As I find them, and in no particular order -  here are my favourite coffee shops in Ireland. If you have any suggestions sendthem in or just use the comments section at the bottom of the page.

Coffee of course is important for the photographer, keeping us alert and active and that shutter finger working fast while allowing a few moments for relaxation. I am an espresso drinker myself, usually a double so that is what is mostly going to get reviewed here, but a place that does a good espresso will usually cater well to those who like their cappuccinos, lattes and macchiatos.

Kaph, Drury Street, Dublin, Ireland

Located on Drury Street in the hip new quarter of Dublin City, this new coffee dispensary is a popular place, with good coffee on the ground floor and various artists in residence on the upper floor. Located close to St. George's Market and designers' colonies such as the Irish Design Shop. Kaph is a good spot for a rejuvenating coffee. The espresso here was strong and flavoursome with bitter notes.

 Website

Greenbean, Banbridge, Co. Down, Northern Ireland

Located in a quiet backstreet in the bustling market town of Banbridge in Co. Down it would be easy to miss this place, but I have to say that the £1.80 for my double espresso was well worth the effort of walking off the Main Street. Without asking it was brought to my table with a large glass of water - something that I have only ever been offered in Italy. The coffee itself was smooth and delicious and service came with a smile. I will definitely be heading back through Banbridge on my way to the Mourne Mountains or the Co. Down coast. Greenbean roast their own beans.

Website

Nick's Coffee Company, Ranelagh, Dublin, Ireland

Out of Dublin city centre near the Luas line in Ranelagh, Nick's Coffee Company is a small place with outdoor, covered seating but the focus here is on coffee, and the espresso is great. Nick is the kind of guy who cares about his customers, and regularly organises events such as poetry readings that get packed out. Ranelagh is one of the best places to live in Dublin, and that is due to places like Nick's who also roasts his own beans.

Website

Ground Espresso Bar, Portrush

This one is part of a chain, but they are a local chain to the north of Northern Ireland with locations in Coleraine, Portrush and Belfast. I called into Ground after a beautifully blustery morning photographing seascapes at the Causeway Coast of Northern Ireland, see my blog post here.

It was 10:00 and very quiet, and I ordered a double espresso when I arrived and also took a biscuitty thing, like a mars bar cornflakes square. Nice. Espresso was smooth and easy drinking. But I decided to stay and have an americano as well while editing some images from the morning. Ground Espresso Bar also has wifi, just ask for the password when ordering your coffee.

By the time I was leaving the place was heaving and I had some good images ready to go, some well-needed caffeine in my system and Ground Espresso is definitely a coffee shop that I will go back to especially with handy power sockets dotted around to plug the laptop, pictured, into. Lightroom and Photoshop are pretty heavy on the battery.

Website

Coco Cafe, Salthill Co. Galway

On a cold and breezy morning, amidst the storms of the start of 2014 Coco Cafe provided a much needed break.

The place is always packed and serves food but it also has a big hatch onto the street where you can just walk up, get a coffee and either brave the winds or enjoy the sunshine.

No picture, but the double espresso that I got here was lovely and creamy with a great crema. Next time that I am photographingthe diving tower at Blackrock, just a bit up the road, I will head back to Coco Cafe.

9th Degree Coffee, Dublin

One of my current crop of favourite coffee spots in Dublin, 9th Degree sits beside the Luas stop on Dublin's Westmoreland Street. The owners also operate Dublin Barista School and in addition to the fine coffee that they roast in Dublin they also serve one of the finest chocolate brownies to be found in a coffee shop in Ireland.

Big tables, lots of sockets and writing on the wall make 9th Degree a good place for working on the laptop - image editing for instance.

**Note** As of the end of January 2020, 9th Degree has closed permanently so I'll have to recommend another Dublin coffee shop soon.

Cafe Depeche, Cork

The first coffee shop I found in Cork and surely one of its finest.

This small coffee shop is located in Cork's Mardyke, and although I have photographed in many other Cork coffee shops (for the New York Times and Eater), I have never photographed here.

Music is of course by the 80s synth-pop rockers Depeche Mode, no Marilyn Manson covers either.

Coffee is smooth and tasty but those caramel things (pictured below) are my favourite here. Sandwiches and wraps are really good too.

Mulligan's of Poolbeg Street, Dublin

There are quite a few pubs with the name of Mulligan's, this one on Poolbeg Street must be the oldest however. Established in 1782 Mulligan's hasn't changed much for at least 150 years. In the 20th century this was a favourite pub of journalists, The Irish Times has been based close by since 1895. Today this pub is still busy with a mixture of patrons, it specialises in Guinness and some would say, myself included, that Mulligan's does one of the finest pints of Guinness in Ireland. Famous visitors in the past include Judy Garland and John F. Kennedy.

