I love Simon's Place. I went here for the first time back in 2019 and knew I had to come back here the next time I was in Dublin. Simon's has a wonderful coffee drink selection. I ordered a flat white which was a perfect pick me up. Their sandwiches and salads are delicious. They have a cauliflower salad that I have tried to replicate at home several times but I cannot ever get it the same as Simon's. Order the cauliflower salad, you will not be disappointed. The service is quick and friendly. Lovely environment for lunch and coffee! read more

Simon's Place - Quick flat white this morning! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Dublin, D

Just nursing a coffee in Simon's makes you cool by association! From the music poster plastered walls, to the music makers sitting beside you, this place rocks! Yet it doesn't scream 'we're hip', instead the atmosphere is pure laid back good vibes. Grab a table outside on George's Street and watch Dublin and her people whizz by or sit upstairs, on rustic benches and rub elbows with fellow latte sippers and read the many magazines and newspapers around or the informative walls! But if you can find a seat, head downstairs, to the cosy, cocooned, cavernous basement area. Grab a table and settle in with a battered book or chess set and relax and enjoy the peace, quite and conversations around you. Of course you obviously want to enjoy a coffee with all your atmosphere so it is a good job that the coffee here is tasty and cheap too! From espresso to hot chocolate the barista get it just right and brew to perfection! Served in big mugs and glasses, so no need to drink and run, stay and linger if you please! If you are hungry the giant doorstep sandwiches will fill that hole. They are made in front of you on their fresh homemade brown bread, with lots of interesting fillings and the soup is home made too and really satisfying! But, for me, the hot sticky sweet cinnamon buns that melt in your mouth and leave you wanting more are the best thing to go with my coffee after a hard days shopping in the George's Street Arcade! You have got to try them! With 12 years experience behind this place, you would expect them to get it right by now and they do! The tried and tested recipe works, friendly staff, yummy food, perfect coffee, relaxed atmosphere, prime location, comfortable size and good vibes, are what keeps all those happy customers coming back week after week to Simon's. See you there! read more

Simon's Place - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Dublin, D

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Simon's Place is sort of a second incarnation of the much-loved Marks Bros cafe which used to operate a little further down George's St in the 80's and 90's. See this Irish Times article for a bit of that history: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/simon-s-back-1.128155 . Simon's food remains the best cafe fare in Dublin, in my opinion - fresh, delicious, and outstanding value. I highly recommend the sandwiches - on huge slabs of super-fresh half-wheat bread, generously packed with various fillings, lettuce, tomato slices, and cucumber - unchanged since Marks Bros days. The cinnamon buns are also stupendously delicious - soft and buttery, generously flavored with cinnamon, and with a delicious sticky caramelized base. This is food of uncompromising quality, made with love. To top it all, prices are very reasonable - my sandwich and bun cost me only 9 euros, which is a bargain for such good food. read more

Simon's Place - Cinnamon bun, tuna sandwich - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Dublin, D

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Simon's Place is a Dublin institution. Anyone who went to college in the 80s or 90s will almost certainly have whiled away hours of their life in this busy hub. A place that that for all its vigour never as much as shot a stern sideways glance at lingering wasters whose coffee cup was long drained. The spirit of Simon's Place is one of community. It welcomes all: artists, students, workers, chancers, passers-by. It has never bowed to fashion or fad, as it has witnessed a city in the grip of culinary overhaul over two decades, without flinching, or changing. Testament to that is its queen of soups, the General Vegetable, a staple that would make up the first course of my last supper. Even today, if I'm getting over a cold or flu, the first thing I crave is that delicious soup. I once asked Simon the owner for the recipe and he gave it to me. It's ridiculously unfussy - the perfect recipe. I tried to make it but it just didn't taste the same. Perhaps my pathological inability to properly stick to a recipe, but I'm not sure I really wanted to anyway. Because it's never just what you eat, is it? It's where you eat it. It still serves the same limited selection of pre-made sandwiches: avocado, cheese, tuna and so forth - hand-wrapped in the clingfilm with the twists in the end - and the introduction of the barista coffee machine is perhaps the only nod to a post-filter culture to be seen, and that one can only be good. Want to put up a couple of posters for your upcoming gig in one of the few places in Dublin where you can do this for free? Go right ahead. Want to sit by yourself for a while and people-watch, develop your novel plot, read your book or just muse about life without feeling self conscious? Be their guest. Want to hatch a counter-cultural plan to overthrow something or other, or just change the world fundamentally in five days? Downstairs is a good start. Want to engage in conversation with a stranger, about something esoteric, cranky or otherwise. There's a good change they're sitting close by waiting for a smile and nod. Simon's Place - there's nowhere else quite like it. Well, maybe Grogan's pub, another stalwart to consistency in a trend-strangulated world. Just without the alcoholism. read more

