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Summary of reviewsThe Strand Hotel, formerly the home of Oscar Wilde and Caffe Vergnano 1882, offers a delightful experience primarily characterized by its exceptional beachfront location and historical charm. Guests consistently praise the hotel's prime position along the promenade, providing stunning sea views and close proximity to both the beach and local attractions. The elegant Georgian house successfully merges historic ambiance with modern comforts, supported by a team of friendly and welcoming staff.
The breakfast experience is highly appreciated with a diverse range of hearty options including Full Irish Breakfasts and Eggs Benedict. The quality and taste of the food are consistently rated as superb and the terrace overlooking the bay provides a memorable dining setting. The hotel's dinner options, featuring a standout Indian restaurant and delicious bar food, further elevate the culinary experience despite occasional service hiccups.
Rooms at The Strand Hotel are generally well-received for their cleanliness, comfortable beds and tasteful decor, especially the sea view rooms. However, some guests note issues with room size and occasional maintenance problems. The hotel maintains high cleanliness standards throughout its facilities with only a few isolated instances of oversight.
The staff's dedication to professionalism, friendliness and helpfulness profoundly enhances the guest experience, making guests feel genuinely welcomed and looked after. The free Wi-Fi, although sometimes patchy and complimentary Netflix add to the convenience and enjoyment of the stay.
Situated directly on the beachfront, the hotel offers easy access to the beach and breathtaking views, making it a perfect spot for early morning walks or relaxing by the sea. Parking, while available, can be a challenge due to limited spaces, but guests often find suitable arrangements nearby.
The hotel is largely family-friendly with spacious and well-kept rooms that cater to families. The friendly staff, clean environment and excellent breakfast contribute to a positive family stay. Beds are generally comfortable, although occasionally noted as being shorter or firmer than some guests prefer.
In conclusion, The Strand Hotel combines a remarkable location, historical charm and a dedicated staff to create a delightful stay for guests seeking relaxation and enjoyment along the Bray beachfront. Show more
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Categories
Hotel with EV Charging Stations
Luxury Hotel
Hotel near The Beach
Hotel Taking Steps Towards Sustainability
Family Friendly Hotel
Business Hotel
Hotel with Parking
EV charging stations
Small Hotel
Room Types
Double RoomProviding free toiletries, this double room includes a private bathroom with a walk-in shower and a hairdryer. The double room provides a tea and coffee maker, a wardrobe, a safe deposit box, a carpeted floor and a flat-screen TV. The unit offers 1 bed.
Deluxe Double Room with Sea ViewThe spacious double room provides a tea and coffee maker, a wardrobe, as well as a private bathroom featuring a walk-in shower and a hairdryer. The unit offers 2 beds.
Deluxe Double Room with Sea ViewOffering free toiletries, this double room includes a private bathroom with a walk-in shower and a hairdryer. The double room offers a tea and coffee maker, a wardrobe, a safe deposit box, a carpeted floor, as well as a flat-screen TV. The unit offers 1 bed.
Deluxe Double Room with Side Sea ViewProviding free toiletries, this double room includes a private bathroom with a walk-in shower and a hairdryer. The double room provides a tea and coffee maker, a wardrobe, a safe deposit box, a flat-screen TV, as well as sea views. The unit offers 1 bed.
Deluxe Double Room with Sea ViewFeaturing free toiletries, this double room includes a private bathroom with a walk-in shower and a hairdryer. The double room features a tea and coffee maker, a wardrobe, a safe deposit box, a flat-screen TV, as well as sea views. The unit has 1 bed.
Family Room with Sea ViewProviding free toiletries, this family room includes a private bathroom with a walk-in shower and a hairdryer. The family room provides a tea and coffee maker, a wardrobe, a safe deposit box, a flat-screen TV, as well as sea views. The unit offers 2 beds.
Deluxe RoomFeaturing free toiletries, this double room includes a private bathroom with a walk-in shower and a hairdryer. The double room features a tea and coffee maker, a wardrobe, a safe deposit box, a carpeted floor and a flat-screen TV. The unit has 1 bed.
