Bewley's Grafton Street

You'll find yourself in one of Dublin's most beautiful dining rooms, where Harry Clarke's famous stained glass windows cast coloured light across marble-topped tables. The ornate plasterwork and period fixtures make this feel more like a museum than a café, but the buzz of conversation and clatter of cups keeps it firmly rooted in the present. The coffee here is proper – Bewley's has been roasting beans since 1840, and they know what they're about. The breakfast menu covers all the bases, from full Irish to lighter options, and the baking is consistently good. Yes, it's touristy given the Grafton Street location, but locals still pop in for a decent flat white and a scone. The evening museum tours are worth doing if you're curious about the building's history.