The Hox Dublin's Neighbourhood Shopping Guide

The Library Project – 6 min walk from The Hox – 4 Temple Bar Street, Dublin, D02 YK53 

In Dublin’s Temple Bar, directly across from one of Dublin’s most instagramable spots, The Temple Bar Pub you’ll find a bookstore that couldn’t feel further from being touristy. The Library Project is, as the sign on the door will tell you, a space “for visual culture and critical thinking”, run by PhotoIreland, an organisation dedicated to contemporary photography and visual arts.

The shelves strike a careful balance: classic international art texts sit alongside the latest releases, with a particular focus on supporting local artists. If you’re searching for something you genuinely can’t find elsewhere, their own publication, OVER journal, is a periodical covering photography and visual culture worth picking up.

Whether you’re hunting for a weighty read or the perfect coffee table book, it earns its detour. If you don’t have time to stop by on your trip, you can always shop online on  thelibraryproject.ie

Jenny Vander –  2 min walk from The Hox – 50 Drury St, Dublin, D02 K462

A feast for the eyes, Jenny Vander has been on Drury Street since the 1970s, long before vintage was a trend. The interior feels like stepping into a dollhouse, wallpapered, chandeliered, furnished with vintage upholstered pieces, a refreshing antidote to the harshly lit homogeneity of the high street. On the ground floor, glass-panelled wooden cabinets are piled with jewellery. Upstairs, reached via a staircase lined with hanging dresses on either side, the formal gowns take over.

The store specialises in pre-1960s attire, with many items available to be viewed on request only due to their fragility. There are no reproductions in the store, only genuine vintage, making every garment truly special. Fun fact! Daisy-Edgar Jones was styled in 1950s dresses from Jenny Vander in the television adaptation of Sally Rooney’s Normal People. 

LOOT – 2 min walk from the Hox – 23 Drury St, Dublin, D02 YE26 

Founded by Emma Fraser and Katie-Ruby McLaughlin and opened in May 2022, LOOT offers a different kind of vintage experience to the treasure-hunting energy of Jenny Vander. 

Step through the royal blue facade and the mood shifts: the interior is evocative of the 1990s: clean, considered, and deliberately easy to browse. Everything is handpicked with a sharp eye on quality and authenticity. 

LOOT is the kind of place where you might find Pucci capris or wraparound Dior sunglasses sitting quietly alongside something you didn’t know you were looking for. Head upstairs for menswear and a dedicated wall of higher-end bags.

Article – 4 min walk from The Hox – Powerscourt Townhouse, South William St, Dublin, D02 T189 

Inside Powercourt Center, a beautifully restored 18th century townhouse turned high end shopping center, Article is a wonderful “things” store. The setting is worth a visit, but the edit is what keeps you there. 

Full of beautifully curated homewares, you can pick up something Irish as a souvenir. Article stocks notebooks by Duffy Bookbinders, Ireland’s oldest bindery which has been family run for four generations. Another Irish highlight are ceramics by John Ryan, which are all designed and handmade by John himself at his workshop in Sligo. 

In addition to supporting local small businesses, Article stocks an exciting collection of international brands. A stand-out were felt flowers by Gry and Sif, a brand that pairs Danish design with traditional Nepalese felting techniques. 

Siopaella – 2 min walk from the Hox – 30 Wicklow Street, Dublin, D02 Y037

Founded in 2011 by Dublin-based owner Ella, the name translates to “Ella’s Shop”. Siopaella is the city’s leader in authenticated designer resale and consignment, so if you fancy picking up a Hermès bag just steps from the Hox, this is your spot.

Despite the luxury focus, Siopaella is reliably good for more budget-friendly finds too. When we visited, they were running an everything €5 sale in support of the Louis and Raquel Foundation, with a queue out the door and a D&G top among the spoils. We can’t promise the same luck every time, but Siopaella consistently has some of the best-curated second-hand collections in Dublin.