Why this neighborhood is called the ‘Brooklyn of Dublin’

Famously home to the Guinness Storehouse, The Liberties is likely no stranger to travelers’ Dublin checklist—but perhaps only for a quick pint before moving elsewhere like to central Dublin or Portobello.

In the last decade, though, The Liberties has witnessed a modern revival, with artist studios, crafts shops, cafe culture, and new distilleries springing up in centuries-old buildings. Its growth has some locals referring to it as the "Brooklyn of Dublin."

"It’s gritty, creative, full of soul and right now, it’s buzzing with this new wave of energy that’s redefining what modern Irish identity looks like,” says Enzo Visone, CEO and founder of Quintessential Brands, the parent company of Dubliner Irish Whiskey which is crafted at The Dublin Liberties Distillery, a 400-year-old former mill and tannery.

Dating back to the 12th century, The Liberties' nomenclature alludes to the era when residents moved outside Dublin’s city walls for tax exemption. Today, as a result of the public-investment frameworks to create space for new housing developments and commercial spaces, its boundaries have expanded to encompass the areas around Thomas Street, Meath Street, and Cornmarket, but its name remains, and still reflects the initial desire for freedom—just from an influx of modern innovators with an appreciation for the poetic juxtaposition of old and new.

“Unlike some neighborhoods in Dublin, the history of The Liberties doesn't become erased when new projects and buildings emerge—they kind of find their place amongst each other,” says Amy Michelle, bar manager at Dudley’s Bar on Thomas Street. 

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The future of Irish spirits

In the 19th century, The Liberties featured six key distilleries of the Irish whiskey Golden Age. In 1976, however, the last distillery closed and production of Irish whiskey ceased to exist here. In a cyclical resurgence, today, contemporary whiskey brands have settled in the neighborhood’s most historic facades. 

“The Liberties represents a balance between heritage and innovation,” says Visone. Founded in 2011, Dubliner Irish Whiskey moved into The Dublin Liberties Distillery in 2018 as the brand was drawn to the 17th century stone and brick building’s industrial past. “Making the whiskey here allows us to root our [whiskey] in real history while still embracing a modern, unpretentious, bold approach,” says Visone. That approach is astute per their motto, “Live the Moment,” which originated from the idea that Irish whiskey doesn’t have to live in the past—it can be part of the now. 

Roe & Co is another contemporary distillery that’s reimagining what the future of Irish whiskey looks like while respecting the past. Titled after George Roe, a whiskey-maker who helped define the global reputation of Irish whiskey during the 19th century, Roe & Co opened their distillery experience in 2019 within the Old Guinness Power Station in The Liberties. “The power station is such an iconic building, not just in The Liberties, but across the Dublin skyline,” says Kevin Hurley, experience manager for Roe & Co Distillery. After sitting idle for nearly three decades, “it felt like the perfect opportunity to breathe new life into the building.” 

Even spirits brands who don’t have a brick-and-mortar in The Liberties are drawn to opportunities here: The Wicklow-based Glendalough Distillery recently partnered with The Liberties-based florist Hopeless Botanics to provide them with Wild Botanical Gin for their terrarium workshops. “It was a craft meeting creativity moment which is exactly what The Liberties is about,” says Glendalough’s assistant distiller, Matthew Douglas, who lives in The Liberties. “There’s a sense of community here that’s hard to find anywhere else in the city,” adds Douglas, noting the neighborhood’s authenticity and appreciation of moments filled with “a soul and a story.”

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Creative fuel

The Liberties was established on a foundation of free spirit and resilience, which is what makes it such an alluring home base for creatives, from the local folk and traditional Irish musicians who play four times a week at Dudley’s to the Irish print artists displaying their work at Jam Art Factory.

“In The Liberties you can be yourself,” says Solus, a mixed media artist who lives, creates, and showcases his work in The Liberties. “Setting up home here felt like plugging directly into Dublin’s bloodstream,” says Solus, praising the neighborhood’s “character” and “raw honesty” for influencing his themes of strength, hope, and a fighting spirit, of which “The Liberties embodies every day.”

