Doncha just love serendipity, even the word has a positive ring to it. We pass by Ballina about…read moretwice a year. It self-promotes itself as Ireland's salmon capital with a sign at the edge of town proclaiming so. Ballina means 'mouth of the ford' and it nestles in the Ox and Nephin Beg mountains. So we pick up some wild salmon at 80 euro a kilo. The town has had inhabitants for near 700 years. We've become used to calling into Dave's cafe for one of the best coffees anywhere around. So up the alleyway more than ready for great coffee and horror of horrors it was closed: it was 4:30pm maybe he closes mid afternoon, who knows but having built up to great coffee it was time to explore. I knew there was a Costa in town but I didn't really want to go there and found this place just across the road on a Main Street. The coffees were superb - a flat white and cappuccino - and both under €3. Serving staff were a friendly bunch and it was a cosy place away from the cold rain outside. Dave might have lost four coffee sales a year. Hope he can cope.

Went here with my girlfriend; what an amazing place it is!…read more The coffees are amazing, and when the focaccia's came we just realised these are the best. Ever. The orders came quick, although it was packed! This was a big plus point for them; excellent. We will definitely be coming back again! Do come too!

We arrived at the door to the restaurant twenty minutes early on a foggy Saturday morn, and the…read moreowner ushered us in the front door. Very pleasant man, Brendan Brown. Large menu, everyone liked their Irish breakfast. I had the porridge with strawberries and bananas and was very satisfied. Large bowl of porridge with plenty of fruit. The coffee was as American as could be, filtered coffee as our Irish friends seem to say. The wait staff was attentive but not too attentive. The prices were right. We noticed that the waffles were listed under deserts, just a heads up, if you like waffles for breakfast. This is a place I would come back for breakfast or lunch regularly if we live near. Open Monday to Saturday 9 am to 6 pm. Coffee to go (take away) also. Check Out the men's or lady's rooms for instructions of use, well worth the visit.

This is one of Ballina's best cafés. It is small and cosy, and is a favourite of everyone from…read moreteenagers to business persons. The café serves soup, sandwiches, hot drinks, desserts, meals and smoothies. The cakes here are amazing. Prices vary, but are not above average. The staff are friendly and welcoming. This is a brilliant place to come and have a chat with an old friend.

Still 5 star all the way. Not only is Dave open, he tells me he hasn't really shut shop all through…read moreWu Flu; now politicians note there's real public service for you. I arrived at Dave's to find a queue and once again the customers were admirably well-versed in the source of and style of the coffee they preferred and they were talking to an expert. When it came my turn, I simply asked Dave for what he considered to be his tastiest coffee - after all he knows much more about it than I do do. All I can say is that what I got was superb, darn great value and simultaneously he also proved that he did know much more than I did. Ballina is a beautiful town and the area is stunningly beautiful. It promotes itself as a fair trade town - a place with a conscience and a sense of fairness -.and Dave does his bit here. He deserves at least 3 green stars. His coffee is shade grown and bird friendly, all his food is fresh made to order, and importantly, is locally sourced, he uses paper bags and his cups are corrugated paper. He has plastic cup lids but it's up to customers to decide to take a lid. I didn't. We all need to be more astute to ethical issues and strive to become ethical consumers, after all the earth is our only home and it ain't recyclable so we do need to start to think green star values as much as we do when deciding stars to award in our reviews. There's a green star project to google (if that's the term) that offers helpful advice and information. It also dawned on me that realistically we only drop by Ballina to get coffee from Dave - if he shuts shop we likely won't stop by again. Sadly it's take away only: Ireland won't open up to sitting in cafes and restaurants until this July, the exception being hotels where you must be a resident

When we arrived in this town my coffee radar brought me to the wonderful Dave's deli. Although my…read morewife's radar was pre tuned to shops we agreed to coffee first. I hesitated turning off the car radio as the Eagles were singing Lying Eyes 'you're still the same old girl you used to be...' Dave's was shut as the note on the door advised that the beggar and Mrs Dave had beggared off on holidays - how inconsiderate. So I recalled there was a Costa nearby so off went. The Costa staff were so welcoming. The WIFI was excellent, the flat white and cappuccino coffees were great but the Portuguese Pastel de Nata tarts were seriously overpriced and seriously undercooked. The pie filling was top notch but the pastry, which is meant to be thin crispy almost filo, was doughy, chewy awful. So it's a star off for the horrible pastel and I was near tempted to take 2 stars off but the staff were charm personified; it's not at all acceptable to charge near four euro for such terribly poor quality. The Portuguese government should be allowed to sue for bringing this wonderful pastry into disrepute. Worth a visit if nearby, and Dave's is shut, but do avoid the poor de nata.