This is a 3.5 star rating. Hands down the best wifi I've come across in any coffee shop in town. If you're looking for somewhere to set up shop with your laptop for a little while, have a drink, eat some whopper sambos, and get some good people watching in, this is your spot. I only had a tea so can't comment too much on the food this time. The tea was average at best - tea-bagged tasteless peppermint, served in a mug with no teapot etc. My other gripe was having to pay for my tea on order, rather than at the end. As I was waiting for someone else, I wanted to pay for us together, or maybe add more to my bill as I was going. Just a small gripe, but one the same. read more

I might be getting a little too old to hang out in a coffee bar whose walls are covered in flyers for cool gigs, has communal tables, and serves yummy home-made treats, but I'm definitely not too old to enjoy a downstairs area with dark recesses to plan and plot, scribble in my notebook for hours, and drink good coffee. Bottom line: Nah, I'll never be too old! read more

Simon's Place is, quite simply, the coffee shop that the Celtic Tiger forgot. Cheap, cosy and scrumptious, it has escaped the fate of so many others, who have succumbed to the franchise-driven, American-influenced ignominy of much of the rest of Dublin's cafes. While it is known for being the hangout of those effortlessly cool types that most of us can only dream of becoming, Simon's Place actually exhibits a rather eclectic clientele - from suit-clad businessmen at lunchtime and young ones hanging out after school, to caffeine-addicted students and budding musicians. It's simple decor (unfussy chairs and tables upstairs, with charmingly carved and painted benches downstairs) makes the wall's content stand out even more. Keep an eye out for upcoming gigs, markets, festivals and the odd job advertisement, as the posters and fliers have their finger on the pulse of what's going on in Dublin. While the tea is as unfussy as everything else (no fancy teapots here, just good honest mugs), and the usual array of coffees are unblemished by the orange-mocha-chip-frappacinos of other establishments, it's the cinnamon buns that really steal the day. Baked on site every day, and best at around 12.30 when they're fresh out of the oven, they truly are amazing. Coupled with a cheap cuppa, there's no better afternoon treat. Their sandwiches (particularly the tuna) aren't half bad either - cheap, filling, and made on site every day. Everything about this cafe is right, if you're looking for good value for money, friendly service and a great atmosphere! read more

Simon's Place - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Dublin, D

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In London I am constantly looking for it... that local coffeeshop with personality. Simon's Place has that character, an indescribable essence that you just don't find in Starbucks. It could be the dozens of fliers advertising local bands stuck to the wall practically covering black and white photos of what George's Arcade used to look like. Or it could be the big tables that encourage strangers to sit together. Or it could be the strange blend of clientele, hip looking kids sitting alongside crotechty old geezers. Menu is just what you're looking for, the usual coffees (no frappé) fresh made sandwiches, salads and cakes. Indie on the stereo, friendly staff. Don't take this place for granted, character doesn't last forever. This time, two years from now, this could be another Nero/Costa/O'Briens. I sat here for two and a half hours and they never tried to rush me out. Quality! read more

I know Simon's Place to be often dubbed the 'Once' café owing to a scene from the Oscar winning, music infused Irish film, 'Once' starring Glen Hansard being shot here in 2006. The café continues on from the unconventional theme running through the rest of the outlets in George's Street Arcade. The walls are awash with posters and leaflets promoting indie gigs happening in and around Dublin. The interior is ragged in a very endearing way - I suppose shabby chic would be the most apposite way of explaining it. The unkempt interior works well in conjunction with the cool music promos that line the walls to create an all-round hip feel. This place is grungy without isolating say the more feminine, susceptible shopper that has just come from Om Diva at the top of the arcade and wants to sit down with a coffee. I have often enjoyed a supreme hot chocolate with marshmallows in here after traipsing round all of the clothes outlets within the arcade. As someone who isn't particularly inclined to the rock and roll side of things I have found this to be a unique milieu in which to hang out and have enjoyed glancing at the posters to see if any gigs take my interest. If you are an alternative rock and roller by nature then lunching within this chilled, alternative space is effectually ideal dining. read more

