Kilkenny Design

You'll find this café tucked away on the first floor of the legendary design emporium, right off Nassau Street near Trinity College. It's the sort of place where you pop in for a quick coffee after browsing the beautiful Irish ceramics and textiles downstairs, then end up lingering for an hour because the atmosphere is so pleasantly civilised. The menu keeps things simple but well-executed – think decent soups, fresh salads, and proper sandwiches that won't break the bank. The real draw is the setting itself: you're surrounded by the best of Irish design and craft, with large windows overlooking the city centre bustle. It's particularly lovely on a Saturday afternoon when you're doing a proper wander around town and need somewhere refined to recharge without the tourist circus of nearby Temple Bar.