30 cafes worth the trip across Ireland, editor-ranked by TableJourney. All Ireland guides.
3fe Grand Canal ★ 4.7 · Dublin
docklands · 32-34 Grand Canal Street Lower, Dublin 2, D02 TD58
3fe Grand Canal in Dublin 2, the flagship of Colin Harmon's roastery, the city's most polished filter coffee on the south side of Pearse Street's tech.
Tip: Eight 3fe cafes across Dublin; the Grand Canal flagship has the most seating and serves food until 15:00.
Filter Espresso and Brew Bar ★ 4.6 · Cork
19 Georges Quay, Cork
A multi-roaster brew bar in a Georgian-listed building on Georges Quay, serving rotating filter coffees alongside espresso from the best Irish and European.
Coffeewerk + Press ★ 4.6 · Galway
latin-quarter · 4 Quay Street, Galway, H91 R6V1
Coffeewerk and Press on Quay Street Galway is among the world's best cafes, pairing specialty coffee from rotating roasters with design objects.
Tip: The ground-floor bar is great for a quick espresso; the upper floor is calmer for a longer stay.
Kai Restaurant Cafe ★ 4.6 · Galway
westend · 22 Sea Road, Galway, H91 DX47
Kai Restaurant Cafe's walk-in lunch in Galway from Tuesday to Saturday is the most accessible way to experience Jess Murphy's Michelin Green Star kitchen.
Tip: No reservations for lunch; arrive at 12:00 to guarantee a seat as the room is small and fills within 30 minutes.
Alchemy Coffee and Bookstore ★ 4.5 · Cork
123 Barrack Street, Cork, T12 A594
A bookstore and specialty coffee counter on Barrack Street that became Cork's most unlikely neighbourhood landmark, with a shelved interior, a changing.
Farmgate Cafe ★ 4.5 · Cork
English Market Quarter · English Market, Princes Street, Cork
The English Market gallery cafe open from morning, serving Cork's traditional daytime dishes with market produce. Soda bread and butter is the anchor item.
3fe Sussex Terrace ★ 4.5 · Dublin
ranelagh-ballsbridge · 7 Sussex Terrace, Dublin 4, D04 NP78
3fe on Sussex Terrace in Dublin 4, the small Forest Avenue neighbour, four-seat counter, the morning 3fe espresso for the southside before work commute.
Tip: Counter only; arrive 09:00-10:00 weekdays. The bun pastry case empties by 11:00 on Saturdays.
Brother Hubbard North ★ 4.5 · Dublin
north-inner-city · 153 Capel Street, Dublin 1, D01 V9V0
Brother Hubbard North on Capel Street in Dublin 1, Garrett FitzGerald and James Boland's original Middle Eastern brunch room, the Capel Street weekend anchor.
Tip: Walk-in only Saturday and Sunday from 09:30; the queue starts before doors. Wednesday breakfast is the calm window.
Two Pups Coffee ★ 4.5 · Dublin
the-liberties · 74 Francis Street, Dublin 8, D08 KA43
Two Pups Coffee on Francis Street in Dublin 8, a Liberties counter and brunch room, the southside's strongest cortado and one of the city's brunch references.
Tip: Walk-in only; arrive 09:30 Saturday before the queue. Two long tables share with strangers; the window stools turn fast.
The Fumbally Cafe ★ 4.5 · Dublin
the-liberties · Fumbally Lane, Dublin 8, D08 HFF2
The Fumbally cafe on Fumbally Lane in Dublin 8, Aisling Rogerson's open-plan day cafe inside a fermentation hub, the kitchen the Liberties learned.
Tip: Communal tables; walk-in only and bag check at the door. Open 08:00 Tuesday to Saturday; Sunday 10:00-15:00.
Arán Artisan Bakery and Bistro ★ 4.5 · Kilkenny
barrack-street · 8 Barrack Street, Kilkenny, R95 YF30
Arán on Barrack Street is Kilkenny's most-awarded cafe, Ireland's Best Brunch winner, with stone-baked sourdough and seasonally driven plates.
Cork Coffee Roasters ★ 4.4 · Cork
City Centre · 2 French Church Street, Cork
The city's own roastery and cafe on French Church Street, using a cast-iron roaster from the 1930s and serving single-origin espresso from their own beans.
Filter South Main Street ★ 4.4 · Cork
City Centre · South Main Street, Cork
The second Filter location on South Main Street, extending the multi-roaster model to the city's south side with the same rotating-roaster espresso format.
L'Atitude 51 ★ 4.4 · Cork
1 Union Quay, Cork
A cave-a-manger wine bar on Union Quay that opens as a daytime coffee spot, serving locally roasted West Cork Coffee before the natural wine programme.
Vice Coffee Inc ★ 4.4 · Dublin
north-inner-city · 54 Abbey Street Middle, Dublin 1, D01 E2X4
Vice Coffee Inc on Middle Abbey Street in Dublin 1, inside the Wigwam bar and venue, the small-batch specialty roaster pouring espresso and filter.
Tip: Counter inside Wigwam; the bar's coffee bar runs daytime hours. Closes 17:00 weekdays.
