‘It’s got a rural town vibe’ – Phibsboro reclaims place on list of world’s hippest neighbourhoods

THE Dublin northside neighbourhood of Phibsboro is once again one of the coolest in the world, according to Time Out magazine.

The magazine released its annual list of the top 40 coolest neighbourhoods in the world, and Phibsboro managed to reclaim its spot of 27th, which it previously held in 2018.

While it was replaced last year with the up-and-coming area of Stoneybatter, it is back again this year – perhaps due to the abundance of hip local businesses.

Among them is the restaurant Woodstock – which is currently being renovated and will be renamed Monck’s Green.

Owner Angela Rutledge spoke about how important local businesses are for bringing people together in the neighbourhood.

“There’s no community centre as such in Phibsboro,” she said. “Those pubs, and Woodstock and some of the other restaurants around kind of act like the community centre.”

A similar sentiment was echoed by one of the managers of local pub Doyle’s Corner, Tommy Brady. He described the neighbourhood as having a rural town feel. “It’s not something you tend to see in a city – everyone knowing each other. And being from the country, it does have that little country town vibe,” he said.

Despite its proximity to the city centre, Mr Brady said the area has more than enough to keep its residents satisfied.

“They don’t need to go into the city because everything they need is here. It’s an extension of Dublin, rather than Dublin as such.”

It wasn’t always like this though. Local resident Roxana Pedan said Phibsboro had come a long way, and that’s thanks in part to the trendy cafés and bars.

“I think the local businesses have really changed it. It’s been quite stark and people wouldn’t really come here.

“Before, you’d go to town to get your food or whatever,” she said. “I think they’ve really created a hub for people to connect.”

And of course, you can’t talk about Phibsboro without discussing Bohemians Football Club.

Chief operating officer of the club, Daniel Lambert, said it stands out as it has largely avoided corporatisation.

“We’re owned by over 1,000 people. Ordinary men and women. Ordinary backgrounds,” he said.

PHOTO: FRANK McGRATH Pride in the community: Angela Rutledge, from Monck’s Green restaurant, says Phibsboro has benefited from local pubs and restaurants.

PHOTOS: FRANK McGRATH ‘Everyone knows each other’: Tommy Brady and Lee Knowles, who are both managers at Doyle’s Corner pub in Phibsboro. Left, a bird’s-eye view of the Basin.