If I tell you who I am ... Can you tell me where I should live (in Dublin)???

Estaa.p

Hi there,

I have a dilema... I am a French girl (waaiiit... keep on reading, no one's perfect!!). I'm a single professional in my early 30's, moving to Dublin mid-March.

1-I've been living in London (Shoreditch/Brick Lane area) for the past 1,5 year. And previously lived in the US for 6 years (mostly NYC...), fan of Williamsburg, Brooklyn (for those who know the spot)...

2-I'm more of a 'mixed crowd' type of girl... and like to socialize with people from all over the globe...

3-Music is my thing ... Rock, Blues, Neo Soul, Cuban Jazz, Old School Rap, Metal...The Doors, The Roots, Hendrix, Marvin Gay, Metallica, Janis Joplin, Otis Redding, Dolly Parton... ect...ect

4-I would like to live (flat/house share) in an area that would speak to me... Young crowd, popular area (Bar, Pub, Parks ...), convenient, pretty central and affordable....

WHERE SHOULD I LIVE??

admiralofthefleet

hi

phibsboro is a popular area with young studenty types, as is drumcondra, rathmines, ranelagh and glasnevin
all them areas are safe and close to the city centre

mardybumbum

Smithfield is Dublin's Williamsburg minus the Hasidic Jews.

It has three of the best pubs in Dublin
1. The Cobblestone ( Irish traditional music almost every night )
2. Frank Ryans ( Walls are covered with pictures of great blues rock musicians and they have a live band every now and again )
3. The Dice Bar - Probably the only place in Dublin where you are likely to get your Cuban Jazz.

You're only a short walk from Fibbers Rock bar on the quays. I've never been there as I prefer my rock a bit more bluesy and a little less heavy.

Smithfield also has the Lighthouse Cinema, an art house cinema which shows Irish and International films.

It's only a 15 minute walk from the city centre but there's a Luas stop too if you don't fancy walking.

Finally, Phoenix park is only a short walk away.

Stoneybatter, which is pretty much an extension of Smithfield is apparently the best place to live in Ireland. See here

I've been living in Smithfield for three years now and have become a total hipster. You'll fit right in.

LostPassword

Stoneybatter by far. Dublin's Hipster ghetto.

Second place is Portobello.

Nowhere else really figures.

[Jackass]

In my opinion, suburbs on the south of the city tend to be a lot more fun and nicer to live in than suburbs on the North side (sorry for any offence to North siders, but having spent years on both sides of the liffey, I would be shocked if anyone who has done the same didn't call that one a no brainer!!)

I would recommend around the Dublin 6 area. Rathmines, Ranelagh, Portobello - generally young population with a great social aspect in the areas and very good public transport (LUAS tram system and Dublin Bus).

Second off, I would say around the Dublin 2 / 4 area, around Baggot Street, Ballsbridge, Sandymount, Donnybrook are all very nice areas to live. (again, great social activities and superb nighlife, and also great public transport with DART Dublin rail and Dublin Bus)

Best bet is to search www.daft.ie and to look around Dublin 6, Dublin 2 and Dublin 4 (in that order) for something suitable.

There's nothing wrong with North Side areas per se, such as Drumcondra, Phibsboro, Clontarf etc., but personally, for similar price you can rent in much nicer areas in the city.

cson

[Jackass] wrote: »

There's nothing wrong with North Side areas per se, such as Drumcondra, Phibsboro, Clontarf etc., but personally, for similar price you can rent in much nicer areas in the city.

Imo you have that the wrong way around; €1,000 pm in Drumcondra/Phibsboro/Clontarf will go way further than €1,000 in D2/4/6.

AnonoBoy

mardybumbum wrote: »

Smithfield is Dublin's Williamsburg minus the Hasidic Jews.

We should totally get some of those guys in. They're deadly.

Stoneybatter in Dublin 7 is the one for you I'd say OP. If you can find a nice place there I'd take it. It's got lots of artists/musicians/filmmakers living there. Nice pubs, restaurants, coffee shops etc. but rents are lower there than similar places in Ranelagh etc.

