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    Generator Dublin

    3.7 (87 reviews)
    Open Open 24 hours

    Generator Dublin Photos

    GENERATOR DUBLIN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Happy hour specials
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

    Recommended Reviews - Generator Dublin

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    Chicken wrap and pulled pork sandwich. Excellent value lunch at €5.95 each (side salads included)
    Karen C.

    Yes, I'm reviewing a hostel in the neighbourhood I live in. Why? Because it's so much more than just dorm rooms and bunk beds for budget travellers! The Generator Hostel is a bar for late night drinks, a café for great value coffees and food and, most importantly, a space for many community events. They support and host many local events in Smithfield, including weekend markets where local vendors set up tables of wares. While I can't speak to the quality of accommodation here, I have stopped for a bite and a pint at their café/bar, and it's a great little spot. The roof above the café is made entirely of glass, so there's plenty of natural light. For lunch, they have about 5-6 meal options, all for around €6. I tried the chicken wrap and my partner had the pulled pork sandwich. Both dishes were very nice, come with side salads and were an excellent value. The crowd there wasn't just hostel guests either. There were people who work in the area on their lunch break, a few tourists, a few people meeting for coffee... a fairly eclectic mix. At the bar, they have O'Haras and 8 Degrees on tap for €5.50/pint - which I'll happily pay for a decent microbrew. Even if you're not staying at the hostel, it's worth popping your head in to see if there's anything going on!

    Incrediblez
    Rowena H.

    Erm, what? The best burger I've ever eaten came from a Generator Hostel? I have some questions. 1) Why did the Berlin Generator not have this amazing option. And cool vibe. And salsa lessons. Etc. 2) How the f do you make a burger that amazing. It's genuinely confusing me, because this was honestly a perfect marriage of great beef, just the right amount of burger sauce, a few pickles, cheese, and gorgeous brioche buns. I almost finished a double. 3) Please can you open up shop next to my flat in Leeds so I can do nothing but eat burgers. 4) No, really, right next to my flat k. 5) Would it be weird to stay there just for more burger. I think you get the idea. Might have been a bit superlative here, but I really did love that meal.

    My first experience where the chips were fresh not frozen and the burger was incredible.
    Brendan W.

    ***This is a review of the food. Not the hostel's accommodation.*** If I had reviewed this place a month ago it would probably have been a 5. I have been here a couple of times since and have been underwhelmed to say the least. Inconsistency is my biggest pet hate. My first couple of burgers from Generator were fuc*ing amazing. The last couple of burgers and chips were mediocre in comparison. What let me down the last couple of visits were the bun on the burger [not sure if it was freshness or a different bun but it was not as good], the meat itself was not as incredible [still pretty good mind you but not to the standard I was used to which would have made me choose Generator over Bunsen for my burger fix]. My biggest annoyance? The chips/fries. The last visit this past weekend the poxy chips were frozen, not fresh. Nope. Nope. Nope. I can appreciate that you can run out of one thing or the other during busy periods but hey you know what you do? Tell people that you have run out of fresh chips. Another point to make was the state of their pizzas. The boyfriend was with me and ordered a pizza and this thing was far too thin and tasted like overcooked melba toast with cheese on top. Management, please take note. I like this place. I like the vibe and the staff are great [except for the very very grumpy person who was making my burger at the weekend, he needed a hug or a ride or something.] So I would like to return and I would like this experience to resemble my first couple of visits.

    Bar/Lobby Area
    Ben L.

    Located in the up and coming Smithfield neighborhood Dublin, I selected the Generator Hostel because of its great reviews and reasonable pricing. This was my first time staying in a hostel and I expected and overall no-frills experience. However, I was still left disappointed even with low expectations. The Generator has a very club-like feel with spacious bars, neon lighting, and trendy fixtures. The lobby and ground floor is the best feature of the Generator with a breakfast cafe, bar, internet computers, pool tables, and vending areas. As told by the staff, the Generator property is less than one year old. However the property feels much older and unkempt. There are floorboards loose throughout the property and the fixtures are worn. The guests room are where the property really shows wear. The location is was also a sticking point for me. On the positive side, it is close to the Luas tram stop, the Jameson Distillery, and some restaurants in Smithfield Square. However as far as most City Centre attractions, shops, and restaurants, it is about a 1.5 km walk to nearly everything. We stayed in a private room with an en suite bath. It was a room with two bunk beds to sleep four guests but we had it for just the two of us. The bunk beds were surprisingly comfortable with cozy linens and individual lighting for each cove. Other than the cozy beds, there were few positive notes about the guest rooms. The bathroom was by far the worst feature of the Generator. There was ZERO counter space to place any items down. The towels had to be retrieved from the front desk, even in the private rooms. No wash cloths were provided. there was also only two hooks to hang towels in the very bare bathroom. The shower was tiny and the tile was filthy. There was visible mold up the walls of the shower tiles. The floor of the shower was stainless steel which felt cold and dirty. The shower faucet was fussy and water pressure was weak. The water temperature was unpredictable and generally cold. I understand that this is a hostel but there was no place to set down items, not even a cabinet and certainly no closet to hang your clothes up. The staff at the Generator was somewhat friendly although guests are basically treated as numbers, not guests. You have to request just about every amenity from the front desk which let long waits at the counter. The staff essentially did the minimum job possible and was barely helpful most of the time. The did have laundry units available for guest use although it was very steep at 7 Euros per use. The daily breakfast was much more reasonable at 4 Euros. Overall, I wouldn't recommend staying at the Generator Hostel. Unless you favor a very-budget, no frills experience, the Generator Hostel is mostly a hassle. Our stay was not very comfortable and the location is inconvenient to most City Centre attractions.

