Cyclist friendly coffee shops

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.

Wishbone Ash

stecleary wrote: »

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

Tell us more.

(I should say I didn't frequent it myself as it's too close to home for a cycle stop).

eeeee

stecleary wrote: »

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

Our club avoid it the last couple of years too, it's a last resort situation.

Lusk_Doyle

gadetra wrote: »

Our club avoid it the last couple of years too, it's a last resort situation.

It's closed. Permanently.

eeeee

Lusk_Doyle wrote: »

It's closed. Permanently.

Is Ruby's still going though? And open Sunday mornings?

Lusk_Doyle

gadetra wrote: »

Is Ruby's still going though? And open Sunday mornings?

Yes it's back open. New owner operaror after it flooded which was why it was closed for so long.

smacl

guanciale wrote: »

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.

The original owners are PJ and his wife, really lovely family, been going there for more than 20 years and it will forever be PJs for some. Only thing is they tend not to open during the day in the off season, which is why I'd push on to Monks which is also a far friendlier place off season. Beef stew in McGanns if definitely worth a punt, and also lovely pints.

hf4z6sqo7vjngi

LCD wrote: »

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

+1, very reasonably priced and the owners take time to shoot the breeze with you. Best scone and greenbean coffee is tasty.

hardCopy

seanin4711 wrote: »

Anything in Connacht?

Grainne Uaile in Newport has racks just outside and picnic benches.

I've locked my bike up outside the door of Foxford Woolen mills but the café is up a stairs and away from the door so you won't have site of your bike. Great grub though.

seanin4711

any recommendations?
thanks
John

terrydel

Timbertrove heading up (or down)  to/from viewpoint is lovely. One of the women working there is into cycling and very friendly, food is nice, view great it you get a seat and a pump available outside. Never stop on the way up, only on the way down!