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    The Bookshelf Coffee House

    4.5 (22 reviews)
    InexpensiveCoffee & Tea, Cafes
    Closed 11:00 am - 6:00 pm

    The Bookshelf Coffee House Photos

    THE BOOKSHELF COFFEE HOUSE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Good for working
    Dogs allowed
    Good for groups

    Recommended Reviews - The Bookshelf Coffee House

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    cold brew with coconut milk
    Christiane M.

    i loved the vibes it was a great place to sit and chill for a minute. and my cold brew in a jar was adorable

    Kathleen D.

    I wouldn't say it's a must-visit coffeeshop but it is rather cozy. I assume it's a wonderful spot to visit on a cool, rainy day. They offer an array of coffee and teas, as well as scones and other Irish eats. I was a fan of my tea. There are a bunch of couches but it's a popular spot so you may not be able to grab one. I sat at a bar seat in the back (near the windows toward South Mall). I was comfortable but didn't stay all too long. After my tea, I was ready for a nap!

    Chai latte

    Really enjoyed my time at The Bookshelf. The chai latte was beautiful and delicious. The staff (I believe their name was Eda) was very kind and went out of their way for me by bringing my drink to me and helping me get some water. The place is super cute and great for meeting with friends or just reading a book by yourself.

    Comfy interior
    James K.

    Nice space, friendly staff. No sandwiches after 2:30 PM! (4/5 green stars) I wandered into the Bookshelf café around 4 PM and, after perusing their options, decided on an avocado sandwich with smoked Gubeen cheese and sprouts (€5). Alas, it turns out that they don't serve food after 2:30 PM. Plan B: tempted by the small pots of homemade jam I spied behind the counter, I opted for a scone instead. When the scone was brought over, however, it came with a little plastic container of cheap-looking generic jam. What are the pots of homemade jam used for then??!! I asked for a decaf coffee but it turns out they don't serve decaf at all, so I switched to a chai latte. The chai was nicely made, with very good foam and a sprinkling of cinnamon. The latte and scone were €5, combined. The scone, which wasn't warmed up, was decent but not exceptional - I don't think it was completely fresh. So, even though it wasn't my day when it came to food (or decaf) I think it deserves 4/5 stars because of the very friendly staff and the space itself - it has a very relaxed atmosphere, gentle music, armchairs, a sofa, and smaller space upstairs. It's not surprising that The Bookshelf is a popular place for locals to gather, and it's also a good spot to read or work on a laptop - free WiFi is available. I'm giving them 4/5 "green stars" for social and environmental impact. They only seemed to have one vegetarian sandwich option but I like that they used local cheese in it. I was disappointed that they gave me generic jam in plastic packaging when they had pots of homemade jam behind the counter. My chai was made with a mix from Drink Me Chai, a UK company that imports spices from India and in turn supports Pratham, a charity focused on teaching disadvantaged children in India to read. I'd prefer if they used a chai mix that doesn't contain milk powder (so that the final drink contains only local milk or non-dairy milk). The Bookshelf also sells resusable coffee cups with their logo on it, to help wean people off disposable cups and lids. Their main focus of The Bookshelf is coffee, centered on their use of beans from Berlin coffee roasters, "The Barn." The Barn is typical of "third-wave" roasters who take single-origin coffee beans and roasts them lightly. The Barn says they often pay more than 3 time Fair Trade prices for their beans... I do wonder about that "often" clause though. The Barn also say on their site that they don't list any of their coffee as organic because not all of their suppliers are certified organic and they don't want to discriminate against their suppliers that are not organic, but they claim that their coffee growing partners care for the planet. I'd like to see The Barn back up these claims with some more hard facts. The Barn also has odd policies in their Berlin stores (no buggies, no breastfeeding, no sugar, no milk) - they come across like they don't like women/families. Anyhoo, I won't hold that against The Bookshelf in Cork too much - they don't have anything against babies or sugar! You can buy coffee beans to go, which come in fairly eco-friendly packaging. Interested in writing green star reviews? If so, contact me! (greenstarsproject)

    Jackie L.

    Good coffee, nice environment, and friendly staff. I thought this place was also well priced (€3 for a nice sized cappuccino/latte). Overall a nice coffee shop to stop in after a day Cork

    Stephen B.

    Bookshelf satisfied the withdrawal we were having after leaving San Diego. Super nice staff, good roast and cool atmosphere. We'll be back.

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    6 months ago

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    8 months ago

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    8 months ago

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    3 years ago

    Porridge was very good! Nice little place for breakfast and coffee. Hope to be back tomorrow

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    3 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    8 years ago

    Great scones and really affordable. Never tried their larger breakfasts but they looked really good.

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    12 years ago

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    12 years ago

    Good coffee , friendly staff and great for a light meal! Perfect for book reading on a rainy day.

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    10 years ago

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    10 years ago

    Decent coffee, quick service, but not super coffee or anything. My wife and I didn't have any food - but the drinks were decent.

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    11 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    13 years ago

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    Review Highlights - The Bookshelf Coffee House

    I asked for a decaf coffee but it turns out they don't serve decaf at all, so I switched to a chai latte.

    Mentioned in 3 reviews

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    The Bookshelf Coffee House - coffee - Updated June 2026

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