I stayed at the Hotel Isaacs for four nights in May 2014. Ii is set back in a courtyard with a cliffside (real) and a waterfall (phony), but it provides a nice setting, for drinks outside as one example. I was quickly checked in, and in a very friendly manner, by Blanka, a young woman from the Czech Republic who had recently begun work here - you'll be lucky if she's the one that checks you in. Blanka was as efficient as she was friendly, and she and I struck up pleasant conversations every time I appeared at the front desk. Otherwise the hotel was good enough, I suppose. My room was large and looked out on MacCurtain Street, which can be very busy at times, but I had no trouble sleeping due to noise from below. The bed was comfortable, there was a very good-sized safe in the closet into which I easily fit my 13 inch MacBookPro - you could probably fit the 15 inch in as well.
I found it a bit strange that I was given a room with a bathroom equipped for the handicapped. Were they all like that? Or did the powers that be the Isaacs decide that old man Hrkach may need such accommodations?
I found the location convenient, but some of you might want to look on the other side of the river, as more seems to be going on in that section of town (English Market is one example, many more restaurants another). I was booked solid for the time I was there and had no need of other diversions. It's not far from the rail station and was very near the place where I had to meet my bus for two day tours, also an easy walk to the coach station, where I went to take a bus to lovely Kinsale for a day.
There is a restaurant on site, Greene's, where I had a delicious seafood late lunch on my first afternoon in town. Expensive, but worth it. I should note that Greene's as well as the hotel entrance are set back in the courtyard. There is another restaurant that fronts on MacCurtain Street, called Isaac's - it is NOT affiliated with the hotel - slightly confusing, thought you'd like to know.
A few problems kept the place from being perfect, however. First, I booked through booking.com, which stated (I'm cutting and pasting these words): "Free! Wi-Fi is available in all areas and is free of charge." Untrue. There was a charge for each 24 hour period if you wanted to be able to use it in your room. You could walk your laptop down to the lobby or bar and use it there for free, but NOT in the room - be advised.
Second, while the breakfast items were varied - maybe not quite enough fruit, but I found that to be true throughout Ireland - even cheese and cold meat were served, which I don't often see in Ireland the service varied greatly from morning to morning - on my first I was off on an early day tour, so had time only for coffee and the mini croissants and other pastries available - not the best but not bad - and a glass of juice - grabbed an apple for the trip. The second day I had plenty of time, but I got down to breakfast a few minutes after the prescribed opening time and waited, and waited. It was 15 minutes before someone came to take my order, even though staff breezed in and out of the breakfast area and saw me waiting. This was not a breakfast that came with the room, instead a rather expensive breakfast, by the way. Then it took another ten minutes for the order (scrambled eggs and sausage) to be delivered. The eggs were spiced, and all I really wanted was plain old scrambled eggs, but I was afraid to send them back, as I could be waiting there until lunch. The next morning I ordered continental only, and the fellow who served me said "It's a good thing you want continental, as we've just run out of everything in the kitchen!" The third morning was uneventful, and the final morning a super-efficient young woman took my order quickly, I was served quickly and all was well. But as I noted above, the service varies.
Other than that I enjoyed my stay!
