Discover the best of Ireland’s brews
With independent coffee shops and delicious blends across the island, you can enjoy a unique cup of coffee wherever you go.
Bewley’s Grafton Street is one of Dublin’s most iconic and celebrated landmarks, where warm, opulent décor draws you in, and the coffee and pastries are in a league of their own. This Irish-owned family business, founded in Dublin in 1840, was a favorite of James Joyce, Maud Gonne, and Samuel Beckett. No visit to Dublin is complete without enjoying a cup of coffee here. You can take one to go and explore St Stephen’s Green or while you enjoy some shopping on Grafton Street.
Established Coffee on Hill Street in Belfast has become an institution over the years, largely thanks to incredible service and staff who routinely encourage the Barista Surprise option, where a member of the crew selects a bean and makes a cup of filter coffee with a flourish. It’s the perfect pick-me-up after a day exploring St Anne’s Cathedral and The MAC nearby.
In Cork, it’s all about tradition at Cork Coffee Roasters on Bridge Steet, who roast their high-grown, green Arabica beans in a traditional cast iron coffee roaster that was built in the 1930s. It’s extra work, when you have that first sip, you know the effort was worth it. The Crawford Art Gallery is close by, or if you fancy a cozy pub, Sin É is a local favorite just across the road.
Looking to re-fuel after climbing the mystical Mourne Mountains in County Down? Head to Railway Street Café in Newcastle, where aromatic brews and hearty meals are the order of the day. Murlough Nature Reserve is on the doorstep, so it’s the perfect pit stop for nature enthusiasts.
And then, of course, there’s the main event – the decadent Irish coffee. Made with Irish whiskey and cream, Chef Joe Sheridan invented this iconic drink in County Limerick in 1942 County Limerick in 1942 by Chef Joe Sheridan at Foynes Port, where flying boats en route from Europe to America would stop to refuel.
Whipped up one winter’s night as a warming treat for passengers who were delayed due to bad weather, the late-night tipple became a classic. According to legend, a hush came over the crowd as the group took the first taste. “Is this Brazilian coffee?” someone asked. “No,” replied Joe, “that’s Irish coffee.” There are few better things on a cold winter evening than warming yourself by an open fire with a creamy Irish coffee.
Garavan’s, in the heart of Galway city, was named 2019 Whiskey Bar of Year and is renowned for its Irish coffee. In Dublin, head to The Brazen Head, one of Ireland’s oldest pubs, for the ultimate traditional Irish experience. In Belfast’s sophisticated Harlem, an Irish coffee is a perfect finish to a delicious bistro lunch.
Finally, you must try an Irish coffee in the place where it all began, at Foynes Flying Boat Museum in County Limerick. Try the original recipe and learn the history of Ireland’s famous drink.