---
title: "Staycity Aparthotels Dublin City Centre vs Marlin Hotel Stephens Green"
description: "Mary Street aparthotel versus Grafton four-star — two upscale bases answering whether kitchen kit and Connolly proximity beat the Green on your doorstep."
url: "https://travelshifu.com/hotels/dublin/compare/staycity-aparthotels-dublin-city-centre-vs-marlin-hotel-stephens-green/"
type: "hotel comparison"
reviewed_on: "2026-08-06"
source: "TravelShifu"
---

# Staycity Aparthotels Dublin City Centre vs Marlin Hotel Stephens Green

Mary Street aparthotel versus Grafton four-star — two upscale bases answering whether kitchen kit and Connolly proximity beat the Green on your doorstep.

## Why this pair

Same star class, opposite centro geometry. One sells Mary Street practicality; the other sells St Stephen’s Green at 0.1 km. That is a real either/or for first-time Dublin stays.

## Verdict

Staycity Mary Street if aparthotel kit and Connolly at 0.8 km matter; Marlin if Grafton and the Green are the week — accepting cleanliness risk at Staycity and cold coffee at Marlin.

Position splits the trip. Marlin puts St Stephen’s Green at 0.1 km and Grafton at 0.2 km; Staycity puts Temple Bar and Connolly at 0.8 km. Location scores 9.29 against 9.35 — close on the number, different on the map.

Headline supplier ratings: 9.2 from 13,447 at Staycity against 8.8 from 16,631 at Marlin, captured 16 January 2026. Staycity leads on service (9.81 against 9.25); Marlin leads on room quality prose for bed comfort but loses on food and beverage (7.78 with cold coffee). Cleanliness favours Marlin on the score (8.78 against 8.34) though both carry cons.

Facilities: Staycity lists fitness and aparthotel kit; Marlin lists fitness, restaurant and bar without kitchen facilities in the cited facts. Both list parking garage and family rooms.

**Best for:**
- Choosing between Grafton glamour and Mary Street aparthotel practicality
- Families weighing kitchen kit against park-side walks

**Not for:**
- Guinness Storehouse-first trips — Tivoli is 0.8 km to the Storehouse
- Anyone who needs the highest headline score — Travelodge posts 9.4

## Head to head

| Criterion | Staycity Aparthotels Dublin City Centre | Marlin Hotel Stephens Green | Edge |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Official classification | 4-star | 4-star | tie |
| Position | Mary Street Little. Temple Bar 0.8 km, Connolly 0.8 km, Trinity 0.7 km. | Bow Lane East. St Stephen’s Green 0.1 km, Grafton 0.2 km, Trinity 0.4 km. | Marlin Hotel Stephens Green |
| Supplier rating (our hotel data provider, /10 — display only) | 9.2 from 13,447 reviews, as of 16 January 2026 | 8.8 from 16,631 reviews, as of 16 January 2026 | Staycity Aparthotels Dublin City Centre |
| Location (third-party guest score, /10 — display only) | 9.35 | 9.29 | Staycity Aparthotels Dublin City Centre |
| Service (third-party guest score, /10 — display only) | 9.81 | 9.25 | Staycity Aparthotels Dublin City Centre |
| Cleanliness (third-party guest score, /10 — display only) | 8.34 — linens and kitchen utensils named | 8.78 — spotless rooms praised in pros | Marlin Hotel Stephens Green |
| Food and beverage (third-party guest score, /10 — display only) | 8.84 | 7.78 — cold coffee at breakfast named | Staycity Aparthotels Dublin City Centre |
| What guests complain about | Cleanliness issues; check-in confusion | Cold coffee at breakfast; expensive parking; staff interruption | tie |
| Aparthotel kit | Mini-apartment setup; kid meals listed | Conventional hotel rooms in cited facts | Staycity Aparthotels Dublin City Centre |
| Review sample size | 13,447 reviews | 16,631 reviews | Marlin Hotel Stephens Green |
| Guinness Storehouse (POI) | 2 km | 2.5 km | Staycity Aparthotels Dublin City Centre |

## Which is closer to St Stephen’s Green?

Marlin Hotel — 0.1 km against roughly 0.9 km to Grafton at Staycity Mary Street, which is not a Green-side pin. Staycity wins on Connolly and aparthotel kit.

## Which has better breakfast scores?

Staycity Mary Street on the category number — food and beverage 8.84 against 7.78 at Marlin, where cold coffee at breakfast is a named con.

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