Time Out names Irish neighbourhood as one of world's coolest for 2025

""It may be one of Dublin's oldest neighbourhoods, but alongside medieval remnants and terraced houses, the Liberties is home to some of the hottest spots in town," writes Nicola Brady, a Dublin-based travel writer who also contributes regularly to the Irish Independent. Such hotspots range from Argentinian bakery, Bakeology, to classic pubs, fashion swap store Change Clothes, and "the punkiest Michelin-star spot in Ireland", Variety Jones, she adds."

"The list is based on suggestions from Time Out's global team of editors and experts, which are ranked against criteria including culture, community, liveability, nightlife, food and drink "and that hard-to-define sense of 'nowness'," it says. Time Out's 10 coolest neighbourhoods (2025) "It's always hotly debated, but we're certain that if you visit any one of these neighbourhoods, you'll get to experience the real soul of the city," said Grace Beard, travel editor at Time Out. "Put simply, the neighbourhoods are places that represent the soul of these cities, while maintaining their own unique local character that draws people in to live, work and play.""

"This is Time Out's eighth annual list of neighbourhoods, with Borgerhout in Antwerp, Barra Funda in São Paulo, Camberwell in London and Avondale in Chicago rounding out the top five. Dublin has been something of a darling of the list, with Inchicore featuring in 2024, Smithfield taking the number two spot in 2023, Stoneybatter showing up in 2022 and Dublin 8 in 2021."

The Liberties in Dublin ranks 23rd on Time Out's global list of the 39 coolest neighbourhoods for 2025, with Tokyo's Jimbocho topping the ranking. The Liberties combines medieval remnants and terraced houses with contemporary hotspots such as Bakeology, classic pubs, fashion swap store Change Clothes and Michelin-starred Variety Jones. The list is the eighth annual selection and uses criteria including culture, community, liveability, nightlife, food and drink and a sense of 'nowness'. Dublin neighbourhoods have featured repeatedly, including Inchicore (2024), Smithfield (2023), Stoneybatter (2022) and Dublin 8 (2021).

Read at Irish Independent