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!

Where do I start. Hair in a vegetarian breakfast and also in kinder bueno pancakes. Vegetarian…read morebreakfast comes out with 2 sausages. Better places to go in Ashbourne for breakfast. Place is cold aswell inside.

Just had an amazing lunch of goat cheese/beat/walnut tart and a very yummy potato leek soup. You…read morewalk up to the counter and order takeaway- there are two tables outside but it was a bit cold and windy when I was there. I definitely recommend this place.

Kate's Kitchen just keeps getting better - they've expanded the seating area so you can have a…read moreleisurely browse through their collection of cookbooks and hip foodie magazines. The place rebranded a couple of years ago, and looks very cool and contemporary - wouldn't look out of place in Dublin city, but retains the charm of Sligo - facilitated by the Sisters O'Hara, the three sisters who are the creative energy behind the place. As well as a deli selling a wide range of speciality foods, teas, a 'free from' section, fresh cheeses, teas/coffees, sweet treats and lunches/dinners to go - there's also a dedicated skincare section, with some high end and reasonably priced beauty products. The window display changes with the seasons, as well as the stock. They're always ahead of the crowd, and this is a great spot to pick up a special gift. They're very active on social media and their instagram @kateskitchensligo is a feast for the eyes if you can't get instore. There's usually a veggie option at lunch, and try one of my personal faves - the coconut macaroons!

Kate's Kitchen/Hopper & Pettit is a tantalising "twinshop" consisting of a Delicatessen and…read moreToiletry Unit. The deli has a whole host of delights not all Irish sourced but of very good pedigree none the less. I bought a fantastic carmelised chutney that I would like some more of. There are an abundance of fresh produce available here . The cosmetics and toiletries are in a separate little store within the main store and you can treat yourself to a selection of delights here also. The staff are charming.

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.

Well the other reviews just about sum it up but to reiterate this is some of the smoothest coffee…read moreI've ever had. As someone who genuinely enjoys the taste of coffee this latte was the best one I had on my trip to Ireland! That being said, if you're someone who likes flavors, iced coffees, and loads of sugary taste in your coffee you likely won't enjoy it. The cafe itself is adorable and the staff is so friendly. I highly recommend if you're a coffee lover in Galway!

This has always been a spot Meghann has enjoyed stopping when visiting Galway. The cafe is…read moreabsolutely beautiful with multiple seating options to overlook a very popular area. The drinks are well crafted, there is plenty of art to admire, and it faces towards the west so it is always filled with warm sunlight. We highly recommend this cafe on your next visit to Galway!

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!!

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!

We had a nice lunch sitting in the back looking out the window. Stopped in because I'm a Walsh.read more

Went to Walsh's while visiting Connemara/Clifden area. We traveled for two weeks and I think this…read morewas the BEST breakfast we had the entire time. Good atmosphere and the staff was very nice. 5/5 - quiche with goat cheese, spinach & potato. It paired perfectly with the salad which was a mix of leafy greens, chickpea salad, and pickled beets. All amazing but the beets were the best I've ever had. Flat white was good too! 5/5 - pancakes, streaky bacon, & maple syrup. My husband ordered this, it was really good. 6/5 - lemon blueberry muffin & plain croissant. We got this take away for a snack later. I'm sad I didn't try to there because it was amazing and I would have ordered more. They really know what they are doing with the pastries.

This is a great place to get a proper made-to-order deli sandwich. A selection of great quality…read moremeats and cheeses, fresh salads and sauces- you really can't go wrong. My favourite is Smoked Cheddar on Seranno ham, *toasted* on Ciabatta- with rocket and fresh cherry tomatoes. So tasty! Staff are friendly and speedy. And the coffee is really fresh and delicious. Go on a fine day and you can sit outside. Even my super picky nephews love this place. They get plain ham and cheese toasted. They're amazed of the choice of different types of ham. Whenever they visit Sligo, they always want to go here.

Needed somewhere in Sligo today to have cuppa and a couple of hours of Internet access to do some…read morework. Went to Cafe Fleur . Extremely friendly staff, gave me wifi password and offered me the paper to read as well. Very fast internet access, good strong tea and excellent cherry scone. What a great service-oriented establishment

I am an ultimate fan of Breakfast and this place does breakfast to the T!…read more First walking in, there were many people chatting, having a good time, and still yet plenty of spots to sit. The menu was full of decisions. Breakfast foods, coffees, a Breakfast lovers DREAM! I ordered the Full Irish breakfast and what i received exceeded my expectations. I also ordered just a plain coffee. Before the food came, my cup was empty. I wasn't sure if the waitresses went around filling empty cups so I waited a while, then decided to go to the counter to get a refill. A little bothersome. They must have been busy and a little under staffed but I honestly didn't mind. When the food came out, everything was perfect. Egg, sausage, bacon, black pudding topped with a tomato, a basket full of toast, and a bowl full of chips. The only thing they did not have that I wanted was jam. The service, other than the empty cup of coffee, was excellent. I want to go there every morning! Oh and the price was very good. Two people, two Irish breakfasts and two coffees came out to be 15.95. Very sensible. Love Love Love. Definitely try it!

If you judge a cafe by its welcome, good value, great food then I recommend Rings (they even cope…read more - seemingly willingly! - with fussy vegetarians). The coffee is good too - and hot. And they give free top ups. How good is that!