Portobello was one of Dublin’s first ‘suburbs’. It has a rich history and an undeniable cachet. Here are three homes for sale that show its aspirational credentials in full colour
If there was a competition to anoint the Notting Hill of Dublin, Portobello would likely be in with a good shout.
It is a neighbourhood with an impossibly chic collection of dining spots, casual and otherwise, cool bars and nightspots, and it has an eclectic collection of retail and a diverse population, despite its relatively upmarket real estate position.
It is also very close to the centre of the city and has a wide range of (mostly) Victorian housing stock, including some of the city's oldest former working-class accommodation, as well as some of the capital’s grandest middle-class and professional housing, some of which have become 21st-century trophy homes.
If you are a first-time buyer in this hood, then you are definitely of the more salubrious genus of FTB. Similarly, if you are a trader-upper, you are probably trading by day in one of the better-paid professions.
The three homes here probably represent the middle to upper range of the market in the area: a well-kept two-bed terrace on Warren Street for €575,000, a chic villa-style terrace on Curzon Street for €945,000 and an apartment in the award-winning Daintree Building for €495,000.
Agent: Sherry FitzGerald
Warren Street is a quiet, established street just off the South Circular Road, and No. 10 is a mid-terrace house of about 70sq m.
It may have been built by the Dublin Artisan Dwelling towards the end of the 19th century.
It has a living/dining room, a kitchen, two good-sized bedrooms and a bathroom, with a private decked area at the back big enough for a table and chairs.
It is in good nick and ready to move into, though there is probably room to extend subject to planning. Parking is on-street, by permit.
5 Curzon Street, €945,000 Agent: Lisney/ Sotheby’s
Curzon Street is a quiet, mature road in the middle of Portobello, and No. 5 is a red-brick, bay-windowed villa on its western side.
It has been remodelled and extended to about 130sq m, with three bedrooms and two bathrooms.
The front of the house keeps its period detail.
The sitting room has a ceiling of about 11ft, with cornicing, dado rail, the original floor and a painted timber fireplace flanked by built-in cabinets.
From the hall, steps lead down to the third bedroom, which has a cast-iron fireplace, as well as a bathroom, a utility room and the main living space.
That space is a kitchen/dining room almost 9m long, with a glass wall down one side overlooking the courtyard, Velux rooflights, built-in seating and a gas stove. Upstairs are two more bedrooms, one with an en suite.
The landscaped courtyard faces west, measures about 8.85m by 2.8m and has pedestrian access to the rear. The BER is C. Bibi's, Brother Hubbard and Alma are nearby.
The first open viewing is this Saturday, 3 October, 11.30am to 12pm.
4 The Daintree Building, €495,000
Agent: Felicity Fox
The Daintree Building, just off Pleasants Place is a development of eight apartments designed with energy use in mind.
Heating and hot water come from a combination of solar panels, geothermal ground-source heating and condensing gas boilers, and both are included in the service charge.
A gated archway from the street opens onto a courtyard garden which is also home to the Cake Café.
No. 4 is on the second floor, one of two apartments on that level, and measures about 57 sq m. It is dual aspect with high ceilings.
A hall with a large storage room leads to the two bedrooms and a bathroom with a full-size bath. The main bedroom has a walk-in wardrobe. The second is a small double that would work as a home office.
At the end of the hall is the open-plan kitchen, living and dining room, about 5m by 4m, with wood and granite worktops and integrated appliances.
A glazed door opens onto a west-facing balcony that runs the length of the apartment. At 74cm deep, it is a place for a chair rather than a dinner party.
The BER is B2.
