Cyclist friendly coffee shops

scott.s

So, I have next week off work and plan on getting in a lot of cycling.
Looking at longer spins with coffee stops so I would like to know of any cyclist friendly coffee shops in Dublin/Meath/Wicklow/etc.

Places that won't mind me turning up with a bike and chilling out front of the shop, without fear of the bike being nicked.

I've heard good things about Fixx but not sure if they're suitable when I have the bike with me.

Cheers

ChickenBalls

This'd be a good thread to refer to for everyone.

One of the main stops is in Laragh, called Glendalough Fayre.
It has a bike rack and foot pump if needed.

Google maps location here: (Bike rack is not in this street view but it's there)
https://www.google.ie/maps/@53.009,-6.2954,3a,75y,36.12h,83.07t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sWKtaUEHsHu86ocx68hQhlQ!2e0

dragratchet

loads of info in this thread

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=88344010

my favs: glendalough fayre in laragh, il panorama in howth. the grangeconn cafe in blessington, cottage cafe in naul, poppies in enniskerry. should all be mapped on it

Big Mig

The Bakery at Mount Usher Gardens In Ashford is very good and bike friendly.
Bray Wheelers and Wicklow Tri Club use it all the time. There's also the Avoca Restaurant beside it if its very cold and you want to sit inside.

Blingy

The happy pear in greystones. Always a good spot.

calistro

Coffee shop at Tara, always cyclists click-clacking around!!!

hardCopy

The Seamus Ennis Centre in the Naul is a nice spot

wirelessdude01

The Antiques shop at Barberstown just outside Straffan.

Rambling Man

The Grange, Ballyboughal.

Tenzor07

Lock 6 Opposite the barge, great independent coffee shop:


http://www.yelp.ie/biz/lock-6-coffee-dublin

scott.s

Awesome, thanks for all the suggestions so far.

Maybe on my week off I should build a site or app that showcases cyclist coffee stops...

Wicklowrider

Few things I claim to be an expert in, but Coffee Shops are dear to my heart. Sugar Mountain in Roundwood is my favourite.
Very cyclist friendly.Great scones served with 2 jars of different jams and a pot of cream or try their Banana bread for a real treat. Everything is baked or cooked in their own kitchen and the prices are very reasonable
They also have the Cycle Superstore track pump if you are ever stuck.

Rambling Man

scott.s wrote: »

Awesome, thanks for all the suggestions so far.

Maybe on my week off I should build a site or app that showcases cyclist coffee stops...

I thought someone had done that already?

nilhg

Rambling Man wrote: »

I thought someone had done that already?

Not me, but the map is here:

https://mapsengine.google.com/map/edit?mid=zER3bs4RmikY.kcYAMqsjFshY

Planet X

Sugar Mountain as mentioned is very good.
Another one at the "Bray end" of Roundwood, just past the campsite advertised as "bike friendly" or something. Tables outside.

ckeego

Plus 1 on the ones out around Laragh and Greystones, the best of which are The Happy Pear (free porridge before 11 and also serve Ferg Browns coffee from Roasted Brown)

The Happy Pear also have a branch in Shoreline Greystones where the WW200 starts.

Cafe Grey in Greystones has a bike rack and tables outside and the Italian cafe opposite Cycle Plus is also velo friendly.

Glendalough Fayre, also known as The Hippy Cafe is also excellent.

Try Kennedys on the square in Enniskerry as well as the little coffee shop by the Garda Station in Ashford.

Closer to town, 3FE on Grand Canal street always has bikes outside and is one of the best espressos in town.

Along the coast you have 2 new coffee shops in Blackrock and then you have both Muggs and the Tramyard in Dalkey..

One way or the other, I'm very envious!!

ckeego

Planet X wrote: »

Sugar Mountain as mentioned is very good.
Another one at the "Bray end" of Roundwood, just past the campsite advertised as "bike friendly" or something. Tables outside.

We were out last night for a spin and there was about half a dozen hikers and mountain bikers in the campsite place at half 9! Late opening, so!

victorcarrera

I don't stop very often but I have never stopped at an unfriendly one. If you are touring and stopping a lot maybe bring a lock and pick a window seat.

scott.s

victorcarrera wrote: »

If you are touring and stopping a lot maybe bring a lock and pick a window seat.

Unfortunately (or fortunately?) won't be carrying a lock as I'll be out for some proper training

scott.s

nilhg wrote: »

Not me, but the map is here:

https://mapsengine.google.com/map/edit?mid=zER3bs4RmikY.kcYAMqsjFshY

This is great!

derealbadger

If you are ever in Naas Swans on the green is the spot also in South Kildare the mad hatter in Castledermot is a great spot

allez

I find the staff in that Laragh cafe beyond rude, they put me off the place despite quality products and a semi decent coffee. Their snooty attitude is really an off putter don't know anyone goes there.

Mystic Picnic is a relatively new one in Roundwood that uses 3fe beans
https://twitter.com/sunandmountains

Kingfishers in Enniskerry make a respectable cup and the staff are lovely.

