Costa Dawson Street

You're rushing between Grafton Street shops and need somewhere that won't mess about with your coffee order. This Costa branch sits right at the heart of Dublin's retail madness, which means it's always packed with shoppers clutching Brown Thomas bags and office workers grabbing their afternoon fix. The space itself is fairly standard Costa fare - nothing revolutionary about the fit-out, but the staff move quickly and know their way around the machines. The flat whites are consistent, the toasties decent enough, and you can usually find a seat upstairs if you're willing to climb. It's not going to change your life, but when you're caught in the Dawson Street chaos and desperately need caffeine, it does exactly what it says on the tin.