Coffee culture in Dublin??

CeilingCat

Apologies if this has been covered before - just a question for those of you who would frequent the city centre more than I would...

I've been asked by someone who'll be moving here to study, are there many coffee places where the atmosphere would be relaxed and focussed on socialising - you know the kind of thing, where a person could go to chill out, meet people, read?

Any suggestions for good places are welcome

Snowie

northside has i think its called the italian quater thats got damm good coffee place call lemon jelly or somthing...

Piste

Nah, most of the coffee places here are all about the making money so wouldn't take too kindly to you nabbing a seat for a few hours while you drink just the one cup of coffee. Starbucks is quite good for hanging out in though, they don't seem to mind too much if you hog the couches for a while.

Galvasean

Pretty much all the coffee places I've been to around here are just there to sell you coffee, let you drink it, make sure you leave once you're done and get the next customer in.

MJOR

i don't really know of anywhere in dublin like that.... its all rush

Snowie

Piste wrote: »

Nah, most of the coffee places here are all about the making money so wouldn't take too kindly to you nabbing a seat for a few hours while you drink just the one cup of coffee. Starbucks is quite good for hanging out in though, they don't seem to mind too much if you hog the couches for a while.

I dissagree, ive sat in the place i said for a good 2 hours reading a book i was never asked to leave but i did order a few coffee's.....
It depends what the staff are like some are chilled some arnt.... and star bucks they sell the most dispicable poor excuse for a coffee I've ever had.

fonpokno

Toast in Rathmines is a great place. I've no idea what the coffee is like but it's a very friendly and comfortable place and I've never been rushed out of there at all. When I was in the DIT across the road we'd often just sit in there for hours over a cup of tea or a bowl of soup! It's a really nice place!

Poccington

fonpokno wrote: »

Toast in Rathmines is a great place. I've no idea what the coffee is like but it's a very friendly and comfortable place and I've never been rushed out of there at all. When I was in the DIT across the road we'd often just sit in there for hours over a cup of tea or a bowl of soup! It's a really nice place!

I was just about to mention Toast. I've popped in once or twice whilst on my break at work, it's a very nice and relaxed atmosphere in there. It's ideal for anyone looking to just relax for a while, although I don't know what the coffee is like cause coffee is yucky

PrivateEye

I love coffee,to the extent i'd pick it over a pint if I was told by the man in the sky 'You've time for one more'

Dublin is the least coffee friendly city in the world. When over in Edinburgh or London, I find you can go for a coffee nice and late at night, read a book, chat away to people and the sort. Cool spots with diverse crowds, chatting away without needing to be completely hammered out of it on booze.

Also in Europe you often find kinda autonomous student/lefty social spaces where unlike in Ireland, people would be standing around watching an indie/punk/folk gig or whatever with MUGS in their hands, not cans!

The Irish, even the urban Dubs, never took to cofee like other Europeans/the yanks. Pity really.

My ex made horrible, horrible coffee. Like truly shocking stuff. I took great comfort in the fact I wouldn't have to drink it again at the end. I think she used to think she was doing something nice by making it, which is sweet in a way.....but still, piss is piss :rolleyes:

Pretty much all the coffee places I've been to around here are just there to sell you coffee, let you drink it, make sure you leave once you're done and get the next customer in.

Exactly. Thats the problem. Think it arrived with the Starbucks stuff. Fast Food became Fast Drink. It, out and no messing about.

**off to the ketel.

Zaph

You might get a few more suggestions in the Dublin City forum

Moved from The Ladies Lounge

g5fd6ow0hseima

CeilingCat wrote: »

Apologies if this has been covered before - just a question for those of you who would frequent the city centre more than I would...

I've been asked by someone who'll be moving here to study, are there many coffee places where the atmosphere would be relaxed and focussed on socialising - you know the kind of thing, where a person could go to chill out, meet people, read?

Any suggestions for good places are welcome

She's not from amsterdam by any chance?

joeybarton=hero

the likes of coffee society on liffey street has good coffee and relaxed atmosphere or costa ur never rushed out or anythin not like starbucks who in my opinion do crap coffee.

pepsicokeacola

meh coffee culture.

''The Irish, even the urban Dubs, never took to cofee like other Europeans/the yanks. Pity really''

''Other Europeans'' I never hear that much. Its sort of a pet hate of mine when people refer to Europeans as 'not us', as if we weren't invited to the dinner table or something.

Just looking at some completely useless stats. We actually are two places above the UK when it comes to coffee consumption but I don't know does that mean buying a maxwell house and eating it with chocolately digestives.

