Pause Cafe

In Dublin 2, Pause Cafe lives up to its name: a daytime haven for fresh coffee that shifts, as evening draws in, to fine wine, good food and easygoing music. It is a go-to from morning to night, promising great food, fine wine and those unforgettable moments that keep people lingering a little longer.

The kitchen leans Italian, favouring honest flavours and time-honoured pairings. Oven-baked aubergine parmigiana arrives rich with tomato and di latte mozzarella, while tagilatelle carbonara balances guanciale, creamy egg yolk and parmesan. Pinsa is a pleasure here too: from the margherita’s trio of tomato, di latte mozzarella and fresh basil to the diavola, where ventricina and n’duja bring satisfying heat. Starters read with similar clarity, whether aromatic carpaccio lifted by capers and balsamic vinegar, or a caprese of beef tomato, buffalo mozzarella and basil.

To finish, desserts keep it classic: an affogato that marries vanilla ice cream with a bracing espresso shot and a kiss of amaretto, and a tiramisu that needs no introduction. With music in the air and glasses clinking, Pause Cafe makes lingering feel effortless. Secure a spot, settle in, and press pause on the day.