About Us

Why Choose Ariel House?

Ariel House Guesthouse is an oasis of calm in the heart of Dublin 4, just a stone's throw from the Aviva stadium. In 2011, Bridgestone recommend Ariel House as one of the top 100 places to stay in Ireland. Also recommended in the Michelin Guide and Georgina Campbell's Ireland Guide 2011, the stately elegance and charming hospitality of Ariel House has firmly placed it as one of Dublin’s favourite places to stay. It is also commended by the Fodors and Frommers Guide.

Ariel House was rated as one of the top 500 hotels in the world for customer service by Expedia customers, an honour only one other (five star) Dublin location has been awarded. The original Victorian features of the house have been lovingly restored, and alongside the best of modern amenities, including free wi-fi and immaculate, modern bathrooms, award winning food and world class hospitality.

The History of Ariel House

If you look closely, you’ll realise that Ariel House is in fact not one house, but three! Though the two houses are separate to each other, they are seamlessly joined to provide a broad array of room types for any kind of stay. From a junior suite with a wealth of original Victorian features, spacious family rooms, twins, doubles or the more recently added standard rooms with large, bright windows looking out on to the leafy and peaceful garden, there is most certainly a room to suit you and your budget.

The house was built in 1850, during the reign in England of Queen Victoria (1837 – 1901) during a time where Ireland was a constituent part of the United Kingdom. The main house was originally built for a wealthy merchant shipper and his family. From 1963 it ran as a small hotel, and the McKeown family took it over in 2002 and invested significantly in its restoration and renewal. Over the past decade they have sourced antique period furniture for many rooms, renovated original cornices, fireplaces and windows, and carefully selected fabrics, wallpapers and furniture that respects and enhances the original architecture.

Features of the Victorian period include the bay windows, iron railings, Flemish brick bonding, stained glass windows, slate roofs and sash windows, all of which can be found in Ariel House. Ornate windows are a definite feature of the Victorian style. Also popular in the Victorian era was the use of contrasting brick colour to create patterns in the stone work, and this can be seen at its prettiest around the traditional Victorian entrance to Ariel House.

Ariel House Management Team

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  Deirdre McDonald

  Deirdre McDonald has been an integral part of the Ariel House family since 2002. As General Manager she is responsible for the smooth management of all aspects of the guest house.

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  Jennie McKeown

  Jennie McKeown has the privilege of owning and running this family business. Along with her experience working for the five star Four Seasons Hotel Group, she has a Degree in International Hospitality Management, and is a qualified Event Management Professional.

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  Reception Team

  Eoin, Jana and Egle make up the reception team here in Ariel House and one or both are always on hand to provide assistance to any guest. No request is too small, and both are dedicated Hospitality professionals working in the Hotel industry in Dublin and London.