Starbucks

You know what you're getting when you walk into this Saint Martins House outpost, and sometimes that's exactly what you need. Tucked into a handsome Georgian building on Waterloo Road, this Starbucks delivers the familiar ritual of grande lattes and breakfast wraps without pretension. The weekend opening pushes back to 8am, which feels civilised rather than rushed. The location works brilliantly if you're wandering between Ballsbridge and the city centre, or need somewhere reliable to meet before heading into town. It's not trying to compete with the independent spots sprouting up around Ranelagh, but it fills a proper gap in this part of Dublin 4. The staff keep things moving efficiently during the morning rush, and the wifi actually works when you need to sort something quickly.