IF YOU VENTURE into Dublin’s city centre at an ungodly hour, it can be difficult to find a place that’s open and also serves up a decent breakfast or coffee.

So we asked early risers – the people who are well acquainted with the best and most convenient spots – for the places they pop into, just as the rest of the city is waking up.

Charlotte Leonard Kane of Scéal Bakery

6.30am: Grindstone Speciality Coffee opens at 6:30am during the week which is perfect for our market stall schedule. On Friday mornings, we go to Naomh Olaf Farmers Market (Naomh Olaf GAA, Stillorgan, Dublin 18). The staff are incredibly friendly and coffee is always spot on. Big plus is that they stock Oh Happy Treats breakfast muffins, which are the ideal snack to grab and go.

Grindstone Speciality Coffee: Monday to Friday 6.30am – 6pm, Saturday and Sunday 9am – 6pm

Eimear Shannon, morning radio content creator for Dermot and Dave on Today FM

7.00am: The first time I went to Keoghs, they gave me a steak sandwich to go with loads of chips on a paper plate and I’ve been in love with them ever since. I walk by them on my way to work and I swear they pump the smell of scones into the street. Their scones with a smoothie or a freshly squeezed orange juice is my order.

Keoghs Cafe: Monday and Tuesday 7am – 7pm, Wednesday to Saturday 7am – 8pm, Sunday 9am – 7pm

Diarmaid Nolan, children’s nurse in Temple Street

After a night shift: When I’m on day shifts, I’d have breakfast at home and bring a gallon of coffee with me for the drive! Post night duty, I’d normally stop at the Applegreen on the N7 for jambons, hash browns and a few minutes’ sleep.

Applegreen is open 24 hours

Andrew Moore aka Fitness Goose, personal trainer

7.45am: I use the Good Food Store opposite FLYEfit Georges Street. It opens at 8am but I usually knock at the door and get a coffee at 7.45am. If it’s not ready, the staff are happy to let me sit inside until all systems are go. Flat white is the standard but at Christmas I sometimes order a Dirty Chai Latte.

Good Food Store: Monday to Saturday 8am – 5pm, Sunday 10am – 4pm

Bob Johnston, owner of Gutter Bookshop

7.30am: If I’m off to an early start, I’ll load up my KeepCup with an Americano with soya milk from Fonté Coffee or the Music Café. I’m no coffee connoisseur but it tastes good to me and sets me up for the day!

Fonté Coffee: Monday to Friday 7.30am – 5.30pm, Saturday 8am – 5pm
Music Café: Monday 8am – 10pm, Tuesday to Saturday 8am – 11.30pm, Sunday 9am – 10.30pm

Jess Redden, fitness expert and trainer

7.00am: My favourite for early starts at the moment is Eathos. I love the variety on their menu and the freshly baked treats are amazing. The staff are so friendly and I love the fun coffee art they do on their hot drinks! My order is the buckwheat pancakes with all the trimmings.

Eathos: Monday to Friday 7am – 4.30pm, Saturday 8.30am – 4.30pm

Harry Colley, chef

8.00am: On my way to work, I pop into Meet Me in the Morning for a black coffee. There’s no time for frills or messing at that hour.

Meet Me in the Morning: Monday to Friday 8am – 4pm, Saturday and Sunday 9am – 4pm

Finbarr O’Sullivan, driver for An Post

6am: There’s weeks where I’m starting work at 4am, 5am or 6am and other weeks I start at 10.30pm, so it all depends on where I’m going and if there’s a shop open.

If I’m in for 4am, it’s Weetabix at home – but if I’m in at 5am, it’s a breakfast roll in Circle K around 6.

Circle K: 6am – 10pm

Ruth Medjber, photographer

8.00am: I love Two Pups Café and I always get the avocado on sourdough toast with peanut butter and chili. Or the homemade brownie! I love it because it’s got extremely good vibes – provided mainly by Zoe and her wonderful staff – and it’s got great natural lighting and the acoustics are lovely and smooth; a must for a jaded photographer with tinnitus.

If I’m working on a shoot that requires the early morning light – we’re talking sunrise early – or fuelling up before a weekend working at a music festival, Two Pups is my reward.

Two Pups: Monday to Saturday 8am – 5pm, Sunday 9am – 4.30pm

Aifric Ní Chriodáin, managing director of ShoutOut

7.30am: My work brings me all over the country to schools and youth groups, which means a lot of bleary-eyed trips to Busaras because I don’t drive. That area is a bit of a blackspot for good coffee and breakfast but I love Tang. Their food is sustainable, healthy and delicious, especially the shakshuka. The coffee is always perfect.

Tang: Monday to Friday 7.30am – 5pm

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