We are heading upwards (literally) in search of the best cafes in North County Dublin! Join us on a coffee+snack journey through Swords on the way to Balbriggan! As we get ready to pop-up in Swords Pavillion Shopping Centre, we thought it only right to scope out the best coffee spots in the area.
Skinny Batch Food Co., Lusk
A cafe and dance studio? Would ya schtaaaaahp! Touting Coffee, cake and community, this is a cafe that feels like home to us! Skinny Batch stocks and serves Two Spots Coffee (roasted in Dublin) plus wraps, sambos, soups and treats and yes, there’s actually a studio too. Because really, who doesn’t want a little dancing with their snacking, eh?!
The Tartan Larder, Swords
This lovely, family-run cafe with a Scottish twist set up in Swords in 2018 and they haven’t looked back! One of the cutest Swords spots for a bite to eat and a hot cup of joe, this is the perfect pre- or post-shopping weekend refuel Plus you can get a haggis toastie here which feels like a bucket list kinda thing that we absolutely need to check off.
Gourmet Food Parlour, Swords+Skerries+Malahide
These guys have 7 locations in total but for now, we have our sights firmly set on Swords, Skerries and Malahide! GFP runs breakfast through to dinner and they offer a catering service - never a dull moment! The food is gorgeous and the coffees are hot and the rest of our calendar year is now booked so we can visit all 7 locations!
Goat in the Boat, Skerries
If you like a little interior design with your weekend coffee then Goat in the Boat is definitely for you! Stellar business naming and retail store aside though, this place is serving up 3fE coffee (you had us at hello), plus homemade sausage rolls, sandwiches and sweet snacks. Get in, fill up and furnish your house at the same time!
Look Mam No Hands, Swords + Balbriggan
With two locations in Swords and one in Balbriggan (plus one more of the best cafe names we’ve seen in aaaaages), there are no excuses for not stopping into one of Look Mam No Hands’ cafes. Open for breakfast and lunch, pop your head in for a giant cuppa, and stick around for the avocado, poached eggs + toast!
Cabana Cafe, Balbriggan
The first eco-friendly coffee shop in Balbriggan, Cabana Cafe is the perfect pit-stop, serving your favourite foundation coffees (flat whites, cappuccinos) as well as some awesome variations (turmeric and matcha lattes). They’ve also got a couple of G+C faves: sausage rolls and ham+cheese croissants which means they get our backing 100%! Check them out for some awesome vegan treat options too!
Cafe Tara, Swords
Part delightful cafe, part retail store, this little slice of Italy in Swords is perfect whether you need your fill of paninis or pasta (plus a coffee on the side, of course)! Stop by Cafe Tara on Main Street and pick up some goodies to take home, or stay a while and watch the world go by, supping your coffee in the window!
Olive Deli and Cafe, Skerries
On Strand Street in Skerries, Olive Deli and Cafe is a wee gem just a stone’s throw from the coast. Run by husband and wife team, Peter & Deirdre, this glorious lunch spot has been serving up homemade sambos and piping coffees since 2005. With everything from home-baked scones to a rotating Hot Roll of the Day, this is a must-visit if you’re lucky enough to find yourself in North County Dublin of a day!
