10 of the best places for coffee in Cork City

Fiona Frawley

On the hunt for the perfect flattie in the rebel county?

If you’re a coffee fiend visiting Cork for the first time ever or first time in a while and are frantically wondering where you’ll find the right oat milk or the perfect single origin beans, fear not.

Cork City excels in terms of micro-roasters, skilled baristas and delicious treats to accompany, and it really is a great time to be a coffee lover in the real capital. The likes of Cork Coffee Roasters have held down the fort for well over a decade, but in the wake of the pandemic Ireland has a newfound love and appreciation for speciality coffee, and there’s no shortage of Cork cafés ready and waiting to cater to that love with carefully poured tulips and aesthetically delightful interiors.

We’ve put together a list of some of the best place places for coffee in the city. Don’t see your favourite haunt on the list? Give us a shout and we’ll pop it in.

Alchemy

A dog friendly, central spot with 3fe on bar, highly recommended by our Cork followers. Hit them up for coffee, chats and their award winning sausage rolls!

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Box’d Drive Thru

I think we can all agree, there’s something magical about not having to change out of your pjs to get your morning flattie. Box’d pour Soma speciality coffee seven days a week and have two drive thru and walk up locations in Carrigrohane and Ballincollig.

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Soma Coffee Co

While we’re on the Soma subject, you should also add their flagship store on Tuckey St to your list. Find out more about their company and order yourself some beans for home with brewing advice to go with them HERE.

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Cafe Moly

A cafe and micro roastery located on Cork’s Douglas Street, originally founded in South Korea in 2012. Owners Daniel and Sunmi decided to move back to Daniel’s home of Cork and have been serving the good people of the city since 2020 with their own coffee, hand roasted in house.

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The Book Shelf

A delicious brunch and coffee spot with two locations in the city – South Mall and The Elysian. Freshly baked pastries and Berlin’s Barn coffee on bar – the combo of dreams.

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Lab 82 Coffee

Another tasty central spot with their own speciality coffee roasted in house (we’re sensing a theme for Cork). Voted Best Coffee in the Best of Cork Awards 2019, Lab 82 also excel in the brunch category with chicken and waffles, fluffy pancakes and dreamy breakfast baps all on offer – definitely worth a visit.

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Good Day Deli

Located within the walls of Nano Nagle Place, a beautifully restored convent with an entrancing garden right in the heart of the city, Good Day Deli would fare well on any listicle – best brunch in Cork, most scenic brunch in Ireland, most aesthetically pleasing dishes, the list goes on. In this instance, we’re shouting out the spot’s coffee which is expertly roasted by West Cork Coffee and served in some of the prettiest cups you could hope to find.

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Guji

You’ll probably have seen this candy floss pink container along with their insane hot chocolates popping up all over your Insta feed. Located at the city’s popular Marina Market it’s the perfect spot for your Saturday morning brew, with an array of speciality beans to choose from.

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Some Dose

I discovered this spot just off the Kinsale Road Roundabout back in the peak Covid days, after I dropped my fella off for his booster shot nearby (a dose to follow a dose, wha?) and would highly recommend. Lovely chats, delicious Roasted Brown coffee and a great selection of treats. What more does one really look for in a café?

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Cork Coffee Roasters

CCR are the OG spot for speciality coffee in Cork, with a passion for small-batch coffee roasting and espresso preparation. Now pouring delicious coffee in three locations across the city – No.2 French Church Street, No.16 Anglesea Street and their original spot at No.2 Bridge Street.