Ruby Molly

Ruby Molly opened in the spring of 2024 on Arran Street East, north of the River Liffey. It is the Munich-based Ruby group's first hotel in Ireland and its 18th in Europe. The hotel has 272 rooms, which makes it large for a brand built on compact rooms.

The place

The hotel stands on Arran Street East in the old market quarter of Oxmanstown, beside the former grounds of St Mary's Abbey. Temple Bar is roughly a ten-minute walk to the south, across the river.

A library in the building shows archaeological finds from the surrounding area, which fits a district built on medieval ground. Earlier announcements placed the project at the corner of Arran Street East and Mary Street Little. A contractor's project page describes an eight-storey building with 273 bedrooms, one more than the operator's figure of 272.

The concept

Ruby calls its formula lean luxury: small rooms and generous shared spaces, priced below a conventional upscale hotel. The group says it designed the rooms with sleep experts.

There are five room categories. Nest rooms measure 16 square metres and Cosy rooms 17, both aimed at solo travellers. Lovely rooms run from 18 to 22 square metres, Wow rooms are 25, and Loft rooms, listed at the same size, come with a private terrace and target longer stays.

The press release lists marble, glass, distressed leather, vintage tiles, blackened steel and walnut among the materials. Showers are glass rain showers, and toiletries come from the group's Ruby Care aromatherapy line.

Small touches are specific to the brand. Each floor has free tea, an iron and a vending machine that sells drinks, snacks, umbrellas and toothbrushes. Guests can hire an electric guitar and plug into an amp in the room.

Dining & wellness

There is no restaurant. The ground-floor bar is a hybrid space where check-in happens at digital screens. It serves breakfast, unlimited barista coffee, Mediterranean-inspired snacks and cocktails, and it is open to non-guests.

The room also hosts live sets by emerging acts, which gives the lobby a function after dark.