Double Room with Sea ViewProviding free toiletries, this double room includes a private bathroom with a walk-in shower and a hairdryer. The double room provides a tea and coffee maker, a wardrobe, a safe deposit box, a carpeted floor and a flat-screen TV. The unit offers 1 bed.
Standard Twin Room with Sea ViewProviding free toiletries, this twin room includes a private bathroom with a walk-in shower and a hairdryer. The twin room provides a tea and coffee maker, a wardrobe, a safe deposit box, a flat-screen TV, as well as sea views. The unit offers 2 beds.
Deluxe Double Room with Sea ViewOffering free toiletries, this double room includes a private bathroom with a walk-in shower and a hairdryer. The double room offers a flat-screen TV, a tea and coffee maker, a wardrobe, a safe deposit box as well as sea views. The unit has 1 bed.
Guest Reviews
7.9
Good
Location
The Strand Hotel, formerly the home of Oscar Wilde and Caffe Vergnano 1882, boasts an incredible location that consistently delights its guests. Nestled right on the beachfront, the hotel offers superb views of the sea and the picturesque Bray Head. Its prime position along the promenade ensures that visitors are just steps away from the beach, making it an ideal spot for early morning swims and leisurely strolls.
Guests frequently praise the hotel's proximity to numerous local attractions, restaurants, pubs and social amenities. The central location is also remarkably convenient for those looking to explore further afield, including easy access to Dublin via the nearby train station.
Set in a beautiful Georgian house, the hotel effortlessly combines historic charm with modern comforts. The welcoming and friendly staff further enhance the experience, ensuring a warm and pleasant stay.
In summary, The Strand Hotel offers a fabulous beachfront location, excellent views and a rich historical ambiance, making it a perfect choice for a relaxing escape in Bray.
Breakfast
The breakfast experience at The Strand Hotel, former Home of Oscar Wilde & Caffe Vergnano 1882, garners generally positive reviews from guests. Many highlight the diverse selection and hearty options, from Full Irish Breakfasts to Eggs Benedict with several guests noting that the coffee is particularly excellent. The breakfast room itself is often described as comfortable and pleasant, enhancing the overall dining experience.
Guests frequently commend the quality and taste of the food, using descriptors such as fantastic, delicious, superb and excellent. The breakfast on the terrace overlooking the bay is a standout aspect for many, contributing to a memorable dining atmosphere. Positive mentions also include the presentation of the food, the friendly and helpful staff and the convenience of late breakfast hours.
However, there are a few areas for improvement noted by some guests. Specific feedback suggests the need for a wider variety of options like brown bread, cereal and juices. Additionally, a few reviews mention inconsistencies in the food’s temperature and the quality of specific dishes, such as undercooked eggs and single-sided toast.
Overall, the breakfast at The Strand Hotel is praised for its abundance, quality and diverse offerings, making it a highly appreciated feature of guests’ stays.
Dinner
The Strand Hotel, formerly Home of Oscar Wilde & Caffe Vergnano 1882, offers a memorable dining experience that has left many guests impressed. The hotel's culinary landscape features a diverse array of options, including a standout Indian restaurant, which has garnered accolades for delivering delicious and authentic dishes. Patrons frequently praise the outstanding quality of the food, whether it’s enjoying succulent mussels at Café Vergnano, indulging in gourmet fish and chips or savoring the generous and delicious breakfast offerings.
The bar food is highly rated with visitors appreciating the well-stocked bar and a menu that caters to a variety of tastes. From rare steaks cooked to perfection to great burgers and fresh, tasty selections, the dining options ensure that guests can enjoy a satisfying meal at any time of day. The Indian restaurant, in particular, has earned a reputation for serving some of the best curries outside of India, making it a must-visit for lovers of this cuisine.
However, it is worth noting that the dining experience is not without its occasional hiccups. Some guests have reported issues with service, including delays and mix-ups with orders. Despite these occasional lapses, the general consensus highlights the excellence of the food and the friendly staff, contributing to an overall enjoyable experience.
The Strand Hotel's blend of an exceptional location, delightful culinary options across various cuisines and a charming ambiance make it a unique and appealing destination for travelers. Whether stopping by for breakfast, lunch or dinner, guests can expect to be treated to a delectable dining experience that complements their stay.