You can walk to the city centre in about 20/25 minutes and it's near The Dice Bar which from your list of music I would say you'll love.

It's more Bushwick than Williamsburg i.e. the rents are still a bit lower because it hasn't become 'officially' cool yet.

listermint

Stoneybatters cool now! i must keep on trend

Sounds right what you are looking for OP tbh.

maximoose

Stoneybatter is the place to be. Mulligans pub is an awesome spot.

P_1

mardybumbum wrote: »

Smithfield is Dublin's Williamsburg minus the Hasidic Jews.

It has three of the best pubs in Dublin
1. The Cobblestone ( Irish traditional music almost every night )
2. Frank Ryans ( Walls are covered with pictures of great blues rock musicians and they have a live band every now and again )
3. The Dice Bar - Probably the only place in Dublin where you are likely to get your Cuban Jazz.

You're only a short walk from Fibbers Rock bar on the quays. I've never been there as I prefer my rock a bit more bluesy and a little less heavy.

Smithfield also has the Lighthouse Cinema, an art house cinema which shows Irish and International films.

It's only a 15 minute walk from the city centre but there's a Luas stop too if you don't fancy walking.

Finally, Phoenix park is only a short walk away.

Stoneybatter, which is pretty much an extension of Smithfield is apparently the best place to live in Ireland. See here

I've been living in Smithfield for three years now and have become a total hipster. You'll fit right in.

Sadly Fibbers rock bar has closed.

In terms of where to live, Dublin 7 or 8 sound like they'll suit you OP. Both would have reasonably rental prices, pretty much equidistant from the city center and the parks to the west and would have some lively pubs on your door.

Basically you should be looking for a spot somewhere on this map:

SunnyDub1

Swords is a good option too.
Young crowd.
Plenty of pubs,clubs.
Shopping center, cinema, plenty of shops.

and best of all only a 20 - 30 min trip into the city center, with plenty pf bus stops around the estates and in the village.

admiralofthefleet

[Jackass] wrote: »

In my opinion, suburbs on the south of the city tend to be a lot more fun and nicer to live in than suburbs on the North side (sorry for any offence to North siders, but having spent years on both sides of the liffey, I would be shocked if anyone who has done the same didn't call that one a no brainer!!)

I would recommend around the Dublin 6 area. Rathmines, Ranelagh, Portobello - generally young population with a great social aspect in the areas and very good public transport (LUAS tram system and Dublin Bus).

Second off, I would say around the Dublin 2 / 4 area, around Baggot Street, Ballsbridge, Sandymount, Donnybrook are all very nice areas to live. (again, great social activities and superb nighlife, and also great public transport with DART Dublin rail and Dublin Bus)

Best bet is to search www.daft.ie and to look around Dublin 6, Dublin 2 and Dublin 4 (in that order) for something suitable.

There's nothing wrong with North Side areas per se, such as Drumcondra, Phibsboro, Clontarf etc., but personally, for similar price you can rent in much nicer areas in the city.

very bad advice for the op. there is no difference between the north and south of the city. you need to remember that there are just as many if not more rough areas south of the liffey.
there is value to be had by renting on the north of the city and the areas mentioned so far are ideal

AnonoBoy

SunnyDub1 wrote: »

Swords is a good option too.

Don't think it'd suit the OP's requirements. Sounds like she'd want to live as close to the city as she feasibly can.

