With the colder days and longer evenings shortly arriving, there’s no better way to warm up than with a hot brew! The last couple of years have seen an explosion of coffee shops around Ireland, and Offaly is no exception.
Home to a range of vibrant and cosy cafes, there are now plenty of options to choose from – whether you want to grab a quick cuppa or catch up with friends in a cosy environment, tucked in away from the cold. Of course, many of these coffee shops also have outdoor seating areas, providing the option to sip on your cuppa outside and breathe in the fresh, crisp autumn/winter air!
Here, travel writer Clodagh Dooley shares some top cafes to check out across Offaly, which includes some hidden gems:
Ballycommon Bakehouse
The 132km Grand Canal, which runs from Dublin and ends in Shannon Harbour, offers various routes within the Offaly countryside. One particular scenic part of the Grand Canal Way is between Tullamore and Daingean, where the little village of Ballycommon lies.
Whether you decide to stroll along the banks of the canal or go on a more intense cycle along the route, there’s nothing better than a pit stop at Ballycommon Bakehouse. The Bakehouse is akin to ‘an oasis in the desert’ for the weary cyclist! Situated right on the banks of the Grand Canal just over 8km from Tullamore, you can choose to sit in their outdoor seating area to take in the beautiful sounds and sights of the autumn season, or cosy up by their stove indoors on colder days.
Along with barista coffee, Ballycommon Bakehouse offers a range of home-baked goods, from cakes to scones, as well as breakfast and lunch options. And for anyone out strolling with their four-legged friend, tasty treats and a bowl of water awaits! Bicycles are also available to rent from the premises.
For more information, check out Ballycommon Bakehouse’s Facebook page or follow on Instagram
Woodfield Cafe and Garden Centre
For those looking for quality, organic food, check out Woodfield Café and Garden Centre, located just outside Birr Town. Woodfield uses the best of local produce, sourced from local suppliers, including sourdough bread from Durrow Mills and cheese from Mossfield Farm. One of my personal favourite dishes is Poached Eggs on Durrow Mills Sourdough Bread with Woodfield Relish, and their bacon is delicious!
It’s the perfect destination for brunch with friends or for couples, as you can also spend some time wandering around Woodfield’s on-site garden centre after eating. Treat yourself or a loved one to some flowers! On Fridays, the cafe hosts a special ‘Pizza Night’ from 5:30pm-9pm, serving up their divine, fresh woodfired pizzas, which is a great idea for date night. However, it does get busy, and while you can reserve a seat indoors, outdoor seating is first-come, first-served. Takeaway pizzas are also available.
For more information, visit woodfieldbirr.ie
Solas Eco Garden
Another fantastic garden centre cafe is Solas Eco Garden, located near Portarlington, just on the Offaly-Laois border. Whether you’re looking for breakfast, lunch or dinner, Solas Eco Centre has a wide range of food options to suit all palates, including pizza, burgers, loaded fries, homemade soup, sandwiches, quiche, eggs benedict, pancakes and more. Then there’s coffee, tea, or even a glass of wine for those not driving!
If you’re looking to prepare your garden for the winter, Solas’ on-site garden centre and eco shop is filled with a selection of plants, garden accessories, furniture, and tools, and there’s a team of expert horticulturists available to give advice on plant care. What also makes Solas Eco Garden unique is that it’s built from reused and recycled materials, including recycled shipping containers, plastics, cardboard and stone. It creates a very colourful and interesting backdrop for those Instagram selfies, and you may even discover more ways to become sustainable yourself at home! Their Farmers’ Market every Saturday is a must see plus, keep an eye out for the return of their Christmas Markets this November and December.
Visit ecogardenshop.ie
Emma’s Cafe
This welcoming cafe on Birr’s Main Street is the perfect place to go if you want to sit with a hot drink and watch the world go by, or catch up with friends over lunch. I’ve regularly visited Emma’s Cafe with family, friends or simply by myself for some ‘me time’, and there’s always a friendly, buzzing atmosphere.
With seating both indoors and outdoors along Main Street, Emma’s is a popular lunch spot for locals and tourists alike, offering everything from sandwiches, paninis and salads to freshly-baked scones, cakes and pastries. And, of course, great coffee and tea – and hot chocolate for the kids!
Check Emma’s Cafe out on Facebook
Chocolate Brown
Located on Tullamore’s William Street, Chocolate Brown is also a great spot for people-watching. And it sure lives up to its slogan ‘Coffee from heaven’ – that’s exactly what you’ll get when you visit! Enjoy a cup of hot coffee complimented with a rich, moist brownie, their lemon meringue tart, or a cookie. Yum!
