The Liberties is the Brooklyn of Dublin.
The Liberties named the Brooklyn of Dublin
August 4, 2026 - Brooklyn Of (brooklynof.com), a travel publication that names the coolest neighborhood in more than 150 cities worldwide, has named The Liberties the Brooklyn of Dublin.
The "Brooklyn of" a city is a metaphor, of course: shorthand for the coolest neighborhood in town, the one where independent culture, serious coffee, and creative energy define the character. Not the old town, not where the hop-on-hop-off bus goes. Every big enough city has one, and the site names exactly one per city. In many cities the pick is close to consensus, the name locals would give without hesitating. In others it picks a side. Dublin's verdict went to The Liberties ahead of Portobello, Stoneybatter and Rathmines, which take the runner-up positions.
"We named The Liberties the Brooklyn of Dublin. It is the oldest part of the city and still feels like it, yet the new stuff is good enough that old Dublin and new Dublin end up arguing productively. Dubliners are welcome to tell us we are wrong," says Per, creator of Brooklyn Of.
The verdict comes with a guide to The Liberties's independent hotels, cafes, restaurants, bars and shops: no big chains, nothing sponsored, and placements are not for sale. Selections draw on research and local tastemakers in each city, and readers who disagree are invited to make their case.
The full Dublin verdict: brooklynof.com/dublin
Press contact: Per, creator of Brooklyn Of, hello [at] brooklynof.com
Press kit and images: brooklynof.com/press/dublin
Runner-up neighborhoods: Portobello, Stoneybatter, Rathmines
Free for editorial use in coverage of brooklynof.com. Credit: brooklynof.com.
hello [at] brooklynof.com · Per is available for interviews, quotes, and written commentary on this and every city in the index.