Comfortably threading the needle between Georgian opulence and ultra-contemporary design-hotel chic, the Alex updates a Twenties hotel with a brand-new look that marries 20th-century modernism with classic colors and contemporary Irish art. Rooms and suites walk the line where boutique meets luxury, and all the details are quite up to date. The Alex’s location, between Merrion Square and Trinity College, is central without being busy, offering access to the city center plus a small measure of quiet; the hotel’s Carriage restaurant, its Secret Garden terrace bar, and its Steam Café are all popular local haunts.