    joan r.

    Clean and secure with good service during the day... the security is outstanding. Bring cash if you come in late. I came in at 2am and was told he only takes cash at night. Be prepared to pay €2 to rent a towel €6.50 to buy a lock for a footlocker and €3/6hrs for an electronic locker approximaty the same size. If you have regular size luggage be prepared to rent a private room. I chose this place for security. In that way they are outstanding in both service and location.

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    Page 1 of 3

    Generator Dublin Reviews in Other Languages

    Review Highlights - Generator Dublin

    I've not spent any night in this generator hostel but I've been in the Berlin and London one and they are really cool.

    Mentioned in 14 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Isaacs Hostel - Basement Study area

    Isaacs Hostel

    3.5(38 reviews)
    1.6 kmGardiner Street

    This was my first time staying in a hostel. Since it was so cheap and close to all of the things we…read morewanted to do, my friend and I decided to give it a chance. Isaacs Hostel is basically a money trap, they charge you for everything from towels to locker space to keep your things...but all in all it was a great experience. Despite the Finnish man who farted in his sleep all night in our 16 bed space to the having to lug your things up three flights of stairs due to the lack of elevator, I had a great time. I definitely wouldn't do it again since I'm used to hotels but the staff was extremely friendly and helpful, and the people that come to stay here are a riot, full of fun and laughs. It really felt like an adult sleepover that never ended. The beds were really comfy, mirror space was limited, and the wifi definitely cut off a lot and didn't reach the basement or the upper levels but for my first time in a hostel, I felt safe and secure. Btw, the bar crawl really isn't that great. They will advertise all of the amazing benefits of buying it for 12 euros, but when you go out, you still have to pay for all of your drinks and MAYBE you'll get a freebie or two.

    A friend of mine recently stayed here when she was in town and I went to pick her up there. I…read morefound the hostel really nice and they had a cool downstairs eating area that tends to a really nice communal feel. It's super convenient to Busaras and Connolly Station and thus it's perfect if you're looking to go somewhere early the next morning. The only thing I didn't like is that it's down a dark alleyway. I'm sure it's perfectly safe and I've never ever once heard a bad thing about it. It just gave me an uneasy feeling walking down it in the darkness. It's also a bit of a walk away from city centre after a night out. A walk that is a bit sketchy at parts. So really I'd just recommend to get a taxi back!

    Photos
    Isaacs Hostel - 8 bed dorm

    8 bed dorm

    Isaacs Hostel - Twin room- private

    Twin room- private

    Isaacs Hostel - 6 bed Dorm

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    6 bed Dorm

    The Times Hostel - Camden Place - www.camdenplacehostel.com

    The Times Hostel - Camden Place

    3.6(12 reviews)
    1.7 kmHarcourt

    To much noise from outside! Looks like the building need…read moreSome fixes... breakfast ist that big a deal... Never again

    Cecil S. covered the highlights of staying at the Times Hostel, and so I'll just add a few things…read morein addition. I stayed there in August while apartment-hunting for the fall. My trip didn't go as planned; I ended up in Dublin a day later than expected (I sent them an email to let them know, and they were very gracious. I had to pay for that missed night, but I knew that ahead and confirmed in my message that I just wanted to confirm my second night.) When I checked in, I received a warm welcome and some basic help to get me started on a fast race to try to find a place to live. The room I booked had room for 4 people (mixed), and three of us made it there for the night. The bathroom was en-suite, and all was clean and cheerful. Well-laundered, comfortable linens are provided, and you can rent a towel if you don't bring your own. Downstairs, the (slow but cheap to rent) computers are still there, you can pay for the use of laundry, and you can arrange to use a guitar or leave your luggage for the day. All of this is done through the front desk. The kitchen areas are very open, and when I was there, people used them extensively. People can label and keep food in 2 dedicated refrigerators, and if they have something leftover, there is a spot in one 'frige for food to be shared/taken. Need milk for the free coffee/tea/hot chocolate (Cadbury's) available all day? Help yourself-there's a dedicated spot for that, too. There's a nice mix of people who stay at this hostel, which has an arrangement with a local language school. Therefore, some people were staying long-term and knew a little more about the city, and some people were just passing through. Dinner times and evenings in the lounge/dining areas were casual and very friendly. Due to my delay in getting to Ireland, I'd picked up a couple of novels (I know, how old-fashioned!) that I'd read, and so I took advantage of the book swap case to leave a few and take a new one. It's touches like the bookcase, the open but tidy atmosphere, and the great staff that make a difference here, I believe. I wouldn't hesitate to stay here again, and in fact, if my niece visits, I'll try to convince her to stay here for a night or two just for a good experience. Getting there from the airport: I took the #16 bus, which stops a block or less from the hostel and at under 3 euro, saves about 20 euro over taking a taxi.

