Given that these days myself and a couple of others have nothing to look forward to but lunchtime we have decided to have a daily delight following our luncheon to sample cups of tea from the various fine purveyors of said substance. We started our epic odyssey today at Bewleys, naturally.

Any suggestions for the rest of the week?

I am currently studying on Aungier Street and the furthest away of our support group is at Trinity so somewhere remotely in between.

Someday when you're feeling flaithiúlach you could try the Westbury - their hot chocolate is great.

Not being a tea drinker, I can't help you much further than that, but culchees are inclined (or used to be) when in the Big Smoke for the day, to drink tea in the top-floor restaurants of department stores. Is it because they're lazy or because the tea is good? I don't know...

Powerscourt shopping arcade? Is that place still there in the big shmoke ?

Well... funny you should say that! I had suggested the Westbury as a possibility for tomorrow. It is somewhere I only frequent when the parent's are bringing me places!

However, I checked their menu and tea is a whopping 4.80. I don't have enough money in my wallet to pay for lunch, a new ventolin inhaler and 4.80 for tea so it will have to be left to another day. It is certainly on the list though.

I hadn't noticed the trend which you speak of. I suppose maybe its higher than you can get in certain parts of rural Leinster?? I love sitting in Bewleys in the upstairs window watching people walking past, it is wonderful. The next nearest thing to it on Grafton Street is Starbucks above BT2.

Up above the Avoca shop ? the Shelbourne ? There is a tiny cafe on Dame Street - too far I think.

Auditor #9 wrote:

Powerscourt shopping arcade? Is that place still there in the big shmoke ?

We eat lunch there most days so they would find it rather too local. It is a great place for lunch if anyone is ever around there - lots of places to eat matched with very few people.

Oooh I didn't know there was a place above Avoca. Down on Suffolk Street is it? Is it nice?

The best thing about Bewleys on Grafton Street is that it's not Bewleys anymore. But there are many other good things about it now - that the food is miles better but the interior is gorgeous as ever. It was a hideous place to eat in.

Avoca is fabulous on top floor and there's a basement with a café that's cheaper than the table service upstairs.

I never used to get food there Kate but I have done since it changed hands and it is very good. The main room reminds me of my Leaving Cert though. Myself and a few others used to go to English lectures given by the English Department in Trinity (Brendan Kennelly and others) in the run up to the exams. Whilst waiting for our parents afterwards we'd always troop up to Bewleys and have a cup of hot chocolate as a group. Happy times.

johnfás wrote:

Given that these days myself and a couple of others have nothing to look forward to but lunchtime we have decided to have a daily delight following our luncheon to sample cups of tea from the various fine purveyors of said substance. We started our epic odyssey today at Bewleys, naturally.

Any suggestions for the rest of the week?

I am currently studying on Aungier Street and the furthest away of our support group is at Trinity so somewhere remotely in between.

Gruel at Dame St. They do a slap-up breakfast of anything you want and the tea is perfectly acceptable to me, the Defender of the Tealogical Faith.

You should also try the tea shop in Waterstones at Dawson Street since it is fantastic. They have so many different varieties and so many cups you can enjoy them in. It's lovely, spacious and you can fit lots of good reading in if the company gets a bit boring or you're in search of intellectual as well as sensual stimulation.

johnfás wrote:

I never used to get food there Kate but I have done since it changed hands and it is very good. The main room reminds me of my Leaving Cert though. Myself and a few others used to go to English lectures given by the English Department in Trinity (Brendan Kennelly and others) in the run up to the exams. Whilst waiting for our parents afterwards we'd always troop up to Bewleys and have a cup of hot chocolate as a group. Happy times.

I used to be a big fan of their dirty fries - for a while I had a recording of walking into town from Charlemont Street (in a block of flats since demolished), hungover after a night in An Beal Bocht (now gone), to get breakfast in the 'lofty, clattery café' - and lofty and clattery it was, full of the sounds of crockery and the mumble of conversation.

Also, I used to love tea on a winter morning in the Winding Stair, back in the days when it was one room with a gas heater, full of the smell of gas, tea, books, and wet woollen coats, with the grey Liffey oiling by outside the dirty rain-flecked window.

ibis wrote:

Also, I used to love tea on a winter morning in the Winding Stair, back in the days when it was one room with a gas heater, full of the smell of gas, tea, books, and wet woollen coats, with the grey Liffey oiling by outside the dirty rain-flecked window.

That sounds delightful, ibis.

If you want a nice lunch, you can't really beat busyfeet on the corner of Chatham Street and South William Street. They do a nice bowl of soup with a ploughmans with crispy bacon on top for a deliciously reasonable price.

I'm bad at Dublin Street names, but does anyone know the little French patisserie with a tiny upstairs cafe just off Grafton Street ? Top class - would remind me of Soho.

Ah - here it is - its at the back of the Powerscourt Town House in Castle Market. You might have to queue. Its called " La Maison des Gourmets "

Kilkenny shop has a cafe upstairs, tea and scone is Eu5 i think. best value as scone is absolutely delicious, and usually still warm from the oven!

Funnily enough Kilkenny it was this afternoon! A very nice cup of tea I must say.

Tomorrow we're going all out and hitting the Westbury as it is a Friday.

Not sure about their tea, but if you're studying near Aungier St. and you fancy a great cup of coffee you should try the Bald Barista (Aungier St.). Best coffee I've had in Dublin.

johnfás wrote:

Funnily enough Kilkenny it was this afternoon! A very nice cup of tea I must say.

Tomorrow we're going all out and hitting the Westbury as it is a Friday.

johnfás, are you seriously going to pay 4.80 for a cup of tea ?

Some of the art galleries and museums have good cafes, and free art as well. It is one of the wonders of Dublin that one is welcomed in to a magnificent museum by a nice man who is there just to tell you there is no charge.

cactus flower wrote:

Some of the art galleries and museums have good
cafes, and free art as well. It is one of the wonders of Dublin that
one is welcomed in to a magnificent museum by a nice man who is there
just to tell you there is no charge.

Indeed
they do and very nice they are. Don't even talk to me about art at the
moment - very touchy subject in my house! We sent a painting in for
restoration this week and by mistake they did this, watch the video...