Rooms
The Strand Hotel, formerly Home of Oscar Wilde & Caffe Vergnano 1882, offers a mixed but largely positive experience according to guest reviews. The rooms are frequently described as clean, comfortable and well-decorated with many guests appreciating modern amenities and comfortable beds. Sea view rooms are particularly praised, offering stunning views of the sunrise and Bray Head.
Breakfast at the café is consistently highlighted as a highlight of the stay with guests enjoying hearty, delicious and generous portions. The hotel staff also receive frequent mentions for their friendliness and helpfulness, contributing to a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
However, the hotel does have some drawbacks. Many reviews mention that the rooms are small with some guests feeling cramped and uncomfortable. Issues such as broken amenities, malfunctioning electronics and maintenance problems are also noted by several reviewers. Parking can be expensive and the property has accessibility challenges due to steep steps.
Despite these issues, the hotel's seafront location, vintage decor and cozy atmosphere often make up for its shortcomings, making it a generally pleasant place to stay with some room for improvement.
Beds
The experience of staying at The Strand Hotel, former home of Oscar Wilde & Caffe Vergnano 1882, reveals a mixed but generally positive assessment of the beds. A majority of guests found the beds to be comfortable, often describing them as very comfortable, super comfortable and even extremely comfortable with cozy and hospitable qualities. The rooms themselves were noted as very nice and warm, which likely enhanced the overall sleep experience.
There were several notes about beds being on the shorter side, which may be a consideration for taller guests, particularly those over 6 feet. Some reviews also pointed out issues with the mattress firmness with a few guests finding them too hard. Despite these occasional criticisms, the consensus leans towards the beds being a comfortable place to rest.
In addition to the comfort of the beds, the hotel staff received praise for being very friendly and helpful, contributing to a welcoming atmosphere. While a few minor concerns were mentioned, such as the length and firmness of the beds, the overall impression is that of a hotel that provides a comfortable and pleasant sleeping experience.
Cleanliness
The Strand Hotel, formerly the home of Oscar Wilde and Caffe Vergnano 1882, generally receives positive remarks for its cleanliness. Guests frequently describe the hotel as very clean, spotlessly clean and exceptionally clean throughout the entire building. Many reviewers highlight that their rooms were spacious, comfortable and meticulously cleaned with soft towels and clean bathrooms contributing to a pleasant stay. The overall cleanliness of the hotel is praised with consistently clean facilities, tidy public spaces and general upkeep maintaining a high standard.
However, there are occasional mentions of areas that could have been better cleaned. Some guests noted visible stains and dirty conditions in specific spaces and a few experienced rooms that were not cleaned properly during their stay. Despite these isolated instances, the majority of reviews reflect a well-maintained and pristine environment with the staff going above and beyond to ensure cleanliness, including meticulously cleaning public areas and the bar.
The cleanliness and pleasant atmosphere of The Strand Hotel, combined with its comfortable rooms and great amenities, make it a commendable choice for travelers looking for a tidy and well-kept accommodation in a beautiful location.
Staff
The staff at The Strand Hotel, former Home of Oscar Wilde & Caffe Vergnano 1882, consistently received high praise for their professionalism, friendliness and helpfulness. Many reviews highlight the staff's warm and welcoming demeanor with comments such as friendly and helpful staff, super friendly staff and staff were amazing recurrent across reviews. Staff members were described as incredibly accommodating, always going above and beyond to assist guests, from late arrivals to providing comfort during check-ins with warm coffee.
The management also received accolades for maintaining high standards with the owners frequently noted as friendly and professionally attentive. Staff consistency was praised with guests appreciating the universal niceness and courteousness of the team. Even specific roles, such as the reception staff and cleaners, were mentioned for their exceptional service.
However, there were occasional instances of less favorable interactions, including reports of specific staff members being rude or inconsistent in providing information. Despite these isolated cases, the overall sentiment remains overwhelmingly positive with most guests commending the hotel for its excellent service and the supportive, friendly nature of the staff.