3fe is hard to beat if youre a purest! Lwr Grand canal street

Bear Market in Blackrock

Two Beans in Dun Laoghaire

Happy Pear in Greystones

Felloffmebike

calistro wrote: »

Coffee shop at Tara, always cyclists click-clacking around!!!

Yeah +1 on that..

daragh_

Tenzor07 wrote: »

Lock 6 Opposite the barge, great independent coffee shop:


http://www.yelp.ie/biz/lock-6-coffee-dublin

Would be really awesome if one of their customers didn't park in the bike lane every morning.

LennoxR

allez wrote: »

I find the staff in that Laragh cafe beyond rude, they put me off the place despite quality products and a semi decent coffee. Their snooty attitude is really an off putter don't know anyone goes there.

Mystic Picnic is a relatively new one in Roundwood that uses 3fe beans
https://twitter.com/sunandmountains

Kingfishers in Enniskerry make a respectable cup and the staff are lovely.

3fe is hard to beat if youre a purest! Lwr Grand canal street

Bear Market in Blackrock

Two Beans in Dun Laoghaire

Happy Pear in Greystones

Couldn't agree more. I never go there anymore except under duress.

Last few weeks I've been stopping at the new café outside the campsite in Roundwood. Still a work in progress and fairly basic but friendly, positive attitude more than makes up for it.

Doctor Bob

daragh_ wrote: »

Would be really awesome if one of their customers didn't park in the bike lane every morning.

4 cars parked outside it at 6:30 this evening.

I'd consider dropping in if they ever sort this out.

Normally I wouldn't really bother except the staff here were fantastic..... anyway :

A couple of days ago I passed through Ballycumber in Offaly. It's one of those small villages you don't hear much of (clarification, I never hear much of).

I went into a place called Ennis XL (has a post office attached) and ordered a Chicken Roll and sausage rolls from the Deli counter and got a coffee from the machine. I was going to eat it outside.The lady behind the counter instead sent me into the Bar next door (Gussies Bar ?) and said she would drop in the food. It was raining for a few hours so a warm stove was appreciated and the roll and sausage rolls arrived and I tucked in. A few more riders arrived and were given the same treatment. The Tea was flying at them. The barman refilled my water bottles and even asked me did I want a bit of ice in them then he realised it was cold outside. Anyway food shovelled in and rewarmed 10 mins later I was back on the bike all jolly again.

So that's my report on Ennis XL (and Gussies ? bar). I'll be back again anytime I pass after such helpfulness (sometimes ya get a look like "oh no, not another of these wet cold clowns dripping everywhere, go on, you know the look.....so it was particularly nice to get such a welcome there).

Inquitus

The Seamus Ennis Centre in the Naul is now on my shít list.

Sage and Stone, Duleek
Ruby's, Ballyboughal
Relish, Outskirts of Drogheda
Tara Coffee Shop, Tara
Tayto Park
Coffee Mill, Maynooth

Wishbone Ash

Inquitus wrote: »

Coffee Mill, Maynooth

One of my favourites with the added bonus of being able to take the bikes off-street and downstairs to the outdoors area. Generous cake portions, pleasant staff and usually a free refill.

seven stars

Rye River Cafe in Kilcock is excellent.

dragratchet

Inquitus wrote: »

The Seamus Ennis Centre in the Naul is now on my shít list.

why's that inquitus, i was out there yesterday. they had us park our bikes elsewhere on the premises ( out of sight but pretty secure ) otherwise cant complain...

Mercian Pro

seven stars wrote: »

Rye River Cafe in Kilcock is excellent.

Timeless on Church Street is very good even though you have to leave bikes on the footpath outside. At least you can keep an eye on them.

Best in NCD/East Meath has to be Maguires at Tara.

Inquitus

dragratchet wrote: »

why's that inquitus, i was out there yesterday. they had us park our bikes elsewhere on the premises ( out of sight but pretty secure ) otherwise cant complain...

General apathy towards the cycling customer over the last couple of years, rudeness, not really seeming like they value the business and its more an inconvenience.

Ruby's in Ballyboughal are much friendlier and have installed the bike racks that are in your full view while you have your scone or coffee.

Kintarō Hattori

Inquitus wrote: »

General apathy towards the cycling customer over the last couple of years, rudeness, not really seeming like they value the business and its more an inconvenience.

Ruby's in Ballyboughal are much friendlier and have installed the bike racks that are in your full view while you have your scone or coffee.

Living in Balbriggan I pop in there now and again with the missus (not as a cyclist). It's always busy at the weekend with cyclists and in regards to the service, there is one person who works there who could be taken as being rude but they are like that with everyone.
Hopefully it was just the one person that caused a bad experience for you... and if it was, well they are like that with every type of customer.

Inquitus

Kintarō Hattori wrote: »

Living in Balbriggan I pop in there now and again with the missus (not as a cyclist). It's always busy at the weekend with cyclists and in regards to the service, there is one person who works there who could be taken as being rude but they are like that with everyone.
Hopefully it was just the one person that caused a bad experience for you... and if it was, well they are like that with every type of customer.

I just got the feeling over a number of visits that at peak time when they are very busy they don't really want the Coffee and a Scone trade that passing cyclists bring.

