The 5 Best Coffee Date Spots in Dublin Right Now
Words: Shamim de Brún
Images: Instagram
We love a coffee shop date. Not because we secretly think caffeine is an aphrodisiac or because the hum of a milk frother is basically Barry White to our ears, but because a coffee date gives you flexibility. If the date goes well, you can casually move on to drinks or dinner; and if it’s a hard pass, you can be on your merry way without needing a mate to call you about a ‘very real emergency that is happening right now’.
I will stand by my previous assertion that the best date spot is somewhere you don’t foresee yourself running into anyone you know in the real world. So we’ve steered clear of the city centre because anyone who is as ‘about town’ as a Dublin Creative is bound to run into someone at any given café between the canals. So pick the one that’s the furthest away from your gaff/school/college/nanny’s house and have at it, safe in the knowledge that every spot on this list slings a decent coffee and a tasty pastry.
So here are the best coffee shops in the greater Dublin area that are perfect for a cheeky first date.
Hatch Coffee
Hatch deserves some kind of coffee romance award. They manage to create nooks and crannies in the biggest white square room in Blackrock. You genuinely feel like no one else can hear you, which is perfect for wooing and whispering sweet nothings. The aroma of cinnamon swirls through the air like sweet siren songs that would lure your date or even Odysseus himself to their demise. If by demise you mean a happy, healthy relationship. No, really, though, their famous cinnamon swirls are so fluffy and divine that you’ll be convinced they’re made by baking angels. Pair one of these heavenly treats with their 3FE coffee for a match made in caffeinated date heaven.
Bibi’s
First impressions are important. That’s why you’re going to hide your Avengers tattoo for at least the first three years of this potential relationship. But honestly, it’s pretty hard to make a bad first impression at Bibi’s. Their Dún Laoghaire location is perfect for a post-Forty Foot coffee rendezvous, so if you want to show some skin and dive in on a brave first date, then this is the perfect place to hit up afterwards. And if you need some extra TLC, their hot chocolates are comfort personified. Their Portebello location is great for if you lowkey have ‘if-the-date-doesn’t-go-well’ back-up plans in the city.
Daddy’s
Daddy’s in Rialto is a burst of sunshine on even the cloudiest of days. With their Turkish eggs and croissandwiches, they’re serving up breakfast and lunch vibes that’ll make your taste buds do a happy dance. Plus, they’re all about supporting local Irish producers, so you know you’re getting the good stuff. Grab a table in their ‘terrace’ for peak romance and order some coffee, a pie to share, and or some lemon meringue to end the date on a sugar high. Don’t panic if the weather turns—there’s a whole array of seating inside that tag teams with a pub where you can flirt ‘til your heart is content.
The Rock Bakery
Falling in love is a lot like eating a lemon choux bun. It can be zingy, creamy, satisfying, and quite often… messy. Now, Skerries might sound like it’s in a galaxy far, far away, but trust us, it’s worth the journey—especially for The Rock Bakery’s buns. People flock from all over like devoted disciples to get a taste of these baked wonders. And hey, it’s by the sea so you can enjoy some scenic views along with your pastry pilgrimage. Bring someone you’re hoping to get a little messy with to this airy and charming spot and see where the pastry takes you.
Two Pups
If your dream of meeting the love of your life in a coffee shop ever comes true, there’s a high chance it would be in Two Pups. Think puppy love. Sure, it’s almost designed for wide-eyed optimists to give it a go. It is as Irish as it gets, especially when it comes to their iconic Jambon. These two little coffee shops say, ‘I know a thing or two about coffee’. Yes, the Fairview one is a tad on the small side, but the yellow detailing and facing the park window seats give it an intimate feel and make it the kind of place where you’d want to hear all about their childhood phobias or frog obsessions.
Elsewhere on Char: The Dublin 100