Overall, the staff's dedication to creating a welcoming and accommodating environment significantly enhances the guest experience, contributing to many guests describing their stay as wonderful.
Wi-Fi
The Strand Hotel, former Home of Oscar Wilde & Caffe Vergnano 1882, offers an overall positive experience with its Wi-Fi service. Guests found the Wi-Fi quite good and some even remarked that it made their work meetings enjoyable. Free Netflix available on the TV was a highlight for many, providing great entertainment options despite some issues with live TV and traditional channels. However, there were occasional reports of problems, such as the Wi-Fi being patchy or not working at times and instances of guests being unable to connect or needing to obtain separate passwords from the front desk. Despite these hiccups, the generally good Wi-Fi and complimentary Netflix added to the convenience and enjoyment of the stay. Overall, while there were small issues related to connectivity and TV functionality, the positive aspects of the hotel's Wi-Fi and room amenities were frequently noted by guests.
Beach
Situated directly on the beachfront, The Strand Hotel, the former home of Oscar Wilde, offers an exceptional location that guests consistently praise. This prime positioning affords stunning sea views and provides close proximity to the beach, making it a perfect spot for enjoying walks along the seafront. Visitors often highlight the opportunities to catch breathtaking early morning sunrises and the convenience of stepping right onto the beach from the hotel.
Apart from its scenic locale, the hotel is noted for its cleanliness and excellent beach amenities. The central location on Bray Seafront ensures that guests have easy access to everything they need for a relaxing stay, including dining options with great food, especially breakfast. Whether the rooms overlook the sea or simply face the beach, the views are repeatedly described as fabulous and stunning, adding immense value to the overall experience. The Strand Hotel's perfect beach location makes it an ideal choice for anyone looking to enjoy the coastal beauty and tranquility of Bray.
Parking
Parking at The Strand Hotel, former Home of Oscar Wilde & Caffe Vergnano 1882, appears to be somewhat challenging but manageable for guests. The hotel offers secure parking for €10 per night with some additional options such as street parking and paid parking lots nearby. Free parking can occasionally be found directly in front of the house, though it is limited and often hit-or-miss due to the hotel's central location. Guests have noted that the small car park at the hotel can fill up quickly, so it is advisable to plan ahead. Though parking logistics may require some effort, many found a place eventually, ensuring a satisfactory stay despite the occasional inconvenience.
Family
The Strand Hotel, formerly known as the Home of Oscar Wilde & Caffe Vergnano 1882, offers a commendable family-friendly experience. Guests highlight the friendly and helpful staff as a standout feature, complementing the very clean and spacious rooms which cater well to families. The hotel provides a stunning terrace with a view, adding to its allure as a perfect family stay. Many families have found the experience enjoyable, pointing out that their children loved playing around the hotel. The facilities are described as fabulous and guests particularly enjoyed the full Irish breakfast, rating it highly. While there were mixed opinions about its overall suitability for family stays, the general consensus leans towards a positive experience for family guests. The spacious family rooms and the comfort provided seem to make it an ideal choice for family vacations.
Business
The Strand Hotel, formerly the Home of Oscar Wilde & Caffe Vergnano 1882, is praised for being a prime location for business travelers. Guests highlight its ideal positioning for business purposes and commend the hotel's cleanliness and comfort. The staff is noted for being incredibly friendly and helpful, adding to the positive experience. Many find it an excellent spot for a business stay with suitable facilities such as business-friendly WiFi.
However, there are some concerns regarding breakfast service with some guests noting delays and a late start time that may inconvenience early business commitments. Despite occasional overcrowding during breakfast, the overall consensus is that The Strand Hotel is a good choice for business trips, offering a warm and comfortable stay in Dublin.
No, The Strand Hotel, the former residence of Oscar Wilde doesn't have any pool.
No, a spa isn't available at The Strand Hotel, the former residence of Oscar Wilde.
No, The Strand Hotel, the former residence of Oscar Wilde doesn't allow dogs.
Yes, parking facilities are available at The Strand Hotel, the former residence of Oscar Wilde.
No, The Strand Hotel, the former residence of Oscar Wilde doesn't have a gym.