More to come of course, if you have any suggestions for your favourite pubs in Ireland do let me know by sending a message.

O'Donoghue's, Merrion Row, Dublin

Just before we head out of the capital for some of Panoramic Ireland's favourite Irish pubs, let's stop by one of Dublin's most famous pubs - O'Donoghue's. This pub is legendary, it's white and black frontage is distinctive and it was here in the 1960s that The Dubliners, one of Ireland's most famous bands formed and played regularly. Phil Lynott is also said to have played here. Today the pub has music every night of the week and it has an authentic mix of locals and tourists alike.

Foxy John's, Dingle, County Kerry - Ireland

This is one of Ireland's most authentic pubs, doubling up as a hardware shop - note the boxes of things behind the counter here in this image as regulars enjoy a few pints, and a sandwich.

It's one of those places where a barman or barmaid can easily get work in a hardware environment due to that experience of selling pints and nails, sandpaper, hammers, saws, gloves etc... here. It would be a shame to visit Dingle and not visit Foxy John's.

Mark Hamill and the Star Wars crew had a party here when filming on the Dingle Peninsula.

Nancy Blake's, Limerick City, Ireland

This famous Limerick pub has been in the same family ownership since the 1950s, located close to the city's famous Milk Market - home of good local food, Nancy Blake's is one of those truly interesting pubs. Cosy and warm at the front but cavernous out back gives it both a friendly feel but it is also lively with regular band performances. Walk through the front door and you'd be forgiven for thinking it is an old man's bar, with not a lot of interest to the visitor but not at all, the locals and bar staff are welcoming and it's usually possible to find a good place to sit. Definitely one of Panoramic Ireland's favourite places to visit in lovely Limerick.

Kehoe's, South Anne Street, Dublin

Established in 1803 and changed little since, Kehoe's is easy to find as it is located just off Grafton Street and is always busy in the evenings (except during the lockdown obviously). It also sits close to Umbrella Street. I'm not sure if the door was built in quite such a way, my guess is that it has seen a lot of action over the past 200 years. Step inside to this fine pub and find a snug, lots of character, and upstairs, lots of creaky floorboards to tread, tables to sit at and sofas to sit on. Often Kehoe's wins Best Pint of Guinness awards and best Pub awards, with good reason.

Tynan's Bridge House Bar, Kilkenny

Established a full 100 years earlier than Kehoe's above in 1703, Tynan's was originally a pharmacy and grocer and only became a pub in 1919. Sitting on the banks of the River Nore it still retains its old charm, as you enter the front bar you step across a colourful tiled floor, with drawers that would have contained the various spices labelled in yellow writing such as cocoa nibs, epsom salts, nutmeg, allspice, rice and beeswax amongst others. I have seen it mentioned that Tynan's is Kilkenny's oldest pub but I don't think this can be true, even the building is young in Kilkenny terms and especially since, just around the corner on Kieran Street is Kyteler's Inn which dates back as an inn to the mid sixteenth century. But Tynan's is definitely one of the best pubs in Kilkenny, the main bar is a horseshoe of high chairs and little nooks. But for me the front part of the bar as seen in this image, is the nicest. Check out Panoramic Ireland's Guide to Kilkenny for more to do and see in the Marble City.

Swan Bar, Dublin

Dublin's Swan Bar dates in its current form to the last years of the 1800s but a pub has been on this site on the corner of Dublin's York Street and Aungier Street for centuries from when the the road outside was one of the most important thoroughfares in Dublin. The Victorian layout and features remain and the bar even has 'colour TV mid-week' according to the sign above the bar. A fair mix of clientele including locals from the surrounding streets and flats, Dubliners and visitors.

JJ Bowles, Limerick

JJ Bowles has a storied history having been named after a former owner, one of Ireland's most famous handball players, and occupying a building on the river that dates to the 17th century it has been a pub since 1794 making it, according to some, Limerick's oldest pub. The beer garden has fine views of the Shannon and King John's Castle or on a cold, rainy winter's evening there are cosy spots by the fire to keep warm. JJ Bowles has also been voted to have Limerick's best pint of Guinness but I wouldn't know - I had Beamish and Treaty City's fine Harris Pale Ale. Next time...

Oarsman, Ringsend, Dublin

The Oarsman, above, is one of those fine Dublin pubs with the right mix of locals and visitors alike. Conversations flow around every subject matter and it would seem to be a dog friendly establishment.

The interior is wood and clocks, the Oarsman was built in 1816 and featured in James Joyce's Ulysses, when it was known as Tunney's; it sits directly opposite the unmissable Saint Patrick's Church on the edge of Dublin's River Dodder.

I stopped here on my way to photographing Slash at Dublin's 3Arena - formerly the Point.

The Oarsman serves a great pint of Guinness and the bar staff are friendly.