Great cosy coffee shop that does magnificent sandwiches. Really tasty sandwiches with a variety of fillings. Probably the best sandwich in the city centre, it's worth going just for the sandwiches. There is a great vibe and friendly atmosphere. I'm not a big fan of different prices for eating in as opposed to taking food out, the only real negative I can say about the place. If you are a sandwich fan, pay them a visit. read more

Simon's place is actually pretty great. Their sandwiches are good value at €4.50 (or so) and they're all clingfilmed/saran wrapped so they're easy to take back to the office. I presume they've been prepared in the morning, but they're as good as fresh. They use nice mealy bread and proper tasty ingredients! So, go to Simon's get a sandwich. The sign on George's street just says "Coffee shop", you may have difficulty spotting it. read more

Everybody know this feeling going into a restaurant or café and asking for a table for one and then the waitress mostly give you this friendly pity smile... But there are places which are just perfect for a nice cup of coffee, my book and me myself and I. Simons place is one of those coffee spots they have nice single seating in front of the window perfect for people watching or drift off into your own thoughts while the busy city life flows by. I really enjoyed the easy going atmosphere, friendly staff and the poster covered walls which just added this little bit of extra personality to this place which keeps me returning to this place for coffee... If you looking for a relaxed place for coffee or meeting friends on Dublin south side you will not regret choosing Simons place. read more

I love Simon's Place too - it has such a relaxed vibe about it and you feel as though you really could pull up a bench on one of the communal tables and sit for hours with a good book. Once I ordered a salad here and was most impressed - not only was it massive (an entire dinner plate's worth), cheap (around 6 euros) and full of variety (3 different offerings of salad) but it tasted amazing! Even more impressive was the waitress who, when I ordered the salad, asked 'are you really hungry?' and when I answered in the affirmative, proceeded to dole out giant-sized portions of yummy potato, lettuce and the like because 'we're shutting soon and I'd hate to see it go to waste'. I like the style and the honesty, and I think you'll find that this is what sets Simon's Place apart from other cafes in Dublin. It's a real cafe with real staff and real customers. It's a beautiful thing. Simon's Place is also good for a shopping expedition coffee stop off. The coffee is great! read more

Great place to grab a quick chicken sandwich to go - only €4.80. Pretty tasty with lovely bread all wrapped up for you to ravage back in the office. But the real show-stopper is the cinnamon bun... it would be a sin not to pick one up to hoover up after the sandwich. Sticky, yummy and oh so delicious! Staff are very friendly but firm too, no chance of some random stranger trying to cut the queue! read more

Simon's Place has a special place in everybody's heart. Just read all the reviews of the devoted customers. I don't come here half as much as I should, but when I do I'm always pleased with the service and atmosphere. There are some great people who work here. Very relaxed, artsy and down-to-earth women. They are permitted to wear what they like as long as they don a blue stripped apron which is great because their individuality and personality shine through. I think that the owner is even the dishwasher. Every time I'm here I see the same older man washing the plates and surveying the cafe. If the owner voluntarily does the worse job then working conditions must be good. Simon's Place is a great spot for reading, working or meeting people. The communal style tables make it easy to strike up a conversation with strangers. I once met an actor from the Irish soap Fair City this way. One more great thing about this cafe is that you can post or examine different ads and flyers. The back wall is filled with different information from salsa lessons to apartment rentals. Besides serving sandwiches and coffee, the cafe is contributing to the growth of the community. Hooray! read more

A great place to sit with a cup of tea / coffee and a delicious cake, whilst reading a book at your leisure. I've loved this place since I was first allowed into town - it's where all the "cool" kids would go...so I tried to blend in too! Despite the hip and cool folk loving the place, it's not sold out and become too trendy for it's own good - respect! I ordered a cheese sandwich and a cuppa, which was absolutely delish! It is a proper cheese sandwich with salad and a doorstep of cheese. Put a massive smile on my face and once devoured, I settled down with a book and my tea. A great place to eat with seating both on the main floor and downstairs too. PLEASE NOTE: Do not leave this place without ordering a little cake.....om nom nom nom! :P read more

