scene

Location

Waterfront location in Temple Bar district; walking distance to several major attractions

Located on Aston Quay across from the Liffey River in the Temple Bar area, this hostel is within a six- to eight-minute walk of the shops on O'Connell and Grafton Streets. There are bus stops right outside the hostel, and it’s a two-minute walk to historic Ha’penny Bridge. Trinity College is a five-minute walk, and Dublin Castle is a seven-minute walk away. The National Library of Ireland is a 12-minute walk, or a nine-minute bus ride from Abigails, while the Dublin Writers Museum is a 15-minute walk or a nine-minute trip by bus. The National Museum of Ireland, Kilmainham Gaol prison museum, and the Guinness Storehouse are all less than a 10-minute drive from the hostel, or between 11 and 19 minutes away by bus. Connolly Railway Station is about a 15-minute walk, or a seven-minute cab ride; it’s a six-minute drive or 10-minute bus ride to Heuston train station. The intercity bus station is an 11-minute walk or seven-minute taxi ride away, while it’s a 12-minute drive or 24-minute bus ride to Dublin Port. Dublin Airport is a 16-minute drive or 31-minute bus ride from the hostel.

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Rooms

Dorm and private dorms with ensuite bathrooms; linens provided free, towels come with a fee

Abigails Hostel's single, twin, double and triple private rooms come with closets and full-length mirrors, while generally spacious coed and women-only dorms have between three and 12 beds. Some rooms have double beds with blue-metal-frame bunk beds. Decor is a little old-fashioned, with patterned dark-red linens, red curtains, and large windows, with gray carpeting or linoleum flooring; patterned accent walls are a nice touch. All have individual heating, and most bunks have individual shelves with reading lights, and USB sockets.

All rooms have large ensuite bathrooms in one of two setups -- some larger dorms have multiple shower rooms, while other rooms have separate toilet and shower areas, with shower cubicles with fixed showerheads. 

Some rooms have pleasant river views, but others look onto little more than the hostel’s trash cans. Hairdryers and hair straighteners are available from reception. The hotel can also provide ironing equipment and earplugs. Guests staying in dorm rooms are required to make up and strip their beds, and dorm rooms don't come with free towels, but they can be rented. Rooms don't have lockers, but they can be rented for a fee in the common rooms. There have been complaints about maintenance and housekeeping, and noise that travels between rooms. Be aware that Wi-Fi can be patchy in rooms, and that guests younger than 16 must stay in private rooms or single-occupancy dorms. 

See More Rooms

Features

Free continental breakfast, self-catering kitchen, plus pub crawls and airport shuttle service for a fee

Abigails' amenities start with a continental breakfast that’s included in the rates. The common area has a large, flat-screen TV and a party photo booth, and while it's large, it's the only place for guests to congregate, and it can get crowded. The self-catering kitchen is clean and equipped with an oven and stovetop, microwaves, toasters, a refrigerator, and coffee- and tea-making facilities, but it doesn't stay open late.

There’s a luggage storage room, with lockers available for an hourly or daily fee. The front desk operates 24/7, and the staff can book tours and provide free maps. Ironing equipment, earplugs, power adapters, and board games are also available on request, and there's a book exchange. Computers with Internet access are available in the common room for a fee. The hostel offers free daily walking tours, and nightly pub crawls for a fee, and runs an early morning airport shuttle bus for a fee. Discounted parking is available at a secure car park nearby. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hostel, but the signal can be shaky in rooms. 

See More Features

Oyster Hotel Review

Abigails Hostel

Scene

Large common lounge with social vibe

While not exactly a party hostel, Abigails Hostel is popular among groups of backpackers who can often be found socializing in the pleasant ground-floor lounge whose floor-to-ceiling shop-front-style windows look out on the street. The design is bright and functional -- with silk-screen-style wall art and lots of lipstick-red accents. White plastic tables and chairs, and leather tub seats and sofas provide plenty of seating. The modern kitchen is stylishly decked out in red, and hallways are painted white and yellow, with a few giant murals livening up the walls. 

See More Scene

Location

Waterfront location in Temple Bar district; walking distance to several major attractions

Located on Aston Quay across from the Liffey River in the Temple Bar area, this hostel is within a six- to eight-minute walk of the shops on O'Connell and Grafton Streets. There are bus stops right outside the hostel, and it’s a two-minute walk to historic Ha’penny Bridge. Trinity College is a five-minute walk, and Dublin Castle is a seven-minute walk away. The National Library of Ireland is a 12-minute walk, or a nine-minute bus ride from Abigails, while the Dublin Writers Museum is a 15-minute walk or a nine-minute trip by bus. The National Museum of Ireland, Kilmainham Gaol prison museum, and the Guinness Storehouse are all less than a 10-minute drive from the hostel, or between 11 and 19 minutes away by bus. Connolly Railway Station is about a 15-minute walk, or a seven-minute cab ride; it’s a six-minute drive or 10-minute bus ride to Heuston train station. The intercity bus station is an 11-minute walk or seven-minute taxi ride away, while it’s a 12-minute drive or 24-minute bus ride to Dublin Port. Dublin Airport is a 16-minute drive or 31-minute bus ride from the hostel.

See More Location

Rooms

Dorm and private dorms with ensuite bathrooms; linens provided free, towels come with a fee

Abigails Hostel's single, twin, double and triple private rooms come with closets and full-length mirrors, while generally spacious coed and women-only dorms have between three and 12 beds. Some rooms have double beds with blue-metal-frame bunk beds. Decor is a little old-fashioned, with patterned dark-red linens, red curtains, and large windows, with gray carpeting or linoleum flooring; patterned accent walls are a nice touch. All have individual heating, and most bunks have individual shelves with reading lights, and USB sockets.

All rooms have large ensuite bathrooms in one of two setups -- some larger dorms have multiple shower rooms, while other rooms have separate toilet and shower areas, with shower cubicles with fixed showerheads. 

Some rooms have pleasant river views, but others look onto little more than the hostel’s trash cans. Hairdryers and hair straighteners are available from reception. The hotel can also provide ironing equipment and earplugs. Guests staying in dorm rooms are required to make up and strip their beds, and dorm rooms don't come with free towels, but they can be rented. Rooms don't have lockers, but they can be rented for a fee in the common rooms. There have been complaints about maintenance and housekeeping, and noise that travels between rooms. Be aware that Wi-Fi can be patchy in rooms, and that guests younger than 16 must stay in private rooms or single-occupancy dorms. 

See More Rooms

Features

Free continental breakfast, self-catering kitchen, plus pub crawls and airport shuttle service for a fee

Abigails' amenities start with a continental breakfast that’s included in the rates. The common area has a large, flat-screen TV and a party photo booth, and while it's large, it's the only place for guests to congregate, and it can get crowded. The self-catering kitchen is clean and equipped with an oven and stovetop, microwaves, toasters, a refrigerator, and coffee- and tea-making facilities, but it doesn't stay open late.

There’s a luggage storage room, with lockers available for an hourly or daily fee. The front desk operates 24/7, and the staff can book tours and provide free maps. Ironing equipment, earplugs, power adapters, and board games are also available on request, and there's a book exchange. Computers with Internet access are available in the common room for a fee. The hostel offers free daily walking tours, and nightly pub crawls for a fee, and runs an early morning airport shuttle bus for a fee. Discounted parking is available at a secure car park nearby. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hostel, but the signal can be shaky in rooms. 

See More Features

Best Rates

Amenities

  • Airport Transportation

  • Basic Television

  • Cable

  • Cribs

  • Free Breakfast

  • Full Kitchen

  • Internet

  • Kids Allowed

  • Swim-Up Bar

Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.