Along with great coffee, this cafe is a hive of activity and good energy, with friendly and fast service. Chocolate Brown is also a great spot for people-watching. When you need a treat, to perk you up and brighten your day, Chocolate Brown is the answer. Chocolate Brown also has a sister cafe in a quieter location on Church Street in Tullamore called Urban Oasis, which showcases the work of local artists and makers. Perfect for those looking for a combination of coffee, calmness and art!
Check out Chocolate Brown on their Facebook page or follow on Instagram
For Urban Oasis’ Instagram page, click here or follow on Instagram
Coffee Forty7
With their own roastery, at Coffee Forty7 in Edenderry, you can be guaranteed quality coffee. Whether you want to kickstart your day with an espresso or meet friends for a cappuccino, these artisan coffee roasters have delicious speciality coffee and teas, along with tasty baked goods to put you in a good mood for the day.
Coffee Forty7 also offers smoothies and protein shakes, which are ideal for refuelling after any gym session, walk or cycle. Coffee Forty7 previously opened from Mondays-Saturdays, but they’ve just recently announced that the cafe now opens on Sundays from 9:30-2pm.
Check out Coffee Forty7’s Facebook page or Instagram for more information
Jels Kitchen
Based in Clara, Jels Kitchen provides a true homely feel, right from its staff through to its gorgeous homemade cuisine. Sit back with a coffee or tea and a mouthwatering, fresh scone, cookie or eclair (or all of the named treats, there’s no judgement at Jels Kitchen!).
Jels Kitchen also offers freshly baked brown bread, homemade soup, cottage pie and beef lasagne, as well as roast beef and honey-glazed ham dishes. So as well as providing your coffee and sweet treat fix, that’s dinner sorted too!
For more information, see their Facebook page and follow Jels Kitchen on Instagram
Monks Cafe
Living near Kinnitty Castle, I often like to go for a scenic stroll around the castle, through the forest or within the surrounding Slieve Bloom Mountains. And what really tops it all off is being able to enjoy a cappuccino at the end. The Monks Cafe (previously the Anti-Social cafe) was an addition to Kinnitty Castle during the pandemic, an outdoor cafe where people could grab a coffee and safely enjoy it in the company of others from a distance.
Today, the cafe continues to open on weekends and it’s an excellent way to combine a coffee date with friends and a walk in the fresh, crisp air along one of the trails on the castle grounds. On colder days, you could opt to have a coffee, or even dine, in Kinnitty Castle’s Dungeon Bar.
Visit kinnittycastlehotel.com
The River Cafe
For a unique cafe experience, visit The River Cafe in historic Shannonbridge. This cafe not only has a great selection of light bites, big bites, sweet treats, pizzas and daily specials, but it’s located within the main building of the Shannonbridge Fortifications, which was restored by Fergal and Linda Moran. These Napoleonic Fortifications, dating from 1810, were built by the British military and protected the bridge against a French invasion.
Visit the free exhibition in the main building of the Fortifications to get an insight into why these Napoleonic Fortifications were built along the River Shannon. Then relax with a hot drink and a bite to eat at The River Cafe afterwards, which overlooks the river.
Visit shannonbridgefort.ie
Meet & Fit
I was wandering around the streets of Tullamore a couple of months ago, and I came across a new coffee shop called Meet & Fit. As a lover of coffee shops (and discovering new ones), I decided to check it out. While I didn’t try any food at the time, I did order a cappuccino which was made to my liking – lovely and frothy. But Meet & Fit have a range of breakfast dishes available, such as a full Irish breakfast and eggs benedict; lunch dishes such as burgers, sandwiches, salads, wraps and soup, along with various coffee options, smoothies and soft drinks.
I particularly loved the cafe’s interior, which was filled with greenery, a sky print on the roof and sleek Scandinavian-style furnishings. Simple and clutter-free, resulting in a calm space. A great option for those looking for a quiet place to work out of the office, or for meeting up with some old pals. I’ll definitely be returning!
Visit meetfittullamore.ie
Coffee, coffee and more coffee!
These are just some of the coffee shops worth visiting across Offaly. There are many more, each with their own character, including: Eden Deli in Edenderry; The Foxy Bean, The Square Cafe, The Riverside Cafe, Conway and Co, and The King Oak in Tullamore; and The Stables and Memory Lane Antiques in Birr. Which is your favourite coffee shop in Offaly? Comment your favourite, and you can also click here for more details on cafes and restaurants in Offaly.