[Jackass]

admiralofthefleet wrote: »

very bad advice for the op. there is no difference between the north and south of the city. you need to remember that there are just as many if not more rough areas south of the liffey.
there is value to be had by renting on the north of the city and the areas mentioned so far are ideal

In your opinion maybe. It's nothing to do with "rough" areas, I'm pretty sure I said there's nothing wrong with those areas mentioned, but I just stressed that from personal experience, living in the ones I mentioned are far nicer - by that I mean public transport, proximity and ease of access to the city, quality of the areas in terms of villages and local amenities such as pubs and nightlife, walking distance to "trendy" spots mostly around the Dublin 2 area of town, close to things like Merrion Square, St. Stephens Green, leafy southside suburbs and nice walks along the canal (dont try and tell me that around the royal canal compares to how nice it is around the grand canal, which is virtually in town as it is and surrounded by nice park ways and great pubs etc. vs the grey scale drumcondra and phibsborugh walks - in my opinion, it's an uglier, less well kept part of the city in comparison - nothing personal, but I'd find anyone with an unbiased opinion would find it difficult to argue with...)

The only area I can't argue with is Stoneybatter because I've never lived in or around it and haven't spent much time there, so I wont knock that, but not to drag this into a North side / South side pissing contest, I would be surprised if most people didn't agree that those south side suburbs are just nicer places to live than the north side counterparts. For no other reason than they're just nicer areas imo...

Stheno

SunnyDub1 wrote: »

Swords is a good option too.
Young crowd.
Plenty of pubs,clubs.
Shopping center, cinema, plenty of shops.

and best of all only a 20 - 30 min trip into the city center, with plenty pf bus stops around the estates and in the village.

Not for the OP Swords is suburbia central compared to the likes of the city centre

P_1

[Jackass] wrote: »

In your opinion maybe. It's nothing to do with "rough" areas, I'm pretty sure I said there's nothing wrong with those areas mentioned, but I just stressed that from personal experience, living in the ones I mentioned are far nicer - by that I mean public transport, proximity and ease of access to the city, quality of the areas in terms of villages and local amenities such as pubs and nightlife, walking distance to "trendy" spots mostly around the Dublin 2 area of town, close to things like Merrion Square, St. Stephens Green, leafy southside suburbs and nice walks along the canal (dont try and tell me that around the royal canal compares to how nice it is around the grand canal, which is virtually in town as it is and surrounded by nice park ways and great pubs etc. vs the grey scale drumcondra and phibsborugh walks - in my opinion, it's an uglier, less well kept part of the city in comparison - nothing personal, but I'd find anyone with an unbiased opinion would find it difficult to argue with...)

The only area I can't argue with is Stoneybatter because I've never lived in or around it and haven't spent much time there, so I wont knock that, but not to drag this into a North side / South side pissing contest, I would be surprised if most people didn't agree that those south side suburbs are just nicer places to live than the north side counterparts. For no other reason than they're just nicer areas imo...

The thing with that is that you're more than likely to be paying a premium on the postcode. Now if you can afford to do that no hassle, but if you want to save a few bob on the rent, don't be spending more to live in a more 'prestigious' part of town.

LostPassword

[Jackass] wrote: »

In your opinion maybe. It's nothing to do with "rough" areas, I'm pretty sure I said there's nothing wrong with those areas mentioned, but I just stressed that from personal experience, living in the ones I mentioned are far nicer - by that I mean public transport, proximity and ease of access to the city, quality of the areas in terms of villages and local amenities such as pubs and nightlife, walking distance to "trendy" spots mostly around the Dublin 2 area of town, close to things like Merrion Square, St. Stephens Green, leafy southside suburbs and nice walks along the canal (dont try and tell me that around the royal canal compares to how nice it is around the grand canal, which is virtually in town as it is and surrounded by nice park ways and great pubs etc. vs the grey scale drumcondra and phibsborugh walks - in my opinion, it's an uglier, less well kept part of the city in comparison - nothing personal, but I'd find anyone with an unbiased opinion would find it difficult to argue with...)

The only area I can't argue with is Stoneybatter because I've never lived in or around it and haven't spent much time there, so I wont knock that, but not to drag this into a North side / South side pissing contest, I would be surprised if most people didn't agree that those south side suburbs are just nicer places to live than the north side counterparts. For no other reason than they're just nicer areas imo...

