Mugs Cafe Dalkey

Ka-chow!”)

Managing the demands of an imaginative four-year old is somewhat mitigated by a decent amount of caffeine coursing through your veins. Pop down to Dalkey and wander to Mugs Café on Castle Street. Small but perfectly formed, Mugs has incredibly friendly staff and three cosy sofa-areas perfect for the fam. Try to snag the sofas at the back; the adjoining area under the stairs makes an ex

cellent den for your wee ones whilst you enjoy arguably the best coffee in the country. They say that the coastal views from nearby Vico Road have earned it the nickname “The Amalfi of Ireland”; if that’s the case, then Mugs certainly has its coffee sorted. As well as the full complement of espresso-based coffees, Mugs offers a range of teas, while the smaller members of the family can choose from a babycino, kid-sized hot chocolate (with generous topping of marshmallows) or a variety of smoothies and juices. There are snacks for all appetites, too, from mouthwatering muffins, tiffins, and rib-sticking chocolate brownies to bagels, soups, and paninis. And for those of you tethered to your smartphone, Mugs offers free wireless internet access, so you can relax with the (provided) newspapers whilst you hand over said phone so the wee ones can (silently?) catch up on McQueen. Ka-chow! The bathroom upstairs doesn’t have a changing area but there is ample space for such activity. Mugs Café Bar, 61a Castle Street, Dalkey, Co. Dublin, 01 284 0419