Experiencing a so-called coffee boom over the past couple of years, the quality of cafes and coffeehouses within Dublin has risen tremendously. With independent coffee shops popping up all over Dublin, here’s our guide to the top 10 to visit for that perfect cup.
Exterior of the Bernard Shaw with Coffee ToGetHer housed inside | Courtesy of Coffee ToGetHer
Coffee ToGetHer
Operating on weekdays in one of Dublin’s most popular pubs, The Bernard Shaw, Coffee ToGetHer has a lot of character. Run by the friendliest of Italians, it not only has a Mediterranean vibe to it, but with its vibrant tablecloths, interesting art and above all its unusual location (an Italian cafe inside an Irish pub), Coffee To Get Her is something out of the ordinary. The Sicilian, Moak coffee is delicious but for something different try their specialty, a ‘Nuttellino’, consisting of a shot of espresso, inside a cup coated in Nutella, topped with a touch of milk.
3FE, standing for Third Floor Espresso, has been the pioneer of the booming Irish coffee scene. The founder and four-time Irish Barista Champion Colin Harmon, who made a radical career change from investment banking, has set an incredibly high standard in his pursuit of the perfect coffee. 3FE now roasts its own beans and is rapidly becoming a household name. In fact, their own coffee is so good that they supply two other nearby cafes, namely Brother Hubbard and Vice Coffee.
Situated on the ground floor of the Chester Beatty Library in Dublin Castle, this Middle Eastern-influenced serves good tea and coffee, and even better cakes. In-keeping with the collections housed at the library’s museum, the cafe’s menu serves North African and Middle Eastern-style cuisine, with plenty of halal, coeliac and vegetarian-friendly options. Stroll through the grounds of Dublin Castle and make a stop along the Silk Road for an exotic tea and a treat before marveling at the collections held at one of the best museums in Europe.
Two Fifty Square is located just off the main street in Rathmines, this converted bakery has a secluded, yet inclusive feel to it. The owners roast their own beans on site and also have a great variety of loose-leaf teas.
This quaint little cafe on Capel Street serves a good lunch and breakfast. Not only this, but Brother Hubbard has also managed to get the coffee right too, with rich, intense and unadulterated flavors available in several varieties. With a selection of artisanal teas and homemade cold drinks, this is a popular spot for a cozy afternoon.
If you’re looking for a spot of lunch to accompany that cup of coffee, The Fumbally is definitely worthy of a trip. Using only the freshest of ingredients, their food, cooked in their open-style kitchen, is delicious. The interior, decorated with peculiar pictures, antique musical instruments and mismatched couches, has a bohemian feel to it. Unusually, The Fumbally serves double shots as standard, and guest roasts often appear on the menu.
Clement and Pekoe’s mission is to ensure that their guests feel the love in every cup, and they certainly live up to this. The staff is extremely friendly and will go that little bit extra to help you choose from a wide array of the finest loose- leaf teas and freshly roasted coffee found in Dublin. With a very chic feel to its chandelier-laden interior complete with antique elements and a grand bar, Clement and Pekoe truly is a splendid place to escape from the busy city center and to sit back with a fine brew.
Some of the finest baristas in Dublin city learned their trade at Coffee Angel. They really do care about their coffee, offering an attention to detail not found in many other cafes, and serving specialty beans from Africa.
Roasted Brown‘s two baristas, Ferg and Rob, certainly know a thing or two when it comes to coffee and will always be at hand to help you choose that perfect cup. Streaming with natural light, thanks to the enormous window, this cafe is a great base to unwind on a comfy couch.
Vice attracts a diverse crowd drawn to its excellent coffee. Hosting coffee-associated events, which sometimes involve drinking the other kind of black stuff (Guinness), such as their ‘Barista Jam’ and ‘Latte Art Throwdown’, Vice has taken enthusiasm for coffee in Dublin to a whole new level. They serve some of the finest beans to be found in Europe.
