Time Out names Irish neighbourhood 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."

"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 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."

""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.""

The Liberties ranks 23rd on Time Out's 2025 ranking of the world's 39 coolest neighbourhoods, with Jimbochu in Tokyo at number one. The Liberties combines medieval remnants and terraced houses with contemporary hotspots such as Argentinian bakery Bakeology, classic pubs, fashion swap store Change Clothes, and Michelin-starred Variety Jones. Time Out's list is in its eighth year and includes global neighbourhoods like Borgerhout, Barra Funda, Camberwell and Avondale among the top five. Dublin neighbourhoods have featured repeatedly in recent years, including Inchicore (2024), Smithfield (2023), Stoneybatter (2022) and Dublin 8 (2021). Rankings are based on editorial suggestions evaluated for culture, community, liveability, nightlife, food and drink and a sense of 'nowness'.

Read at Irish Independent