Finland is the kings of coffee, consuming 11.4 kg of the stuff. Those finns love thier alcohol too as well as coffee.

PrivateEye

Its my island and they can all feck off
Mainland Europeans, people who speak funny languages, other-people-who-use-the-funny-money.....they have many names.

By other Europeans, I'm surely implying that we are European? We're as much European as they are on paper, so they're the 'other Europeans', who by and large like coffee more than us.

Degsy

I dont know what any business would have to gain by letting people sit around for hours and not spending any money.
Coffee culture is another name for delinquency!

Chardee MacDennis

one of the factors that lead to Starbucks' rise was that they have always allowed people to sit around all day on 1/2 cups of coffee - i read a great artcile about it last year but cant find it now but here's one article i managed to find:

Starbucks is another example. They will let you lounge around, even if you do not order a coffee. You can order a $1.61 coffee and spend several hours to go about your business. No one will disturb you and occasionally you will be even treated to a free sample or a refill. I write the bulk of my posts in a local Starbucks, who sometimes go extra lengths to make my visit comfortable. Starbucks Gossip writes:

Vivek Sharma works on his social network software program at a Manhattan Starbucks (precious real estate) says that, “”It sometimes amazes me that they are not bothered by how much time or money you spend here. Melinda Lee doesn’t even order coffee, but spends up to seven hours a day at Starbucks. “I am a starving artist,” she says. “I bring my own teabags and get them to give me hot water. They don’t seem to mind.” [Source: New York Post].

John Mason

Coffee Society on Liffey Street is great for kiling a hours reading a book, as is the top floor in Kafe Mocka

hmmm, i like the shelbourne too

there is the winding stairs - actually there are loads around the city. its just a case of wandering around and finding them

SJPRogue

There is that place on the north quays. It is both a bookshop and a coffee shop. I can't remember its name off-hand, but it's great for sitting down, relaxing, having a cuppa and reading a book. It's several stories high. you can even take a book off the shelf and read it as you have a coffee.

thebman

Degsy wrote: »

I dont know what any business would have to gain by letting people sit around for hours and not spending any money.
Coffee culture is another name for delinquency!

Maybe extra business from the other people who want a similar place that doesn't exist.

I think generally people like to drink coffee or tea to relax so they want to sit down and relax while drinking it.

You can also boost your business by encouraging your customers to stick around for a second cup. It doesn't cost you anything to let them sit down for a while.

BastardPrince wrote: »

one of the factors that lead to Starbucks' rise was that they have always allowed people to sit around all day on 1/2 cups of coffee - i read a great artcile about it last year but cant find it now but here's one article i managed to find:

Exactly charge someone 1.80 for a 10c cup of coffee and even if you give them a refill your making a massive profit and they will be much more likely to continue frequenting your establishment.

I'd call that smart business. I think the fact that Irish businessmen don't know how to treat their customers is the reason you'll find so few places like that in Ireland. Not even pubs are like that in Ireland. They'd much prefer you keep drinking or get the fook out. It should negatively affect their business but Irish people seem willing to put up with crap service more than any other nation.

Chardee MacDennis

SJPRogue wrote: »

There is that place on the north quays. It is both a bookshop and a coffee shop. I can't remember its name off-hand, but it's great for sitting down, relaxing, having a cuppa and reading a book. It's several stories high. you can even take a book off the shelf and read it as you have a coffee.

the winding stair? its a full restaurant now!

Crash

Cafe Mocha and Busyfeet down on South William St.(?) used be nice enough about sitting there for a fair bit - I was a penniless 16/17 year old at the time though, so no idea what they're like now.

SJPRogue

BastardPrince wrote: »

the winding stair? its a full restaurant now!

Full restaurant...? Wow.

Just shows how long it's been since I went in there. Used to go alot a few years back. It always stuck in my mind. Always enjoyed it.

Do they still have the books? Is it any good now?

Masada

I like the place upstairs in the jervis centre, its called "costa coffee" and its a pretty quiet and comfy place.,

helimachoptor

BastardPrince wrote: »

one of the factors that lead to Starbucks' rise was that they have always allowed people to sit around all day on 1/2 cups of coffee - i read a great artcile about it last year but cant find it now but here's one article i managed to find:

Would agree with that, I was in Starbucks at Columbus Circle in Manhattan. Its part of a bookstore (name escapes me) anyway I went in one morning to buy a book about 8.15am and there was a guy there in a sprinboks jersey with a cup of coffee. Went back about 7.30pm that night with the OH as she wanted to go shopping there and I went to grab a coffee. The guy was still there with a pile of books on his table and what looked like a very very stale cup of coffee! And whats great is that the bookshop people come around and take the books from you when your finished reading them:D

carlmango11

For relaxing, getting work done etc. Insomnia on Abbey Street is great, most Insomnias have a laid back atmosphere. Meeting people not so much :P I always found people sitting outside the IFI in the cafe are always very friendly. I've gotten into long conversations with countless people there :D

SJPRogue

When all is said and done, there's nothing like Mannings on Thomas St.

