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.
Must order: Double espresso with a cardamom bun, on the move.
Tip: Counter only; arrive 09:00 to 10:00 weekdays. The bun pastry case empties by 11:00 on Saturdays.
Address: 7 Sussex Terrace, Dublin 4, D04 NP78
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.
Signature drink: Flat white
Order: Shakshuka with house bread; a cardamom French toast and a flat white to follow.
Tip: Walk-in only Saturday and Sunday from 09:30; the queue starts before doors. Wednesday breakfast is the calm window.
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.
Signature drink: Cortado
Order: Cortado on the house roast; the eggs Florentine with house hollandaise at brunch.
Tip: Walk-in only; arrive 09:30 Saturday before the queue. Two long tables share with strangers; the window stools turn fast.
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 for the Northside.
Signature drink: Espresso tonic
Order: Espresso tonic in summer, the seasonal filter in winter.
Tip: Counter inside Wigwam; the bar's coffee bar runs daytime hours. Closes 17:00 weekdays.
Network on Aungier Street in Dublin 2, a Heaney coffee roastery offshoot pouring Origin coffees, the city's most considered specialty pour with proper seating.
Signature drink: Filter coffee
Order: The rotating origin V60 filter; a tahini banana bread slice to share.
Tip: The basement is the work-friendly room; the ground floor is takeaway. Plug sockets at the back tables; quiet hours 14:30 to 16:30.
Bewley's Cafe on Grafton Street in Dublin, the Ernest Bewley grand cafe since 1927, restored across three floors, the city's heritage tea-room and lunch room.
Signature drink: Bewley's coffee blend
Order: The Bewley's house blend coffee and a sticky bun; an afternoon cream tea upstairs.
Tip: Three floors; the first floor is the historic Harry Clarke window room. The basement Theatre cafe runs lunchtime plays.
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 on for years.
Signature drink: Single-origin filter
Order: The Fumbally toast with cultured butter and house ferment; a filter coffee from the roastery board.
Tip: Communal tables; walk-in only and bag check at the door. Open 08:00 Tuesday to Saturday; Sunday 10:00 to 15:00.
