The Central Hotel occupies a four-story red brick heritage building on a busy central Dublin street of similar structures. Irish owned and operated, the hotel was built in 1887 as part of a larger development that includes the beautiful George's Street Arcade, an indoor market. The lobby retains the Old World ambience, with lots of dark-wood-paneled walls, chandeliers, oil paintings, and gilded mirrors and furniture along the hallways. The hotel's charming Library Bar is a local landmark that's a popular gathering spot for morning business meetings, light lunches, dinner, drinks, and nightcaps. Located in a lively area with plenty of bars with craic (fun) that stay open until the early morning hours, the hotel can get noisy and might not suit guests seeking absolute peace and quiet. Despite the noise, It draws travelers from across the spectrum -- couples, families, groups of friends, those in town for work, and solo travelers -- who seek the traditional Irish atmosphere and want to be in the throes of the action.

The Central Hotel is located in one of Dublin's liveliest areas off Grafton Street, known for its many bars, cafes, restaurants, and shops. The city's Temple Bar nightlife area is practically next door, and many tourist attractions are within walking distance.

• One-minute walk to George's Street Arcade 
• Three-minute walk to Temple Bar area
• Four-minute walk to City Hall
• Seven-minute walk to Trinity College
• Seven-minute walk to Dublin Castle
• Eight-minute walk to Christ Church Cathedral 
• 11-minute walk to National Gallery of Ireland
• 13-minute walk to O'Connell Street
• Nine minutes to St Patrick's Cathedral by public transportation
• 14 minutes to Heuston Train Station by public transportation
• 18 minutes to Guinness Storehouse by public transportation
• 40 minutes to Dublin Airport by public transportation 

The 70 rooms are basic, but clean and well-maintained. Rooms come in Singles, Doubles, Twins, Triples, Family Rooms, and Suites. Family Rooms, with a mix of double and single beds, can fit up to four people. Suites have a separate living area with sofas, tables, and desks. Carpeting is done in dark brown, and there's little decoration aside from framed floral prints adorning the walls and lime-green or saffron-colored bed runners. Bathrooms feature walk-in showers with wall-mounted soap dispensers, or shower/tub combos. 

All rooms, which are not air-conditioned, come with flat-screen TVs, coffeemakers, hairdryers, and free Wi-Fi. Irons and ironing boards are available on request. There are no safes in the rooms. Windows are not soundproofed, and some don't close properly. Guests have also complained about the unreliable Wi-Fi connection and low water pressure.

Breakfast is cooked to order, although it's not included in the room rate. Guests can opt for a continental breakfast or the full Irish breakfast. The cozy Library Bar, a poplar local hang-out, is atmospheric and charming, with dark wooden floors, chandeliers, stuffed armchairs, glass bookcases, and lots of Old World charm. It serves lunch and dinner, and brunch on weekends. The hotel has nine meeting and conference rooms that can accommodate groups of up to 70 people. A computer and printer are available for guests' use. Wi-Fi is free, but many past guests have complained about poor connectivity.