It's not part of any chain which is a great start. its coffee is great, its breakfast and lunch (sambos etc) are nicer than anywhere else around and are way better value.

I work near Thomas st and we have O'Briens, centras, spars, a Subway now and a good few other cafes. Nothing beats Mannings. They bake all their own cakes & buns etc too.

Quite like the fine service all those nice eastern european ladies offer too.

BendiBus

I love to read a book in a coffee shop and usually only buy a single coffee. I spent 2 hours in Insomnia (South Leinster St) yesterday, over 90 minutes of it with an empty cup.

I've never been asked to leave a coffee shop in Dublin. I just apply a little common sense and don't do it at lunchtime on a weekday. That's just good manners. Other people might actually want somewhere to sit with their food & coffee.

So who here has actually been asked to leave for loitering? And did you deserve it (see my references to common sense and good manners above)?

ergo

ahh, coffee...mmmm

I love Moda in Rathmines (the place beside Toast). I've only ever been there during the day but I think it's open late (used to be until 3 or 4am) too so could be a bit more sociable then. The place has nice comfy couches, staff are friendly and it's not owned by a massive multinational corporation.

as for the chains, Insomnia's pretty good, as is Coffee Society. I do try to go for the Irish chains ahead of the globalisation ones but also I actually prefer them. I must try the IFI when I'm back in Dublin.

Oh, I just remembered that place on George's St with its entrance in the arcade (Simon's place or something). It's pretty chilled out and a nice change from the chains etc

Wishbone Ash

Snow-Monkey wrote: »

ive sat in the place i said for a good 2 hours reading a book

fonpokno wrote: »

we'd often just sit in there for hours

pink fluffy bunny wrote: »

great for kiling a hours reading a book

BendiBus wrote: »

I spent 2 hours in Insomnia

:eek: I'd be in and out in 5 minutes (and that's only if I had the time to go in in the first place)!

humberklog

I can't find any comfort in the Insomnia/Mocha etc. chains. I tend only to use them for functional purposes: get coffee. I miss the likes of Bewley's (westmoreland st. as preference) or as mentioned: the Windingstair. Large warm rooms catering for dawdlers like me...maybe that's why they don't exist anymore.
Saying that Mannings got a worthy mention and I'd pitch in Boyers for tea and toast.
The one George's arcade is ok on the coffee and sambo front but it can get cluttered up. May aswell pop around to Grogan's and have it there. Less conspicious too.

carlmango11

BendiBus wrote: »

I've never been asked to leave a coffee shop in Dublin. I just apply a little common sense and don't do it at lunchtime on a weekday. That's just good manners. Other people might actually want somewhere to sit with their food & coffee.

So who here has actually been asked to leave for loitering? And did you deserve it (see my references to common sense and good manners above)?

Yeah I agree I've never been or seen anyone being kicked out of a coffee shop, and I'm a teenager who buys one cup and sits there for like 2 hours with my other equally hated-in-society teenage friends

Oh btw, has anyone ever seen the graffiti in the toilet in Insomnia on Nassau Street? It's very strange, but quite entertaining

phasers

Starbucks on Dawson Street

BendiBus

phasers wrote: »

Starbucks on Dawson Street

Went in there once. Dirty & smelled funny (Starbucks, not me )

hdunne

people love to hate starbucks, they think it cool. lets be honest, coffee is nice (american style, won't like it if your an italian kind of person), you get free WIFI, staff are always nice, music cool, a few books and the old sambo. and they have sofas. So stop trying to be cool and hating starbucks chain!

BendiBus

hdunne wrote: »

people love to hate starbucks, they think it cool. lets be honest, coffee is nice (american style, won't like it if your an italian kind of person), you get free WIFI, staff are always nice, music cool, a few books and the old sambo. and they have sofas. So stop trying to be cool and hating starbucks chain!

I've always claimed Starbucks has nice premises but rubbish (and stupidly expensive) coffee. Good cinnamon swirls too - but Insomnia to them now too.

The exception was Dawson St that was smelly. Maybe that was all the students

FREE Wi-fi? Never heard about that.