    Glenmore House

    Glenmore House

    3.7(7 reviews)
    10.9 kmKinsealy

    Pros: Close to the airport…read more The shuttle (not free) stops right in front Nice staff Tea and coffee available throughout the day In the lobby Cons: No AC Dated We only stayed at this hotel for about 3-4 hours. It was just a nap and shower stop. We took Bus H1 from zone 16. It took about 15 min to arrive to the hotel. Check In was fast. We were given a room upstairs. They don't have elevators, so you will have to take your luggage up via the stairs. The room was small. It is dated, but clean and appropriate for one night or a quick stop. The room stays pretty cool with the windows open, but if you close the windows, it can get hot.

    Avoid this place its full of thieves and sbags only nice people are the ones on the reception items…read morebeing stolen and going missing here guy in my room spooked me out so walked out, standing beside me bed staring at me making me feel uncomfortable, telling me what to do etc, I value my privacy a single room would be better, be careful of your belongings, thieves about, would rather sleep outside than sleep here. I can not recommend it in any shape or form, you will be spooked and very uncomfortable. I understand why homeless people would rather sleep rough, reported a theft of item that was recovered then got silent treatment, though I was right to report it, stay away from my stuff sbag who took it and the lot of them are scum. Place is a makeshift prison.

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    Glenmore House
    Glenmore House
    Glenmore House - Balcony view

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    Balcony view

    Times  Hostel College Street - www.thetimeshostel.com/

    Times Hostel College Street

    4.3(11 reviews)
    1.4 kmSouth Inner City

    The hostel is in a great spot in central Dublin, across the street from Trinity College, with…read moremyriad pubs/restaurants/shops everywhere around, and 10 minutes walk from the airport bus stop. Facilities were simple but great quality. Our ensuite 6-bed mixed dorm just had 3 bunks, cabinets, and a very nice bathroom with a brand-new shower. No lockers in our room (they said they're in the process of adding them), but instead there's a storage closet at reception. Towels are 2 euro from reception. There's a community laundry room and a nice big kitchen with free breakfast every morning. Free wifi in the building and paid computers in the lobby. 24-hour reception desk with friendly and helpful staff. They'll help you with recommendations and transportation and set up an airport shuttle for you if you realize at the last minute that your Ryanair flight leaves too early for the regular airport bus :) It's a busy central area with plenty of street noise and people coming in at late hours, so if you're a light sleeper bring some headphones. Overall a fantastic place to stay in central Dublin on a budget.

    Gosh, I was SO glad I stayed here! This is a fairly new property, perfectly situated in Dublin city…read morecenter. You can easily take the AirCoach from the Airport (buy roundtrip in advance!) and it drops you off just a 2 minute walk away. It took me a second to find it because I kept walking past the huge sign, but once you see it, it can't be missed. It's a charming red and black building, right next to a little restaurant. Again, the location couldn't be more perfect, its within walking distance to everything you want to do, and close enough to transit options if you need to go a bit outside the main city center. Now, once you go in, they have free wifi, computers and printing capabilities onsite (for a nominal 1 to 2 euros fee), luggage storage and organized events throughout the week (the hostel pub crawl was awesome!). They even have a free courtesy Skype phone! How cool is that? They offer an enormous kitchen where you can cook to your heart's desire if you'd like, fridge space to store your groceries and a small lounge/dining area. Washer & dryer onsite. But, all this wouldn't be the same if it wasn't thanks to the wonderful, friendly staff there. I stayed there for 2 nights, was assisted by 3 different staff members, and they were all beyond helpful and so pleasant (even when I asked them a million questions everyday!). I'd certainly stay here again if I happen to be in the Dublin area, and recommend it to anyone looking for a great hostel. Thanks guys (and thank you hostelworld.com!)! (ps- this is besides the hostel review, but since I didn't have this there, someone go and have fresh oysters and a nice Guiness for breakfast while you're out there for me!)

    Generator Dublin - hostels - Updated July 2026

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