The recent weather is just the icing on the cake when it comes to the tyranny that 2021 has brought us so far. It’s beginning to feel a bad remake of Groundhog Day with little to brighten the mood and depressing talk of restaurants being kept closed until early summer. One small ray of light however in this fog of samey days, is the increase in drive-through places to go for decent coffee without having to brave the weather or have a run in with the person behind you who's forgotten that social distancing was ever a thing - although some of these spots will still involve jumping out of the car to order and pay. Sometimes, walks are overrated.
1) Aventura, Portmarnock/Malahide
With an excellent sea-facing location at the car park of Paddy’s Hill in Malahide, and another in the train station car park in Portmarnock, Aventura is perfectly positioned for those travelling by car, with plenty of space to pull up, order and hop back in. Coffee is their own house blend from Koffy in Newry and the treats from Mud Bakery, The Carrot Cake Lady and Medialuna Croissanterie are even more reasons to visit. The sandwiches are top class too.
2) Thru The Green, Windy Arbour
Thru the Green, in Windy Arbour near Dundrum village, is the ideal pit stop for those who want to limit their interaction with the outside world, whether for health reasons or just because of a bad hair day (which most of us are having too many of lately). The coffee on the bar is from Roasted Brown and there are sandwiches and cakes for take away too. One of the owners is Australian so it’s no surprise that last year on Australia Day (January 26th) there were Anzac biscuits and lamingtons on the go which we hope to see repeated this week.
3) Cheeky Rascal Coffee, Howth Junction Industrial Estate
While not primarily a drive through, Cheeky Rascal have been known to serve customers directly through their window if the situation presents itself, but parking nearby is ample anyway. Coffee is the shiringa blend from Blue Butterfly Coffee in Waterford, and this is the only place in town to drink it. Treats are handmade by The Middle Child, and pre and (hopefully) post Covid, they're available as a pop up horsebox bar/cocktail bar for events and parties, when we finally have something to celebrate.
4) The Coffee Kid, Sallynoggin
Another coffee kiosk making use of a lonely parking lot is The Coffee Kid (aka Alex Flynn) in Sallynoggin. Located in the car park of M Kelly Interiors (between Lidl and Woodies) there is tonnes of space to do a park and dash for your daily dose. Coffee is from 8th Corner Coffee in Dun Laoghaire and there are freshly baked vegan cookies, biscotti, fudge and sage and apple sausage rolls to go.
5) Grindstone, Balally Luas
With their own dedicated house blend from 3fe and more Kombucha than you can shake a stick at, Grindstone seems to have it all going on. There are homemade jambons and sausage rolls, teas from Wall & Keogh and salads and sandwiches for lunch. Located at Balally Luas stop, you can pick up your coffee to go while reminiscing about the good old days when you had to trudge in to work in a cramped carriage. Guest roasters are featured monthly with PS Coffee Roasters and Bell Lane just a couple that have made an appearance. If you're walking (or the passenger) they also serve Baileys coffee and hot chocolate to go.
6) Morilles, Stillorgan & Rathfarnham
If you thought park and ride car parks were eerily empty, spare a thought for the pub car parks throughout the county, with all that prime space and not even a lone ‘I’ll drive and collect the car tomorrow’ vehicle hanging around. Not so for the car parks of The Yellow House in Rathfarnham, The Ballinteer House and The Mill House in Stillorgan with the arrival of Morilles drive through coffee at all locations. Coffee is from JJ Darboven, roasted in Dun Laoghaire, and there are lots of freshly baked breads and pastries to go.
7) Mint Coffee, Blackrock
If your weekends used to involve traipsing children around muddy rugby and football pitches in the rain, you may well feel slightly nostalgic with a pit stop at Mint Coffee, located just inside the gates of Blackrock Rugby Club. Coffee is from Eighty9, also roasted in Dun Laoghaire, and there's an extensive hot chocolate menu and toasties that look pretty good. This one is completely drive through also so feel free to go in your pj’s with full confidence that you won’t be spotted.
8) Goat's Gruff, Strawberry Beds
Another lockdown success story, Goats Gruff is perfect for that 5k Sunday morning drive. Perched on the banks of the Liffey in the car park of The Strawberry Hall, this is another fully drive through option. The sandwiches are wood-fired, the coffee's from Imbibe and the pastries and bread are from Tartine. The queue can be brutal at the weekends but with surroundings (and coffee) as good as this, who are we to complain. In the evenings, they do wood-fired pizzas which are also worth queueing for.
9) Fools and Horses Coffee
Walkinstown Roundabout used to be the stuff of nightmares for learner drivers (or any drivers), and while the advent of the Red Cow roundabout helped, it’s still busy. The arrival of Fools and Horses Coffee has probably not improved the traffic, but these days it’s not that much of a worry. The horse box/coffee box serves coffee from Upside and there are mascarpone cookie sandwiches. They also have a pitch in Dundrum but it’s on pause for now.
10) Bean Box, Greenhills
While not exactly a drive through, there is plenty of parking at Bean Box for a quick coffee refuel. One of the few places to offer local delivery, Bean Box also do crepes, cakes and most importantly, the coffee is Ariosa.
11) Smack Drive Thru Coffee
Another true drive (or walk) through, Smack Drive Thru Coffee is located on the Sandyford Road in Dundrum, beside Ballawley Park. The oldie of the gang, Smack has been going for over 5 years and Red Rooster Loco Leghorn is the coffee of choice. One of the few places to open early, coffee is on the go from 07:00 for the early risers.
12) Galloping Green, Stillorgan
Galloping Green at Byrne's pub in Stillorgan is not just a drive through coffee shop, it's also a drive through off-licence - so you can pick up a tandoori chicken ciabatta, a delicious flat white from Two Fifty Square, and grab a bottle of tequila while you're there. Unfortunately the off-licence is temporarily closed due to the current restrictions, but under normal circumstances click and collect is available online, where you'll also find their sandwich and coffee menu.
13) Cob Coffee Company, Rathfarnham
In Rathfarnham, Cob Coffee Company have found a new home adjacent to Mulch Garden Centre (also a garden waste recycler) on Nutgrove Avenue. This is one to watch with coffee from relative newcomers (and apparently Ireland’s most sustainable coffee brand) Woodland Coffee in Dublin 24, treats from The Cupcake Bloke and tea from Nik’s Teas. There's loads of space to park and drive through is also an option.
14) Dash Container at the Hole in the Wall, Dublin 7
On Blackhorse Avenue, beside the Phoenix Park, Dash Coffee serve their own Triangle coffee signature roast, in collaboration with Khanya Craft Coffee in Dublin 11, along with monthly guest roasts. Dash has a full takeaway menu for breakfast and lunch including pastries, porridge, overnight oats, sausage rolls, soup and smoothies along with some sweet stuff too. They also host running tours of the Phoenix Park (when permitted) and Dog Days on Thursdays which involve free puppy-cinos for your four legged friend. Open later than most, you can get caffeinated at Dash up until 20:00 and there is loads of parking. Pre–ordering is on the way too.
Know any other drive-through coffee spots? Let us know by emailing info@allthefood.ie
