Smithfield in Dublin’s north inner city has been ranked as the second-coolest neighbourhood in the world by Time Out, behind Laureles in Medellín, Colombia.
Time Out praises Smithfield for its authenticity and refusal to conform to disappearing Dublin. The citation reads: “With a post-industrial vibe, there’s no shortage of things to do to keep locals and visitors busy all day. After a flat white and cardamom bun at Proper Order, catch an indie film at the Light House Cinema before heading to dinner at Fish Shop, a tiny seafood restaurant with a killer wine list.”
It also name-checks The
Smithfield landmarks mentioned the Cobblestone pub, Third Space, a social enterprise café, Fish Shop, a popular seafood restaurant, Proper Order pastries, Indie film theatre Light House Cinema, Generator hostel, Token (“the retro arcade that serves excellent vegan eats”), the cosy snugs at Frank Ryan’s and the warehouse raves and art exhibitions at The Complex.
The Time Out list is based on votes by over 12,000 people, with editors considering factors such as community engagement, access to green spaces, and thriving street life.
The full list of forty selected neighbourhoods is: Laureles in Medellín, Colombia, Smithfield in Dublin, Carabanchel in Madrid, Havnen The Harbour in Copenhagen, Sheung Wan in Hong Kong, Brunswick East in Melbourne, Mid-City in New Orleans, Isola in Milan, West in Amsterdam, Tomigaya in Tokyo, Baltic Triangle in Liverpool, INCours Julien in Marseille, Arts District in Los Angeles, Chinatown in Singapore, Fort Greene in New York, Leith in Edinburgh, INEnmore in Sydney, Costa Caparica Almada in Lisbon, Hyde Park in Chicago, West End in Glasgow, INSea Point in Cape Town, Neukölln in Berlin, Haut-Marais in Paris, King’s Cross in London, INHannam-dong in Seoul, Coral Gables in Miami, Richmond District in San Francisco, Vinohrady in Prague, El Clot in Barcelona, San Miguel Chapultepec in Mexico City, Exarcheia in Athens, Bebek in Istanbul, Ponsonby in Auckland, Zhongshan in Taipei, Bonifacio Global City (BGC) in Manila, Centre-Ville in Montreal, Dotonbori in Osaka, The Annex in Toronto, Song Wat in Bangkok, and Cantonments in Accra.
