Dublin's Best Coffee Shops
Dublin has firmly established itself as one of Europe’s most exciting coffee cities, with a new generation of independent cafés raising the standard across everything from sourcing to service. What was once a modest scene has evolved into something genuinely world-class—defined by skilled baristas, thoughtful roasting, and spaces that are as considered as the coffee itself. Whether you’re after a carefully brewed single-origin filter or a perfectly balanced flat white with something fresh from the kitchen, you won’t have to look far.
Camden Street sits right at the centre of it all. Lined with some of the city’s best cafés and within easy walking distance of many more, it’s the ideal starting point for exploring Dublin’s coffee culture. This guide brings together ten of our favourite spots nearby
Bestseller
There is nowhere quite like Bestseller in Dublin — or perhaps anywhere. Occupying the grand, high-ceilinged premises of the former National Bible Society of Ireland on Dawson Street, it is a café that makes you want to slow down. Art deco posters line the walls, bookshelves crowd the corners, and the gentle hum of conversation mingles with dim, warm lighting. It is, quite simply, one of the most beautiful rooms in the city to sit in.
The coffee is top-quality — rich, smooth, and handled by staff who clearly know their craft. The menu runs from expertly made espresso drinks to fresh pastries, sandwiches, sharing platters, and a selection of vegetarian options. On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings the café transforms further still, when the Glass Mask Theatre company takes to the small stage — making Bestseller the only coffee shop in Dublin where you can enjoy a flat white alongside a new writing performance.
One Kinda Folk
If Dublin has one coffee shop that stops people in their tracks, it’s this one. Tucked behind a lush ivy wall in the heart of Ranelagh, One Kinda Folk was born from an abandoned yoga shed and what owner Rachel Elliman has created in its place is nothing short of magical. Inspired by her years living in Byron Bay, Australia, she built a sun-dappled oasis filled with dried flowers, mismatched pots, and the aroma of specialty coffee and chai drifting through the air.
The coffee is proudly sourced from Dublin’s own 3fe roasters, and the menu stretches from cortados and flat whites to striking lavender matcha lattes and vivid blue matcha concoctions that look almost too good to drink. Fresh pastries arrive daily from local suppliers such as the overnight oats and cinnamon buns. The space is pet-friendly, the staff genuinely warm, and the neighbourhood garden inside is a rare slice of quiet in a busy city. A second location on Upper Leeson Street now brings the same magic to Dublin 4.
Volumes
Twist
In the heart of Temple Bar a neighbourhood better known for nightlife than neighbourhood cafés. Twist has quietly built a reputation as one of the finest artisan bakeries and specialty coffee destinations in the city. An authentic Irish operation through and through, everything here is made with care using time-honoured recipes and honest ingredients: flaky croissants and French pastries baked fresh every morning in small batches, handcrafted cakes and decadent brownies, beautifully made sourdough and vegan and gluten-free options that never feel like an afterthought.
The coffee is handled with the same seriousness with specialty beans, knowledgeable staff, and a café space that offers a welcome alternative to the tourist-facing spots that dominate this part of the city.
Shoe Lane Coffee
Slightly off the beaten track near Tara Street Station, Shoe Lane is a quiet revelation for anyone who finds it. This artisanal coffee shop has been quietly perfecting its craft since 2016, serving single-origin brews alongside freshly baked pastries in a laid-back atmosphere that feels miles from the city-centre bustle just outside the door.
The baristas are knowledgeable and genuinely enthusiastic happy to walk first-timers through the menu or recommend something unexpected. The cinnamon rolls have developed a loyal following among regulars, and the flat whites are consistently excellent.
Elliot’s
The third venture from the team behind Oxmantown and Cotto, Elliot’s arrived in Smithfield with little fanfare but quickly made its presence felt. Set within a characterful, historic building, the space is as visually impressive as it is food-focused. At the centre of the café sits a gleaming Slayer espresso machine a clear nod to the team’s commitment to precision and quality. Coffee comes from Cloud Picker, Dublin’s first micro-roastery, with each shot carefully dialled in to showcase the beans at their best.
But it’s the pastries that have people queuing down the street. The baking programme at Elliot’s is exceptional expect blood orange and lemon tarts, pistachio and rhubarb choux, apricot and elderflower galettes, and what many visitors call the finest almond croissant they’ve ever eaten. The maple pecan and sea salt caramel brioche is the stuff of dreams. Come early as sellouts are a daily occurrence.
Brew Lab
Just down the street from the hotel is Brew Lab which is one of Dublin’s most respected specialty coffee spots. Its’ known for doing the fundamentals exceptionally well. The menu features a rotating selection of coffees, so you can choose between different origins and flavour profiles rather than a single house blend, and everything from espresso to milk drinks is made with real precision. There’s also a dedicated brew bar where filter and pour-over coffees are prepared to order, offering a slower, more considered alternative to the usual takeaway. Beans change regularly, so there’s always something new to try, and cold brew and nitro are available year-round. A small, well-chosen pastry selection, including good gluten-free options, rounds things out making it a reliable go-to whether you’re a coffee enthusiast or just after a very good cup.
Kaph
Tucked into Dublin’s Creative Quarter, Kaph has long been a go-to for the city’s designers, artists, and serious coffee drinkers. Its house blend has earned a loyal following complex, balanced, and delivered with impressive consistency while the oat milk flat white is often singled out as one of the best in Dublin. The space itself is bright and art-filled, with a relaxed, creative energy that makes it as good for lingering as it is for a quick stop.
What sets Kaph apart is how seamlessly the coffee and atmosphere come together both feel carefully considered, neither overstated. Just off Grafton Street, it’s an easy detour from the crowds
Two Pups Coffee
74 Francis Street, Dublin 8
Two Pups is much more than a coffee stop it’s a full brunch café with a strong kitchen at its core. Alongside consistently good specialty coffee made with rotating beans from top Irish and international roasters, the food offering is what really draws people in: a proper, sit-down menu of breakfast and lunch dishes that go well beyond the usual café staples. Expect things like shakshuka, eggs on sourdough with miso butter, and seasonal plates such as cauliflower hash or daily specials, alongside more indulgent sandwiches and house-made cakes.
Cloud Picker
Dublin’s first micro-roastery, Cloud Picker was founded by two friends united by a shared obsession with the full journey of the coffee bean from farm to cup. They roast their own beans in-house and serve them at their Fumbally Lane café in a setting that is relaxed and unpretentious, yet the coffee itself is anything but casual. Single-origin espressos and carefully prepared filter coffees sit alongside a thoughtful food menu in a space that feels genuinely independent and rooted in the city.