Wren Urban Nest: A Sustainable Treat In Dublin's City Centre

History was made in 2021 with the opening of the Wren Urban Nest, Ireland’s first net carbon zero place to stay, which is located in the heart of Dublin’s Creative Quarter.

Since then it’s become a firm favourite with Irish and overseas visitors who look for the Green Key symbol when making their accommodation choices.

Although mere metres from Trinity College, Grafton Street, Dame Street and Temple Bar, The Wren’s tucked away Andrew’s Lane location and triple-glazed windows make it an oasis of calm in an increasingly bustling city-centre.

The uniqueness of The Wren is apparent the moment you descend through the tree and plant-lined entrance into the buzzing open plan basement space shared by reception, a comfy lounge, computer stations for those mixing business with pleasure – there are other hot desk and work from hotel options available – and the ALT bar and restaurant.

Named in honour of Andrew’s Lane Theatre which previously occupied the D2 site, ALT is a vibey spot that’s as popular with in the know Dubliners as it is Wren Urban Nest residents.

“Let’s raise a toast to a brighter and more sustainable future,” it says on the menu and we do just that with a glass of Oveja Naranja, a Spanish ‘Orange’ wine that’s one of the standouts from the capital’s only 100% sustainable wine-list.

Another must-try is the Killahora Rare Organic Ice Wine from down Cork way, which is made from apples grown in 200-year-old orchards and is as delicious at it sounds.

The news for gin, whiskey, vodka and poitín lovers is equally good, with an all-Irish selection of famous name spirits and artisan newcomers – ours is a Stillgarden Boss Lady Gin, please! - which also star in some of Wren Urban Nest’s signature cocktails.

Presiding over the kitchen is South African Head Chef Ronato Palmer who, in keeping with The Wren’s zero carbon commitment, avoids cooking with gas and incorporates ‘ugly fruit’ and ‘wonky veg’ into his seasonal menus.

On Ronato’s recommendation we start with the Wild Mushroom Fricassee and Orange & Chilli Silver Hill Duck Wings.

Both of them comprehensively hit the spot with homemade truffle aioli adding to the rich earthiness of the Wicklow mushrooms, and pickled red cabbage perfectly offsetting the caramelised sweetness of the juicy duck, which falls off the bone the moment our forks go near it.

Copyright Miguel Ruiz.

Ronato’s choice of mains is equally inspired with the vegan Roast Beetroot Risotto as vibrant looking as it is tasting, and the Pan-Seared Seabass accompanied by an intensely flavoured seafood bisque, saffron-infused potato fondant and the crispest of autumn vegetables.

As tempting as the Artisanal Irish Cheese Board comprising of Hegarty’s Cheddar, Macroom Mozzarella, Cashel Blue and Tipperary Brie is, we bring proceedings to a close with Ronato’s celebrated warm Chocolate Hazelnut Fondant which comes with a generous drizzle of raspberry coulis and hazelnut praline, and an equally spectacular Rice Pudding laced with elderberry, toasted coconut and more of that yummy praline.

Normally that’d be the cue for a post-dinner nap but eager to explore the rest of The Wren, we’re shown one of the Scandinavian-inspired Cosy Nest rooms, which lives up to the billing with floor to ceiling picture windows that look out on the hotel’s Creative Quarter neighbours.

The Snug and Twin Nests are just as warm and welcoming with free calls to anywhere in the world an unexpected extra.

Like its façade, The Wren’s room-level corridors zig-zag slightly so that the brickwork soaks up as much Dublin sunshine as possible, which is then fed into the rooftop heating plant.

Other neat eco touchers are the aerators in the showers which dramatically reduce water wastage, and the ability of The Wren’s plumbing, heating and electrical systems to send email alerts to management when they’re in need of some efficiency fine-tuning.

Meanwhile, there’s a Dingle Gin Southsider waiting for us at the bar as we raise a final toast to all that the Wren Urban Nest and the rest of us hold dear!

Wren Urban Nest,
St. Andrew’s Lane, Dublin 2
Tel: (01) 223 4555
wrenhotel.ie