While I agree that it is true in general that the nicer southside suburbs are nicer than those on the northside, if you understand where the OP is coming from, then that's not what she is looking for. Shoreditch / Williamsburg are the world centers of hipsterdom. She is not looking for leafy - quite the opposite. The only area in Dublin that comes close to them is Stoneybatter / Smithfield - nowadays it's all artists / media types / hip young things / artisinal shops. The only area on the Southside that is somewhat similar is Portobello but it's more expensive by a good bit.

Boulevardier

Actually, there is a lot to be said for Grand Canal Dock. Fabulous waterside location, millions of apartments, 10 mins walk from College Green, heaps of stuff going on.

Can't believe anyone said Swords. Dear oh dear. Not bad if you fly a lot but that's about it.

In any case, can OP tell us where she will be working? Commutes are always an issue.

schemingbohemia

[Jackass] wrote: »

In your opinion maybe. It's nothing to do with "rough" areas, I'm pretty sure I said there's nothing wrong with those areas mentioned, but I just stressed that from personal experience, living in the ones I mentioned are far nicer - by that I mean public transport, proximity and ease of access to the city, quality of the areas in terms of villages and local amenities such as pubs and nightlife, walking distance to "trendy" spots mostly around the Dublin 2 area of town, close to things like Merrion Square, St. Stephens Green, leafy southside suburbs and nice walks along the canal (dont try and tell me that around the royal canal compares to how nice it is around the grand canal, which is virtually in town as it is and surrounded by nice park ways and great pubs etc. vs the grey scale drumcondra and phibsborugh walks - in my opinion, it's an uglier, less well kept part of the city in comparison - nothing personal, but I'd find anyone with an unbiased opinion would find it difficult to argue with...)

The only area I can't argue with is Stoneybatter because I've never lived in or around it and haven't spent much time there, so I wont knock that, but not to drag this into a North side / South side pissing contest, I would be surprised if most people didn't agree that those south side suburbs are just nicer places to live than the north side counterparts. For no other reason than they're just nicer areas imo...

Maybe if you read the OP and actually understood it you would realise she's not looking for the "nicest" place she's looking for a hipster place with a sense of community, there's a difference.

latenia

Stoneybatter is so 2007; Blackpitts is where it's at these days baby.

Dyr

Stoneybatter is poncetastic and thus ideal, could'nt swing a pair of Koss portapro headphones around without clocking a hipster there.

LostPassword

latenia wrote: »

Stoneybatter is so 2007; Blackpitts is where it's at these days baby.

Hipster war!

Blackpitts is so, like, try-hard.

Put that in your corn-cob pipe and smoke it. :cool:

Merkin

I reckon Rathmines or Grand Canal Dock would be good spots for you.

Estaa.p

Thanks for this advise ... I'm not a poshy-brat... Like the old raw but not "rough" neighbourhood ....

Estaa.p

I will be working in Dublin city center ...

Lawrence1895

Estaa.p wrote: »

I will be working in Dublin city center ...

All areas mentioned, have decent bus connections. Or you could get a bike, it only takes a few minutes

Estaa.p

Thanks to you all ...
I guess the unanimity is encouraging FIELDSMITH and STONEYBATTER or............................. PORTOBELLO, maybe??

Estaa.p

Lars1916 wrote: »

All areas mentioned, have decent bus connections. Or you could get a bike, it only takes a few minutes

...The bike is an excellent IDEA !!

hmmm

I'd just be wary about someone who doesn't know Dublin being told to move to Stoneybatter/Smithfield/D8. There's obviously "cool" places to live there, but there's an awful lot of dodgy areas too - and how are they supposed to know which is which when they're looking for a place on the Interweb?

If it was me I'd recommend moving to somewhere like Rathmines at the start. That's not the coolest place in the world, but it's safe and lively with all the students - then once you know Dublin better, move to D8/D7 if you want.

Lawrence1895

Estaa.p wrote: »

...The bike is an excellent IDEA !!

