So discreetly located is Dublin boutique hotel, Number 31, I was momentarily lost disembarking from my taxi wondering if I was in the right place.

Tucked away up a narrow mews off busy Leeson Street with a cloak of Virginia creeper draping the hotel’s outside wall, only a solitary sturdy wooden door with a big bright brass knocker indicated what lay beyond. 

Such discretion emanated all the hallmarks of a classic urban retreat. 

Occupying a renovated Georgian townhouse on Fitzwilliam Place on Dublin’s Georgian Mile, believed to be the longest Georgian street in the world, Number 31 comprises two buildings, the townhouse itself with its Georgian facade features of cornicing, carved archways and curved bay windows, and its renovated former stables, both linked by a charming walled garden.

While a hideaway by virtue of its location and design, this 22-room hotel is a mere five-minute walk from St. Stephen’s Green and the ever-busy pedestrian shopping area precinct of Grafton Street leading to Trinity College, former student home of such celebrated literati as Oscar Wilde, Bram Stoker and Samuel Beckett.

My room, 12, on the ground floor, was modern and elegant in an uncomplicated manner. In other words, nothing fancy, but extremely comfortable. Decorated in a pastel palette, it featured twin beds, with framed paintings of what looked like two golden apples above the slatted headboard, a slender wall mirror, an armchair, a coffee-table and a large wall TV. My tiled bathroom was long and narrow and featured two hand-basins and a large step-in shower with toiletries by Irish brand, Voya.

One enjoyable highlight of my stay was relaxing with my companion on a cosy terrace outside my room, with metal table and chairs, privacy guaranteed by tall hedgerows and assorted plants. This all-surround foliage offered a little sanctuary with the piercing calls of seagulls permeating the sky above a constant reminder that the Irish Sea was not far away. 

The much larger communal garden between the two buildings for guests to enjoy comprised a mix of Japanese cherry and maple, evergreen oak, cypress and bay laurel, with red bistort, lily and geranium flower bedding. It was illuminated at night by ground lamps with fairy lights on one of the trees and had an open fire pit in the middle. 

First opened 30 years ago by convivial and colorful architect Sam Stephenson as his home, Number 31 was taken over eight years ago by Richard Driehaus, a Chicago philanthropist and investor, and is now owned by a trust in his name established after his death. It is one of a trio of hotels in the group, including Stauntons on the Green in Dublin and The Bonham in Edinburgh. 

A spacious lounge area on the ground floor next to the reception desk features a mirrored honesty bar in one corner and a 1960s era sunken lounge with soft banquette seating all around in front of a large fireplace. A complimentary coffee machine and a tall glass jar with homemade scones and cake invite guests to sit and rest a while. An eclectic mix of art including prints, posters and objects d’art adorn Number 31, among which are works by Dublin artist Richard Gorman and Steven Johnson from Belfast.

For example, over the grand staircase in the townhouse – and originally hung in the Tavern on the Green, New York City – is a George III-style 16-light chandelier featuring beaded garlands, bells and tendrils plus a bright blue trim. There’s also a limited edition print of the smallest poster designed by French artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and ’The Jazz Wall,’ a reproduction of panels depicting ‘The Joy of Life’ by artist Lillian Gaertner. The original was displayed in the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York.

Staff at Number 31 are friendly and helpful and special mention must be made of quiet-spoken general manager, Mihai Cuhar, who was extremely patient in explaining the history and ownership of the building to me and helping guests with their day-to-day queries.

While Number 31 doesn’t have a restaurant, it does serve a tasty breakfast, with guests sitting at communal tables in a conservatory, or weather permitting, out on a terrace. 

Freshly squeezed orange juice, fruit bowls with natural yoghurt, silky porridge and classic dishes such as eggs Benedict and Florentine, smoked herring, and of course ‘the full Irish’ of sausage, bacon, egg and black pudding are among the choices provided by head chef Delia from Offaly who has worked loyally here for 28 years. 

So, what’s not to like about an elegant historic building within walking distance of some of Dublin’s tourism highlights, a friendly and helpful general manager and tasty food to start off your day.