Gardiner House Hostel
Sleep in a converted chapel, wake up to free breakfast in a Georgian townhouse
Wonderful
5,909 reviews
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Compare prices for Gardiner House Hostel in Dublin
67%
Solo travelers
86%
Would stay again
79%
Made friends here
3 nights
Avg. stay
Our Honest Take
From the Hostelpedia team. No BS, just real advice
Gardiner House is the character pick. The Chapel room is a genuine once-in-a-lifetime hostel experience: sleeping in converted church pews with stained glass light filtering in. Ask for the Gallery Pews specifically. Beyond the gimmick, the free breakfast and kitchen access make this the best value hostel in Dublin at €18/night. The staff energy is real: they run events, they remember your name, they care. The trade-off is the location. Gardiner Street is a 30-minute walk from Temple Bar, and the neighborhood gets sketchy after dark. Take the bus or walk in groups at night. The hostel itself is safe. If you're on a tight budget and want character over location, Gardiner House is the answer.
🎯 Insider Tips
- 1Book the Chapel Gallery Pews room. It's the most unique hostel sleeping experience in Dublin.
- 2Gardiner Street can feel rough at night. Take the bus back after a late pub session rather than walking alone.
- 3Dublin Bus 747 from the airport stops nearby on Dorset Street. Skip the taxi and save €25.
- 4The BBQ area is great on sunny evenings. Buy burgers from the Tesco on Parnell Street (10 min walk).
🔥 Why We Love It
The Chapel room is unforgettable. Sleeping in converted church pews with stained glass is a story you'll tell for years.
Free breakfast included. At €18/night, the value is unmatched in Dublin.
BBQ area and outdoor space give the hostel a garden-party feel on sunny days.
Staff are described as 'amazing' across 6,000 reviews. That's consistent, not hype.
Adults-only keeps the atmosphere focused on backpackers and solo travelers.
📖 The Full Story
Gardiner House is a Dublin institution. Set in a Georgian townhouse on Gardiner Street Upper, it's one of the few hostels that includes breakfast and offers a truly unique sleeping experience: the Chapel room. The original chapel has been converted into a dormitory with gallery pews serving as sleeping nooks. It's photogenic, memorable, and genuinely unlike any other hostel room in Europe.
The BBQ area and outdoor picnic space give Gardiner House a sociable, laid-back feel. Evening entertainment and bar crawls run regularly, and the staff are consistently described as amazing across thousands of reviews.
The included breakfast is solid: cereals, toast, spreads, tea, coffee. Not gourmet, but it's free and fills you up before a day of exploring. The shared kitchen adds another budget-friendly option.
The location is the compromise. Gardiner Street Upper is a 30-minute walk from Temple Bar, or a quick bus ride. The area isn't scenic and can feel rough late at night, but the hostel itself is secure and the airport bus stops nearby. At €18 a night with breakfast included, the value proposition is hard to beat.
✨ The Vibes
💬 What Travelers Say
Ioana
🇷🇴 Romania · April 2026
“The staff were amazing, friendly, helpful, kind, always cheerful. Comfy beds and great atmosphere. I chose the Chapel experience, the Gallery Pews room was impressive.”
Chiara
🇬🇧 United Kingdom · April 2026
“Stayed in the Chapel Pews room. Most impressive were the bathrooms, very spacious and clean. Separate area with sinks and hairdryers.”
Birgit
🇦🇹 Austria · April 2026
“Check-in was smooth. Good breakfast with cereals, toast, and spreads. Good spot for the airport bus, 30 minute walk from city center.”
Birgit
🇦🇹 Austria · April 2026
“Check-in was quick. Good spot to get to the airport with public bus. I slept in a 28-bed room with 3 bathrooms and it worked fine.”
📍 What's Nearby
Mountjoy Square
3 min walk
Croke Park Stadium
15 min walk
O'Connell Street
15 min walk
Temple Bar
30 min walk
Airport Bus Stop
5 min walk
Parnell Street Food Scene
10 min walk
📋 House Rules
- •Check-in from 15:00, check-out by 10:30
- •Adults only (18+)
- •Quiet hours 23:00-07:00
- •Valid ID required at check-in
- •No smoking inside
- •BBQ area available in good weather
From
€18/night
Compare prices across booking sites
Room Types
28-Bed Chapel Pews Room
€18
Unique dorm in a converted chapel with gallery pew sleeping nooks.
1 person (28 per room)
12-Bed Mixed Dorm
€20
Standard dorm in the Georgian building.
1 person (12 per room)
6-Bed Mixed Dorm
€25
Smaller dorm with more personal space.
1 person (6 per room)
Private Twin Room
€75
Private room with shared bathroom facilities.
2 persons
🏠 Amenities
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Don't sleep on this one
Gardiner House Hostel is one of the most popular hostels in Dublin. Beds fill up fast, especially during peak season. Lock in your dates now.
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