I know, am cycling myself. Living off Collins Avenue, it only takes me 20 minutes into town, which is the maximum with traffic congestions and all the stuff

mardybumbum

hmmm wrote: »

I'd just be wary about someone who doesn't know Dublin being told to move to Stoneybatter/Smithfield/D8. There's obviously "cool" places to live there, but there's an awful lot of dodgy areas too - and how are they supposed to know which is which when they're looking for a place on the Interweb?

If it was me I'd recommend moving to somewhere like Rathmines at the start. That's not the coolest place in the world, but it's safe and lively with all the students - then once you know Dublin better, move to D8/D7 if you want.

There's nothing exceptionally dodgy about Smithfield or Stoneybatter compared to any other areas mentioned.

humberklog

Itelydefin Fieldsmith.

Laneyh

hmmm wrote: »

I'd just be wary about someone who doesn't know Dublin being told to move to Stoneybatter/Smithfield/D8. There's obviously "cool" places to live there, but there's an awful lot of dodgy areas too - and how are they supposed to know which is which when they're looking for a place on the Interweb?

If it was me I'd recommend moving to somewhere like Rathmines at the start. That's not the coolest place in the world, but it's safe and lively with all the students - then once you know Dublin better, move to D8/D7 if you want.

Well its unlikely they're going to go ahead and rent somewhere via the internet.
Someone who has enough gumption to find this forum and post to it surely has enough cop on to view the property. They should be able to suss it out for themselves. Go there in the evening walk around the place see how you feel. Suss out the local shops/ pubs / cafes you can tell a lot by the state of them.
Unless you move to a leafy suburb pretty much all areas of Dublin are mixed.
Even if you reside in a leafy suburb chances are you will be in close proximity to a dodgy area / dodgy people at some point.

Also, dodgy covers a multitude - I've lived in Arbor Hill / Stoneybatter for 5 years and whilst I've seen a few unsavoury things have never been the victim of crime of any sort and never really felt unsafe.

quaalude

Around Portobello would probably suit you, OP - it's a very diverse mix of people, with nice places to get coffee, eat and drink. Lots of music and art.
It's also very safe for walking home from town - safer, in my opinion, than the walk home to Stoneybatter, nice as Stoneybatter itself is.
I know lots of girls in their 30's who live in Portobello and work in town, and are in bands and into going to gigs, so I think it would suit you well.

admiralofthefleet

just be careful of the notorious charlemont street flats that are in Portobello

schemingbohemia

hmmm wrote: »

I'd just be wary about someone who doesn't know Dublin being told to move to Stoneybatter/Smithfield/D8. There's obviously "cool" places to live there, but there's an awful lot of dodgy areas too - and how are they supposed to know which is which when they're looking for a place on the Interweb?

If it was me I'd recommend moving to somewhere like Rathmines at the start. That's not the coolest place in the world, but it's safe and lively with all the students - then once you know Dublin better, move to D8/D7 if you want.

Quality of accommodation in Rathmines can be poor, she's older than most students (no offence, just a fact).

When I was early 30's the thoughts of living next door to, or with, a load of students would not be a plus.

The OP can come back on here and ask for further advice on specific streets - for Stoneybatter I'd recommend as near to the main street as possible and as far away from O'Devaney Gardens as possible. Mates of mine lived in Kirwan Street Cottages years ago and that was a nice spot (not sure what it's like now).

efb

Dub 7/8 def

Estaa.p

Laneyh wrote: »

Well its unlikely they're going to go ahead and rent somewhere via the internet.
Someone who has enough gumption to find this forum and post to it surely has enough cop on to view the property. They should be able to suss it out for themselves. Go there in the evening walk around the place see how you feel. Suss out the local shops/ pubs / cafes you can tell a lot by the state of them.
Unless you move to a leafy suburb pretty much all areas of Dublin are mixed.
Even if you reside in a leafy suburb chances are you will be in close proximity to a dodgy area / dodgy people at some point.

Also, dodgy covers a multitude - I've lived in Arbor Hill / Stoneybatter for 5 years and whilst I've seen a few unsavoury things have never been the victim of crime of any sort and never really felt unsafe.

