Smithfield Square
Smithfield Square
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The area
Neighborhood: North City Centre
How to get there
- Smithfield • 2 min walk
- Four Courts • 5 min walk
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.0
66 reviews
Excellent
20
Very good
27
Average
15
Poor
3
Terrible
1
Saralaw
52 contributions
Sep 2012 • Family
We rented an apartment directly across from the Smithfield tower. Although sadly the tower isn't open, this was a great area as a base for a trip to Dublin. Everything was within walking distance, including a Luas stop at one end of the square. We had a nice grocery store, a great breakfast restaurant, a cinema featuring interesting films, several eateries and two great pubs in the Cobblestones and Frank Ryans within metres of our door. The horse market was on when we were there. It was not grim. The horses were polished up and trotting around in a showy way pulling small horse carts. They weren't the dirty, bedraggled ponies that we expected. The apartment was new and flash and our teenagers loved it. Great views of Four Courts lit up at night.
Written September 6, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
letterkennycaint
Letterkenny, Ireland12,167 contributions
Sep 2013 • Solo
Smithfield stretches from the Liffey to the south, up to North King Street, and between Queen Street and Bow Street, and the planners thought it would be Dublin's next Temple Bar. However, on the East side of Smithfield, you have the flats, and the children's court was there also, so in effect, it wasn't a square at all, and the court attracted a bad crowd, who hung around for hours, writing graffiti, and generally been a nuisance, with the result that a lot of apartments lay empty, even to this day.
It's a pity, because with some more planning, it could have worked. However, it does have some good points, like a cinema, Jameson's Distillery, a couple of nice bars and restaurants, the LUAS, a hotel, gym, and a supermarket. Definitely worth a gawk, but I would not recommend it after dark.
Also, the horse fair is held there twice yearly. It used to be held on the first Sunday of every month, but because of trouble associated with it, and the expense of policing it, they clamped down. But if your in town while the fair is on, go down and watch the carry on, and bring your camera.
It's a pity, because with some more planning, it could have worked. However, it does have some good points, like a cinema, Jameson's Distillery, a couple of nice bars and restaurants, the LUAS, a hotel, gym, and a supermarket. Definitely worth a gawk, but I would not recommend it after dark.
Also, the horse fair is held there twice yearly. It used to be held on the first Sunday of every month, but because of trouble associated with it, and the expense of policing it, they clamped down. But if your in town while the fair is on, go down and watch the carry on, and bring your camera.
Written September 12, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JW D
Moscow, Russia48 contributions
Jul 2014 • Solo
Smithfield, a "reimagining" of an historic part of Dublin, was going to be many things - in plans. And the odd time it wakes up for an event (and did so even better when the "flaming torch" lighting worked). But what actually resulted was the rather bleak windblown space of Smithfield Square, with mixed-outcome urban regeneration around.
However, there are some very decent cafes and pubs (at least two have good music too) and the reasonable Jameson Old Distillery / Visitor Centre (and the slightly disappointing Observation Tower, closed for some time), and the broad area from the River Liffey past the Four Courts, and left and right from there, is worth a walk. And if you catch the Horse Fair, sited here since medieval times, you experience a genuine (meaning sometimes untidy) bit of Dublin life. Smithfield as a whole is pretty accessible, but the cobbled area of the square is not great for anything with wheels, or anyone not 100% steady on the legs. The Luas (tram) runs alongside.
Never had any problems myself, but some caution after dark might be best.
However, there are some very decent cafes and pubs (at least two have good music too) and the reasonable Jameson Old Distillery / Visitor Centre (and the slightly disappointing Observation Tower, closed for some time), and the broad area from the River Liffey past the Four Courts, and left and right from there, is worth a walk. And if you catch the Horse Fair, sited here since medieval times, you experience a genuine (meaning sometimes untidy) bit of Dublin life. Smithfield as a whole is pretty accessible, but the cobbled area of the square is not great for anything with wheels, or anyone not 100% steady on the legs. The Luas (tram) runs alongside.
Never had any problems myself, but some caution after dark might be best.
Written May 26, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gnuni
Dublin, Ireland28 contributions
I absolutely detest that they still sell horses so cheaply that they are bought by the worst of the worst kind of people who abuse and neglect them. It's shocking and the Irish government really should change the laws.
Written January 5, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
OsgurOCiardha
Dublin, Ireland4 contributions
Apr 2015 • Solo
Smithfield provides a refreshing and authentic balance to the Paddywhackery evident in some other quarters. All Dublin life is here. Mirroring the mixing of different ocean currents, this creates fertile territory for cultural evolution, innovation and creativity. Whether you are looking for art, music, food or drinks: Block T, My Meat Wagon, Oscars, Cinnamon, Dice Bar, The Cobblestones, Generator , Jameson Distillery, Fresh SuperMarket, Wuff, Frank Ryans all surround the square are and will welcome you in an authentic and genuine way.
