When we lived in Dublin, a window seat and a good coffee made a simple afternoon out. These are the cafés where we liked watching the city go by. The view matters as much as the cup, so seating may vary when a place is busy.
The best people-watching coffee shops in Dublin
Network
39 Aungier Street, Dublin 2 Network website
Network is great for people-watching if you snag one of the stools by the big front window. We also liked stopping for a pastry or sandwich.
3fe
32 Grand Canal Street Lower, Dublin 2 and 7 Mews, Sussex Terrace, Dublin 4 3fe website
3fe stands for ‘Third Floor Espresso’ dating back to the time when owner Colin Harmon started the business from his third-floor apartment. Today 3fe is a city institution and easily one of the most popular coffee shops. Close to the headquarters of Google and Facebook, the shop at Grand Canal always has a buzzing atmosphere.
Clement and Pekoe
50 South William Street, Dublin 2 Clement & Pekoe website
This neighborhood café is located on bustling South William Street. They serve great coffee and have an impressive selection of loose leaf tea. Sit at the window or out front on the bench.
Industry & Co
41 Drury Street, Dublin 2 Industry & Co website
The in-store café is inside the Drury Street boutique, one of our favorite Irish craft and design shops. Grab a window seat with coffee and a pastry. Its current café page names Pine Cone Coffee as its roaster, so check the menu for today's selection.
Fallon and Byrne
11-17 Exchequer Street, Dublin 2 Fallon & Byrne website
Head for the coffee shop in the corner of Fallon and Byrne on the ground floor. Have a cup of coffee and one of their delicious sandwiches. The window seat is the perfect spot for people-watching.
Joe’s: our former Arnotts stop
Arnotts, Liffey Street, Dublin 1 Joe's website
We used to stop at Joe's in Arnotts and take a window seat above the shopping crowds. Joe's still lists Arnotts on its contact page, but Arnotts' current café directory lists other operators in the store. Treat this as a memory and check the department store's directory for a current coffee stop.
For more of our favorite places, see the Dublin city guide and our breakfast and brunch guide.