Twist Bakery ★ 4.4 · Dublin
temple-bar · 5 Bedford Row, Temple Bar, Dublin 2, D02 E393
Twist Bakery on Bedford Row in Temple Bar is a Dublin 2 artisan bakery and cafe with slow-fermented sourdough, croissants and morning specialty coffee.
Tip: Counter is busy from 07:00 weekdays; weekends open at 08:00. Walk-in only and limited seating, so plan for takeaway.
Low Lane ★ 4.4 · Kilkenny
st-kierans-street · 45 Saint Kieran's Street, Kilkenny
Low Lane opened in 2022 when Robyn and Mark Butler brought 3fe-trained specialty coffee back to Kilkenny, a walk-in-only room with all-day breakfast.
Cakeface Patisserie ★ 4.4 · Kilkenny
irishtown · 16 Irishtown, Kilkenny, R95 W634
Cakeface on Irishtown is Laura and Rory Gannon's patisserie cafe, French and London pastry training applied to a room housing Kilkenny's only coffee roastery.
Idaho Cafe ★ 4.3 · Cork
19 Caroline Street, Cork
Ireland's Best Cafe at the Irish Restaurant Awards 2013, operating quietly on Caroline Street with freshly baked scones, coffee and a focused daytime menu.
Cork Coffee Roasters Bridge Street ★ 4.3 · Cork
City Centre · 2 Bridge Street, Cork
The Bridge Street outpost of Cork Coffee Roasters, serving the same cast-iron-roasted single origins on the north side of the city centre. The roastery team.
The Bald Barista ★ 4.3 · Dublin
south-city-centre · 68 Aungier Street, Dublin 2
The Bald Barista on Aungier Street in Dublin 2, a two-floor specialty espresso bar with sweet treats and upstairs seating, the south-city centre's reliable.
Tip: Counter on the ground floor; the seating and toilet are upstairs. Outdoor tables at the front. Closed on Saturday and Sunday in most weeks.
Kaph ★ 4.3 · Dublin
south-city-centre · 31 Drury Street, Dublin 2, D02 Y684
Kaph on Drury Street in Dublin 2, an upstairs flat-white room over a Drury Street boutique, the southside's regular specialty espresso bar with quiet booths.
Tip: Two floors of stools; the upstairs window seat has the best Drury Street people-watching. Closes 17:30 weekdays.
Dela ★ 4.3 · Galway
westend · 51 Lower Dominick Street, Galway, H91 E3F1
Dela on Lower Dominick Street Galway runs a seven-day brunch service from 09:30 with farm-to-table plates, natural wines and specialty coffee.
Tip: The brunch menu is the main event; the dinner-only Thursday through Saturday extends the offering considerably.
Ard Bia at Nimmos Cafe ★ 4.3 · Galway
spanish arch · Spanish Arch, Long Walk, Galway, H91 E9XA
Ard Bia at Nimmos Cafe in Galway is a medieval stone room at the Spanish Arch serving breakfast and a weekend brunch with North African plates.
Tip: The riverside garden opens in warm weather; arrive early on weekend mornings to secure a table.
Greens and Co ★ 4.3 · Galway
latin-quarter · Cross Street Lower, Galway, H91 P4T7
Greens and Co is Galway's highest-rated vegan cafe according to HappyCow, with a kitchen that takes plant-based food seriously and a devoted local following.
Tip: A fully vegan kitchen; the baked goods change daily and the savoury plates rotate with the season.
Greenwich ★ 4.2 · Cork
City Centre · 19 Caroline Street, Cork, T12 Y208
Cork's Georgina Campbell Best Brunch Destination 2025, located behind Brown Thomas on Caroline Street with a focused daytime menu and well-sourced coffee.
On the Pigs Back Cafe ★ 4.2 · Cork
English Market, Princes Street, Cork
The sit-down counter attached to the On the Pigs Back stall at the English Market, serving coffee, French charcuterie plates and artisan cheese boards.
Mocha Beans Cross Street ★ 4.2 · Galway
latin-quarter · 1A Cross Street Lower, Galway, H91 K1H3
Mocha Beans on Cross Street Lower is a Galway-roasted specialty coffee bar serving the in-house blend that has anchored the family roastery since 1997.
Tip: One of seven Mocha Beans locations across Galway; the Cross Street bar sits in the heart of the Latin Quarter for a quick espresso between sights.
Corrib House Tea Rooms ★ 4.2 · Galway
spanish-arch · 3 Waterside, Woodquay, Galway, H91 T3V2
Corrib House Cafe in Galway is a restored Georgian townhouse on the Corrib riverbank serving freshly baked scones, cakes and light plates in a serene setting.
Tip: The garden in summer is Galway's quietest outdoor eating spot; closed Mondays.
Blackrock Cottage ★ 4.2 · Galway
salthill · Salthill Promenade, Galway, H91 KV9D
Blackrock Cottage beside the Salthill Diving Tower in Galway is a cafe-restaurant with specialty coffee, light bites and chowder overlooking Galway Bay.
Tip: Arrive early at weekends; the sea-facing seats above Salthill Diving Tower sell out first.