I'm going to make this a short and sweet review: Just go there, you won't be disappointed. Lovely way to start out the day, I had a cappuccino and scone and was incredibly content. Funky place with a lot of charm. read more

Original and best boutique sandwich and coffee shop in Dublin. Great sandwiches and staff. A buzz about the place you won't find in the corporates. Where real Dubs of all walks of life, local traders, and artists mix with the touring hispter. What Gaby's is to Soho in London, Simon's is to Dublin. read more

Very unpretentious, modest and homey place with caring staff and very diverse clientèle. Famous for the aromatic cinnamon buns. With a big window and view on the Georges street, great for watching busy world go by. On the downside they have no substitution for a cows milk. read more

Simon's place is one of the few places that I loved when I was a teenager that I still adore now. When I was younger, we would spend all our time lurking downstairs, checking out gig posters and sharing a pot of tea between six of us. And now... I can buy my own tea but still find myself lurking downstairs checking out gig posters. Simon's is old school, big sambos, great hearty bowls of soup and best of all... The cinnamon buns, the smell of which waft their way from Retro to Lolly and Cooks. They usually come out mid morning so pop in around midday to grab one. They are a little pricey but well worth it. What I do like most about Simon's Place is Simon. It's unusual nowadays to see the owner of a coffee shop even in the place, let alone elbows deep in washing up. This rubs off on the staff too as they are all friendly and kind. It's this down-to-earth charm that will keep me coming back to Simon's for lunch every time I'm in this part of town. read more

A nice little coffee shop in George's Street, very cozy! Perfect to sit, either inside and outside and watch the city stroll before you. read more

Why aren't there more places like this in Dublin? Hot chocolate and tuna sandwiches are my staple diet here. Every poster for every band seems to have something to do with old friends, and every face seems like it's got a good conversation behind it. The staff are lovely too - the guy carries my tray downstairs because he knows full well that I'll drop it. Totally unique. read more

Originally set up as 'Marx Brothers' a few doors down from where Simon's Place stands, this cafe has a special place in many Dubliners' hearts. Laid back atmosphere, the great coffee, the poster filled walls and the friendly service. In my mind, the best soup in the city. read more

I admit I was here only because I was obsessed with the movie Once whilst in Ireland. I was here early September in the afternoon, and luckily not too many folks around. I was able to grab a table near the window where Markéta and Glen have a bite to eat after dragging her Hoover to him while he busks. From there you can see across the street, Waltons Music, where the famous "Falling Slowly" piano scene takes place. I was only planning on grabbing a cup of coffee but I saw, errr, smelled hot cinnamon rolls fresh out of the oven so I knew I had to have one. So good, I would come back just to have one of those again. The place is much bigger than it looks. In the basement, there's a lot more seating. But if you're a Once fan, grab your window seat...fast! read more

I have so many good memories of happy college times spent here. Friends and I used to gather round for poetry meetings and chow down on fruit scones, fresh tomato and cheese sandwiches and healthy soups with chunky brown bread. A friend of mine, and a fellow fan of Simon's adored their cinnamon buns, freshly made and oh so tempting! Great place for chilled out chatting. Much for Simon's. read more

Two words - cinnamon buns. Delicious sandwiches and soup at great prices. There's always a queue at lunch, so arrive early.

I have been going here on and off since Marx Bros shut and have never been disappointed. The food is great especially the sandwiches , the coffee is good and the ambience and staff makes this cafe especially welcoming. Its a little oasis for me in a hectic life. I hope it never closes. read more

If you love good sambos, that would be your must-visit spot. If not, that is a good place to start your affair with sandwiches. Simon's Place offers refreshing blends of flavours served on really tasty bread. Crispy crust and moist crumb are their signature. They never fail to impress me. Casual atmosphere and great buzz. read more

My second favourite place for a sandwich in Dublin, great place to sit at the window people watching, I never feel rushed, always manage to get a seat.........the only shame is I'm on a diet and can't eat their cinnamon buns ! read more

