One Cake a Day – Dublin Edition

Avoca, we all agree.

Eating cake everyday is extremely unhealthy and addictive, so don't try this at home!

...Try this in Dublin! If you get the chance to spend four days in Temple Bar, I mean in the Irish capital city, you MUST try one lovely café per day. (Not) only for girls. Sweet up your to-do-list with these four names.

Picture by Laura McKee

The Queen of Tarts

The name is mouthwatering, the cake display is lavish, old style and absolutely stunning. The cakes are bakery royals, proud on their high thrones, in your plate, and until the last chocolate crumble. You might as well feel like bowing at it before eating it.

Not to miss: carrot cake. A giant slice of bliss covered in icing.

Where: Cork Hill, Dame Street, Dublin 2

In front of Dublin Castle; a coincidence?

Picture by Laura McKee

Foam

My friend defined the place “hippy”, I would rather say LSDesque. Bright colours, artsy patterns and an eccentric mix of sofas, table cloths and decorations welcome you to this picturesque café in an improbable street. The shades make you feel like you had too much sugar the very second you walk past the threshold. The bathroom is as amazing as the rest of the place!

Not to miss: tea selection (to accompany the cake). Try the smoky lapsang: absolutely inhebriant!

Where: 24 Strand Street Great, Dublin 1

Near the Ha' Penny Bridge, north side.

Café Irie

Cosy café ideal for breakfast, lunch or dreamy escapes. Follow the butterflies upstairs and read about arts events in the city. I don't know if it's because it's on the first floor, it feels a bit like being in the tower of a fairy castle. And it might be the case, considering Dublin mythical heritage.

Not to miss: hot chocolate with marshmallows and chocolate flakes. Perfect for those rainy Irish afternoons.

Where: 11 Fownes Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2

Near Temple Bar and the Institute of Photography, upstairs a vintage clothing shop (loved that too!)

Avoca

They started out weaving in 1723, and now they have a shop full of clothing, stationary, books, homeware, topped with a café. All the cakes look so breathtaking, it was really difficult for me to choose only one. The waiters are friendly, the service is perfect in the detail, and what's better than shopping and eating in the same place?

Not to miss: variety of chocolate cakes and carrot cakes. I went for the almond and pear one. As I said, everything is delicious!

Where: 11-13 Suffolk Street, Dublin 2

Near Trinity College and Molly Malone's statue.

A tiny spoiler of the bathroom foyer at Foam Café. 

Just one last note. If you are Italian and want to order cappuccino in Dublin, get ready to thin foam indiscriminately covered with cocoa. Alas, Italians do it better!