Capel Street was named one of the world’s coolest streets by TimeOut. Outranking streets in several big-hitting cities, such as New York, Tokyo and Madrid; Capel Street nabbed the 22nd spot on the list. The street was praised for its laidback, multicultural vibes.
Capel Street’s charms aren’t immediately obvious. Unlike Grafton Street with its glamourous shops and proximity to high-end hotels, or Temple Bar with its slew of tourist-friendly pubs, Capel Street grows on you.
The area offers a plethora of no-frills spots to eat from sushi to authentic pho, as well as a heady mix of old-school shops and businesses such as Lenehans Hardware which has called the street home since 1890 and Louis Copeland & Sons, a family-run tailor for four generations. These beloved institutions sit comfortably between scooter shops, hemp stores and vintage record shops.
Adding to this, the street has recently been pedestrianised, making it a stellar spot for sipping pints or coffee in the sun.
Being on Capel Street makes you feel like you are ‘in the know’; always a terrific feeling when visiting a city. Who doesn’t love feeling like they’ve bypassed the tourist traps and are hanging out in areas beloved by locals.
Eat: We are in agreement with TimeOut on this- from Korean fried chicken to Corn Dogs on a stick at secret restaurant White Rabbit, hidden between the aisles at the back of the Super Asia Foods supermarket. This is a masterclass in Asian street food.
Coffee: Brother Hubbards has established itself as one of Dublin’s most endeared cafés – and for excellent reason. It provides simple, but interesting, food made from scratch. The stylish decor of shiny brass, plants and books add to its appeal.
Bar: TimeOut encourages its readers to ‘spend a bleary night at Pantibar: the LGBTQ+ hub that’s home to Ireland’s most famous drag queen, Panti’. Pantibar has atmosphere in spades, it also promotes all the incredibly good, off-beat theatre going on in Dublin, such as thisispopbaby productions.
Shopping: Although Camden Street probably still holds the number one spot for Vintage shopping in Dublin, Capel Street is in hot pursuit. The NCBI charity shop has a top-notch vintage section, typically chock-full of art students and the young and beautiful hunting for something special.
Shoutout: Lenehans Hardware is stuffed to the gills with every item you could possibly need for your home. From bags of clothes pegs to every paint brand from the straight-forward to the most boujie!
Famous Flex: The wonderful celebrity chef, King of Cool himself, Anthony Bourdain recommended the full Irish breakfast in Slatterys.