If you know whats good for you, you'll get yourself down to The Sweet Beat on Bridge Street! They…read moreoffer breakfast, lunch and smoothies/coffees to go. Fresh and healthy superfood salads, juices, dairy free sweet treats, daily hot specials, 3fe coffee and teas - all offered with dairy free milk options. I had the superfood salad of massaged kale, chickpeas, and spiced cous cous (with cranberries, pomegranate and pesto) for lunch. For €7.50 it filled me up for the day and is far more exciting then the dull packaged leaves and uninspiring dash of olive oil salads you get in other establishments. These salads ARE the dish, not just a bit of green on the side - they demand your attention and don't disappoint on taste! Less than a 5 minute stroll from O'Connell St, in the summer it'd be lovely to get a salad to go at lunch time and eat it along the riverside. I imagine the menu will expand as the business does, as chef-cum-proprietor Carolanne is Ballymaloe trained and well travelled! They maintain an active social media presence @sweetbeatsligo and already have a loyal following of customers - including me! Watch this space, as it expands into something brilliant, its thrilling to see young businesses like this bringing the heart back into Sligo town.

A must when visiting the area. Super food. Tasty, fresh and good for the soul. Good selection of…read moresalads, soup of the day and larger "dailies" as an option e.g. Best bourguignon and patatas bravas!! also a variety of milk options for your coffee choice!!

Iced Coffee Takeaway review. A highly rated restaurant on Yelp, however, the seating was full and…read morewe decided to go elsewhere. Later, I chose to return for an iced coffee takeaway. "Iced Coffee" means either an iced Americano or an Iced Latte. I chose the former. Before anyone took my order, I waited approximately five or six minutes. Since I was in no rush, I didn't mind. What impressed me was the number of servers who asked me if I was alright. The entry area bustled with the back and forth of servers providing water to the patrons. The dessert case looked tantalizing! I also noticed that all coffee drinks contain two shots! I was guaranteed a nice Americano. My time to order arrived, and not long after, I walked out with my very satisfying iced drink. Another note: The quaint restaurant was beautifully decorated with lights in arches which affords a charming atmosphere.

This is such a delightful little restaurant. The servers are the nicest people in the world! The…read morefood was really scrumptious, but... Be aware the servings are HUGE! Might want to consider sharing.

Had there charcuterie board for 2 and loved! The Irish cheese is so delectable and the homemade…read morecrackers were the star of the show. Will be back next time we are in Westport! A great stop for a cheese board and a glass of wine!

How are there no reviews for you yet, you fabulous little hidden gem?! Upon my arrival in Westport,…read moreI was lucky enough to find this wonderful spot hidden around the corner on an unassuming street. I was greeted immediately by the locals, offered "the best coffee in Ireland" (too bad I don't drink coffee), and spent the rest of the night hanging out with my new friends. This place combines coffee shop with wine bar with groovy music...what's not to love. When Tom (the owner) is there, free wifi is available (no wifi when he is gone). The vibe is total hep cat meets artsy caffeinated wino. I haven't felt as comfortable in a bar as I did there in a long time. I wish this place was on the corner of my street, because I'd be there every day.

This place is a must go to! Really cute little bakery. Wraps, Panini's, salads. I got a yogurt,…read moregranola, with fruit, it was small but fresh and tasty. Super cozy environment. I would Definitely come here again. Tip: CASH ONLY NO CREDIT CARDS.

Cute little cafe with a cozy ambience and warm service . We came here in our way back to Belfast as…read morewe were feeling peckish . We ordered a pot of tea , veg soup , warm goat cheese salad, falafel flatbread . Everything was delicious !

Excellent quick service and beautiful little cafe. Had the fish tacos because this is a fishing…read moretown. They came with a nice sauce, tomatoes, onions, few chilis for spice and nice greens. It's not Rubio style but it's delicious. Hubby had Rueben sandwich on sourdough which was delicious. Great place to stop after hiking around the cliffs.

I really liked this place! It's a little difficult to find, but once you do, it's a lovely oasis to…read moresit down in a cute courtyard and have a pause. They serve great food - we got a salad with trout and a duck wrap. The duck wrap is a must have for those who love duck - I've really never seen it on menus before and the wrap had big, plump pieces of duck in a fantastic Asian-inspired sauce. The one thing that I felt was less optimal were the scones. They are truly adorable - tiny and so cute with some powdered sugar sprinkled on top - but I felt could have been a little bit moist. Thankfully, they were served with a delicious mix of jam, butter, and whipped cream, and the whole flavor combination was delightful. I could also see this place as a good place to work. There's a whole upstairs that overlooks the old train station. There are some larger tables that are perfect for laptops. In all, a great place to have a pit stop while driving through Connemara and on the Sky Road. And, in case you're wondering, make sure you get gas HERE in Clifden first before you drive back to Galway - there really are very very very few gas stations on the road back :)

FOOD: I normally dislike scones because they are dry and lack flavor, however, I LOVED the pair of…read morescones from Steam Cafe today! So good! SERVICE: The staff members were very welcoming and personable!