When walking up Georges Street, make sure to drop inside Simon's Place, a pleasant destination next to the Arcade. This cosy café is one of my favourites for a reasonably priced and healthy lunch or an afternoon cup after a day of window-shopping in the city centre. Here, satisfying customers is a way of celebrating life and it's therefore understandable that Simon's attracts herds of coffee-thirsty regulars who come for the wake-up cup and stay for the relaxed vibe. It's walls are full of character and friendly staff makes it a perfect place to linger for an afternoon. Their sandwiches are truly delicious too, and will keep you stuffed for the whole day. Try to grab a seat at the window and let your mind wander while looking at the passers-by carry their shopping bags. read more

Maybe I caught this place at a bad time, but at 8:30am - i.e. breakfast time - the shop had limited pastries. I also dislike the fact that they only take cash! I will say that the coffee was very tasty & the pasty was actually good enough, considering it may well have been there since the previous evening - I didn't get the impression that they had been baking that morning! read more

I must have missed something because I went there for lunch and found Simon's place just ok, just average. I dont particularly like the layout of the ground floor or the atmosphere at lunch time. Price wise it's decent but..yeap..quite disappointed after reading all the reviews read more

Sorry I can't like thus place as much as everyone else. They don't have chai lattes and the chicken sandwich is pretty much all mayonnaise. I could only force about half of it down before giving up. The scones are good though and the coffee is not bad. Plenty of other places in the area to chose from as far as I am concerned. read more

Such a nice place to come and relax away from the constant pace of Dublin city centre. It's quaint and a pared-down in an 'alternative' kind of way and the walls are covered in band posters and fliers. The staff here are so nice and the sandwiches are always fresh and tasty. Downstairs feels like a real home-from-home even on your first visit. read more

Avoca is home grown Irish brand that has grown from the Avoca mills. The Avoca outlets are made up of woolen garments and a restaurant and the food has become so popular that there are Avoca cookbooks now available. The restaurants always feel very homely and the food is the finest produce around. The clothes can be on the pricey side but they are original and well-made. read more

My all time favourite cafe in Dublin since I slipped on a patch of ice one new years eve and landed outside its door, desperate for a cup of tea to warm my frozen hands. The cinnamon buns are to die for, although they only tend to appear after noon-ish, so don't expect them for breakfast. Wonderful home made sandwiches and soup as well - cheese, egg or avocado for the vegetarians (or anyone really, the cheese is gorgeous), ham, chicken and prawn for the meat lovers. The usual vegetable soup is accompanied by a different partner every day - you're particularly lucky if its a broccoli day. By all means eat quickly, but you can lose hours here reading the papers and enjoying the atmosphere. Upstairs is buzzy, you can sit at ledges or share tables amongst the chattering crowd. Donwstairs is the best though. Its a wonderful smelling cavern, eternally papered by posters and fliers for local bands and clubs. You can plan your night out, while sipping coffee. It's cool, it's arty, but most of all it's cosy. Go with friends, or take yourself and a battered paperback! read more

Great sambo's, especially the chicken which seems to sell out nearly every day, fantastic if your in a rush and they do nice big cups of tea as opposed to fiddly tiny annoying teapots. Comfortable and relaxed too. read more

I love this place! Their coffee is actually very nice. Cinnamon buns are bit expensive but they are gorgeous. (But they sell only around 1pm. Don't go early if you want to buy) Sambos are so fresh. Egg sambo and Tuna sambo are my favorite. Too many people and very busy cafe but it's good place to go for a quick bite if you are on your own. No wi-fi but who cares! read more

Great location and always room to sit. Nice pastries.. Too bad they have to wrap their sambos in heaps of cellophane. Its SO not eco friendly. I asked why not fnd a more sustainable alternative and they were not very open. Said that theyd have to charge more and customers wouldnt like that. Come on if others can do without plastic, so can they! Only 3 water jug for the whole restaurant. I took one for downstairs as didnt want to have to go back upstairs for each glass... Was taken away from our table. Understaffed too. read more

cheap, cheerful, love a ham sandwich, a cinnamun bun, and a cup of tea, all for about eight quid, don't go too early or they won't have the buns ready, don't go too late or they'll all be gone read more