Adjacent to Dublin’s Antique Quarter on Francis Street, La Catedral Studios revives a former Victorian clothing factory as a home to over 40 Dublin-based artists. Every spring, the National College of Art and Design opens its Liberties’ campus to the public as it displays a Graduate Showcase that features hundreds of their emerging student artists. For the most concentrated collection of artwork year-round, the Irish Museum of Modern Art hosts over 3,500 pieces on Military Road.

Collaborative cuisine 

Restaurants and cafes have discovered a new home within The Liberties; many have become a center for culture and creativity. The Fumbally, a no-reservation cafe that’s part market stocked with produce from local farms, is a community favorite for social happenings that range from yoga classes to fermentation workshops. Hen’s Teeth is categorized as an independent events venue but follows a similar multi-use format, as a gallery, cafe, and “cultural hub for design lovers,” says Douglas. At Lucky’s on Meath Street, the bar, beer garden, and pizza kitchen features a rotation of DJs, live bands, art exhibitions, and markets that makes it an innovator’s haven.

The Liberties is also home to fine dining experiences that one might overlook given their casual facades. Spitalfields is one of them; a pub-turned-Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant that honors its heritage by serving Cock-a-Leekie pies and triple-cut hand-cooked chips in a no-frills environs. Chef-owner Stephen McAllister always holds space at the bar for the decade-long regulars who frequented the former Shanahan’s pub long before its Michelin status and still swing in for their nightly pint. “They have their two usual stools at the end of the counter,” shares McAllister, adding that one of the local legends celebrated his 80th birthday at Spitalfields four years ago with 50 of his friends.

Another casual, family-owned and operated restaurant—this one Michelin-starred—that prioritizes collaboration is Variety Jones, where brothers Keelan and Aaron Higgs serve up a six-course chef’s menu that’s designed to be shared. 

Cultural deep dive 

For all of The Liberties’ newest happenings, there’s a rich collection of preserved cultural attractions. Like St. Patrick’s Cathedral that dates back to 1220 and the adjacent Marsh’s Library that was added in 1707; it was the only public library in Dublin for 150 years.

In 1796, Dublin saw the opening of what would become one of Ireland’s most notorious jails, Kilmainham Gaol; after closing in 1926, it’s since reopened as a museum. 

Initially erected as a royal hunting park in the 1660s, the 1,750-acre Phoenix Park is the largest enclosed public park in any capital city in Europe; it hosts the residence of the President of Ireland and monuments like Ashtown Castle and the Wellington Memorial.

Where to grab a pint or a cup of coffee 

When it comes to Dublin pub culture, The Liberties presents a number of character-rich options, including The Brazen Head, which is Ireland’s oldest pub, dating back to 1198. The wax-dripping-framed fireplace mantle at the 200-year-old Arthur’s Pub sets the stage for its regular live blues and jazz acts. At the Lord Edward, there’s a strong sense of local identity in their quaint scarlet-upholstered upstairs lounge with historic decor nodding to Irish patriots.

Across from St. Patrick's Cathedral, Fallon’s (The Capstan Bar) dates back to 1619 with an interior that transports you back in time and an extensive whiskey list that spans the decades. Finally, Michelle’s watering hole, Dudley’s, is what she describes as “a cozy, corner bar” that’s a “modern take on a local pub.” It’s named after Thomas Dudley, a legend from The Liberties who adored Western movies and carried a large church key in his pocket as his "gun" to play with the kids coming out of school.

Aside from the cafe cultural hubs, Two Pups is beloved for their house-made bakery goods like cruffins and savory Zaatar pastry, as well as coffee from transparently traded coffee beans from Dublin’s Farmhand Coffee. At Bite of Life, a cuppa is best served with a slice of home-baked pie. And even natural wine is finding a home here; the team behind Two Pups opened Notions Bistro and Natural Wine Bar for “natty” sips alongside seasonal small bites like Connemara oysters and Abercorn Farm pickles.

Staying in The Liberties

The accommodations in The Liberties are suited to the community vibe and are budget-friendly in comparison to the grande dame hotels in the city center or near St Stephen’s Green. The family-run Point A Hotel debuted here in July 2025, with contemporary, compact rooms and a biophilia-adorned lobby. Marriott and Hyatt moved in to The Liberties in 2019; the former’s Aloft is a popular choice among music aficionados and its rooftop bar is also enjoyed by locals, while the latter’s Hyatt Centric was designed to encourage organic interactions with both the city and other guests with spacious communal areas.

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