Caffè Nero

You know that reliable Italian on O'Connell Street that's open when absolutely nothing else is? That's this place. While the purists might turn their noses up at chain coffee, there's something to be said for consistency when you're rushing for the Luas or meeting someone in town and need somewhere dependable. The O'Connell Street branch gets proper busy during lunch and after work, filled with office workers grabbing their usual flat white and tourists figuring out where they are. The coffee's grand – not spectacular, but miles better than some of the alternatives nearby. Their paninis actually hit the spot too, especially when you're starving and everything else around Parnell Street is either closed or questionable.