Written April 3, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tablepourdeux
Dublin, Ireland817 contributions
Mar 2012 • Couples
I'm sure that when the architects' plans for Smithfield Market were drawn up back in the heady days of the Celtic Tiger it was envisaged as a happening place where high-income apartment dwellers would sit sipping their cappucinos in the terraces of the cafes and restaurants planned for the area. Unfortunately the reality is somewhat different. We visited the Market to see a film in the recently reopened Lighthouse cinema, and the cinema is the jewel in a otherwise tawdry crown. The main problem is that due to the economic downturn the commercial sites planned for the area have largely never opened, or opened an closed, with the result that there is nothing to do when you get there. One of the few retail units in the area was openly selling knock-off Louis Vutton bags. The apartments overpower the market area and the steel lighting rigs that dominate the square are out of proportion and ugly. To reach the area itself by foot from town centre is a twenty minute walk through some dodgy and unatttactive areas and I certainly wouldn't recommend approaching the area by foot after dark - take the Luas instead. The old Smithfield market building itself is grafitti and litter strewn - a shame as it is a wonderful building with great potential. The only attraction for tourists is the Jameson distillery, which makes the area a one trick pony. Avoid.
Written May 1, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
motorcar1
Dublin, Ireland14,387 contributions
Oct 2020 • Couples
Smithfield Square is unrecognisable from what it was before the rejuvenation for the 21st century. I’m in the motor industry and I remember going to the Corporation Weight Bridge at the top of the square to get vans weighted to get them taxed. Today the old businesses and scrapyards are gone and it’s a beautiful cosmopolitan area with tourist attractions bars, restaurants, museums and a cinema plus lots of apartments
Written October 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stella B
Orvinio, Italy59 contributions
Apr 2018
This large public space has a lot going for it. One one end of the Square runs the public tram line running from west Dublin, through the shopping district and ending at the Train Station. One long side of Smithfield Square houses a large hostel/bar/restaurant/indoor space and residences.. The opposite side has a funky vintage clothing LGBT shop, studios for the arts and films, a grocery store, a hotel and bar/cafes. The fourth side has a large painted mural on a brick building and an Irish pub playing live music and draft beers. On any given day one can observe children playing, shoppers resting on the benches, people eating outside and school children walking. The village of Smithfield is only a 10 minute walk away and its high street has a hardware store, fish and chips shop, pubs and local businesses, all convenient. At night Smithfield Square is illuminated well and the traditional brick architecture is a fine backdrop to the more modern light poles and steel fencing. Various events are held during the summer months.
Written March 7, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Professor_Sparrow 🇮🇪 🇲🇦
Dublin, Ireland15,259 contributions
Jul 2017 • Friends
I must have walked through Smithfield Square a million times over and would have never seen this as a place to review. However, after having being here recently to attend a couple of public social functions, I thought I would give it a mention.
It's mainly just an open space with a number of cafes & restaurants, a couple of bars, a hotel, a hostel and Jameson all in close proximity.
For the most part nothing much happens in the Square but the horse fair is held here a few times a year and the space is also used for social events. I was here recently to spend time at the 'Hotter Than July' festival, with some very good bands from around the globe.
Yes, it's just a Square, an open space that could have been so much more had they had planned a little better. But hey, it is what it is and when it is used for events, it works really well.
It's mainly just an open space with a number of cafes & restaurants, a couple of bars, a hotel, a hostel and Jameson all in close proximity.
For the most part nothing much happens in the Square but the horse fair is held here a few times a year and the space is also used for social events. I was here recently to spend time at the 'Hotter Than July' festival, with some very good bands from around the globe.
Yes, it's just a Square, an open space that could have been so much more had they had planned a little better. But hey, it is what it is and when it is used for events, it works really well.
Written September 10, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Elle F
Tustin, CA206 contributions
Jan 2016 • Friends
Smithfield square is a wonderful location.
The Maldron Hotel on one end, and the Cinnamon Cafe on the other. Between you will find an Italian restaurant, a little antique shop, and the Jameson Distillery on the other end. I loved staying here. I nearly forgot, there is also a small playground for children.
It is fairly well lit at night as well. Watch your footing on the cobblestone. It is not even and your luggage is not going to just glide over it.
The Maldron Hotel on one end, and the Cinnamon Cafe on the other. Between you will find an Italian restaurant, a little antique shop, and the Jameson Distillery on the other end. I loved staying here. I nearly forgot, there is also a small playground for children.
It is fairly well lit at night as well. Watch your footing on the cobblestone. It is not even and your luggage is not going to just glide over it.
Written July 29, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
What sight seeing places are there to visit at Smith field
Written January 17, 2016
Just off the square there is the famous Jameson Whiskey Brewery but we didn`t go there so cannot comment. In the square itself is The Story Of Ireland, an interactive sort of theatrical museum/experience (well worth visiting) and one stop on the tram is The National Museum (Collins Barracks) which is excellent and we spent half a day there. I didn`t think the square itself was too special but there is plenty to see and do in the vicinity...good place to stay, quieter than city centre but easy access to
everything.
Written January 20, 2016
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