Wishbone Ash

Inquitus wrote: »

...Ruby's in Ballyboughal are much friendlier and have installed the bike racks that are in your full view while you have your scone or coffee.

Is that not a bit too close to home Inquitus - you'd hardly be warmed up when you get there!

Mrs WA is always suggesting I should use Olive's(?) in Skerries as it usually has groups of cyclists around but I'm hardly going to stop 5k from home!

seanin4711

Anything in Connacht?

OleRodrigo

seanin4711 wrote: »

Anything in Connacht?

Vasco, outside Ballyvaughan. Great spot to take a break from the headwind if you're heading south. Fresh cakes and a terribly nice couple running the place. Bike racks outside.

Wait, it's not in Connaught. Close enough though

nilhg

A few our club uses regularly in no particular order,

The Moody Rooster in Blessington, beside Tom's bike shop, which is always handy, in the Dunnes Stores complex.

Stradbally Fayre, Portlaoise end of Stradbally, always very cyclist friendly and a cyclists discount as well...

Castle Barna Golf Club, Daingean Co Offaly, very cyclist friendly, safe for bikes, you have to cycle down the canal bank into it, lovely place to stop.

The Mad Hatter in Castledermot, always friendly and cheerful, nice coffee too.

There's a nice cafe the kilcock end of Enfield, can be busy but we're always looked after in there, can't remember the name though.

Cafe on Main st in Dunlavin is nice too but I can't remember its name either.

Finally, though it's not a cafe, Fogarty's shop in Ballymore Eustace has a nice covered area you can sit in if the weathers not great.

Esroh

Puddleducks in Cong. They always happy to see you even mud covered mtbers.
Cafe Loire in Ballinrobe.

LCD

Roundabout Cafe in Drogheda, close to the hospital. Excellent scones & good coffee. Big glass window so can sit inside & see the bike.

eeeee

Inquitus wrote: »

General apathy towards the cycling customer over the last couple of years, rudeness, not really seeming like they value the business and its more an inconvenience.

Ruby's in Ballyboughal are much friendlier and have installed the bike racks that are in your full view while you have your scone or coffee.

Are Ruby's open on a Sunday morning again? They weren't there for a while there. Nor the cafe down the road from them (can't remember the name). Led to very tight bladder times!:eek::pac:

Wishbone Ash

gadetra wrote: »

Nor the cafe down the road from them (can't remember the name)...

The Grange?

eeeee

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

The Grange?

Maybe, I can't remember the name of it at all. It has a big wooden gate on it when it's closed?

Wishbone Ash

gadetra wrote: »

Maybe, I can't remember the name of it at all. It has a big wooden gate on it when it's closed?

That's the one.

(Many cyclists have boycotted it since their bike parking rules came in).

smacl

OleRodrigo wrote: »

Vasco, outside Ballyvaughan. Great spot to take a break from the headwind if you're heading south. Fresh cakes and a terribly nice couple running the place. Bike racks outside.

Wait, it's not in Connaught. Close enough though

Monks, just outside the village, is also a nice spot for bite of lunch when cycling in that area as is PJs in Fanore and McGanns in Doolin. Drifted further into Munster there, but sure if you've gone as far as Ballyvaughan, you'd really have to take the spin around Black head.

OleRodrigo

smacl wrote: »

Monks, just outside the village, is also a nice spot for bite of lunch when cycling in that area as is McGanns in Doolin. Drifted further into Munster there, but sure if you've gone as far as Ballyvaughan, you'd really have to take the spin around Black head.

Think I know Monks alright

guanciale

^

I visit Fanore/Ballyvaughan a lot and for the life of me I cannot see how anyone frequents Monks. Shockingly overpriced for woeful seafood with service to match.
PJs (I think you mean O'Donoghues) is one of the very best pubs in the country. Owner (son of the original owners) is very welcoming to cyclists - in the past I was allowed to bring bike into the lounge while eating. They do great food and a lovely pint. Vasco across the road does the greatest coffee cake in the land.

stecleary

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

That's the one.

(Many cyclists have boycotted it since their bike parking rules came in).

Bike parking rules wasn't the only thing that drove cyclist away. :mad:

terrydel

Wicklowrider wrote: »

Few things I claim to be an expert in, but Coffee Shops are dear to my heart. Sugar Mountain in Roundwood is my favourite.
Very cyclist friendly.Great scones served with 2 jars of different jams and a pot of cream or try their Banana bread for a real treat. Everything is baked or cooked in their own kitchen and the prices are very reasonable
They also have the Cycle Superstore track pump if you are ever stuck.

+1 for Sugar Mountain.
You get a big pot of tea for one, why oh why cant everywhere do this?
The brownie with ice cream is amazing. They have a pump if you need one too.
Great spot.

terrydel

OleRodrigo wrote: »

Vasco, outside Ballyvaughan. Great spot to take a break from the headwind if you're heading south. Fresh cakes and a terribly nice couple running the place. Bike racks outside.

Wait, it's not in Connaught. Close enough though

Camp Street cafe in Oughterard is a nice spot.