After being robed at gun point in the streets of NYC at 8pm ... I will defo be prudent ...I intend go to back and forth between Dublin and London from February on.

latenia

I actually wouldn't get too hung up on moving to any particular area; the centre of Dublin is very compact-pretty much everywhere between the canals would be suitable. People are going on about Stoneybatter but in truth there's not a whole lot going on there, it can be grim in places and it's quite a distance from the bulk of the pubs, clubs and restaurants you'll be going to.
My own preference would be D8 east of Cork St and anywhere in D2.

Aard

"Anywhere between the canals" is a bit general, no? There's some of the swankiest apartments in the city (like Mount Street or around Grand Canal Dock) to charming middle class houses (around SCR/Portobello, or indeed Stoneybatter) to some of the dodgiest parts of the city (Dolphin's Barn, Monto). I wouldn't willy-nilly suggest moving into just anywhere in the city centre; I would get hung on particular areas, and so should the OP imo.

carolmon

Aard wrote: »

"Anywhere between the canals" is a bit general, no? There's some of the swankiest apartments in the city (like Mount Street or around Grand Canal Dock) to charming middle class houses (around SCR/Portobello, or indeed Stoneybatter) to some of the dodgiest parts of the city (Dolphin's Barn, Monto). I wouldn't willy-nilly suggest moving into just anywhere in the city centre; I would get hung on particular areas, and so should the OP imo.

Monto?
Where's that?

Birneybau

carolmon wrote: »

Monto?
Where's that?

More like, when's that

wikipedia.org/wiki/Monto

latenia

It was demolished 90 years ago so there isn't much danger of the op ending up there; Foley St today is quite popular with young foreigners (as is Dolphin's Barn.) If a room or property is advertised on daft and is currently being rented by other young working people then it's probably in an acceptable location-if Anto from Basin St flats has decided to make a few quid renting out his spare room then I'm sure our friend has enough cop on to turn it down. You're never more than a few hundred yards from rough public housing no matter where you go, so there's not a huge difference in safety from one part of the centre to another. The only place I'd rule out completely is the depths of Summerhill/Ballybough.

carolmon

i know the old monto, just haven't heard it used anytime in recent years, was wondering if there was another area where the name was being used.

AnonoBoy

latenia wrote: »

People are going on about Stoneybatter but in truth there's not a whole lot going on there, it can be grim in places and it's quite a distance from the bulk of the pubs, clubs and restaurants you'll be going to.
.

I dunno about that. In Stoneybatter/Smithfield you have: vintage markets, arthouse cinema, music venue/arts venue (the joinery), arts workshops, yoga, community days like the Sitric Picnic, a great deli/coffee shop (Lilliput), one of the best pubs in Dublin (Mulligan's) added to that it's only 20/25 minutes walk to the city centre and the fact that living there she's more likely to be sharing/in close proximity to likeminded arty type folks I'd say it's got a lot going on.

Sadderday

the docks, swanky apartments, very close to town, option of the luas, funky weekend market outside the 02, 30 mins from airport, lit up, professionals and students, looks pretty funky these days, if i had the money i'd live there too

schemingbohemia

Sadderday wrote: »

the docks, swanky apartments, very close to town, option of the luas, funky weekend market outside the 02, 30 mins from airport, lit up, professionals and students, looks pretty funky these days, if i had the money i'd live there too

yeah but it's not exactly "hipsterville" is it, which is what the OP is looking for - no matter how many google employees with their fixies and courier bags there are there

AnonoBoy

That weekend market at the O2 is a bit meh to be honest.

Aard

carolmon wrote: »

Monto?
Where's that?

Couldn't think of a more concise way of describing the area around Foley St, James Joyce St, Railway St, Gardiner St. Probably a little too anachronistic of me :pac:

---

Even though it's miles different today from the days of yesteryear, there's no doubt that it's still dodgy and not on par with other parts of the city "between the canals".