Accents Coffee & Tea Lounge – Home Comfort
Nothing beats a surprise scorchio in Dublin, so I decided to flick on the shades and go have some fun in the sun. Grafton Street was jammers of course, just the way I like it, and I was hot but not bothered. Cake based refreshment was deffo on the agenda – now where to? I’ve been hearing a lot about Accents on Stephen Street Lower lately, so I wandered that-a-way and found an absolute gem of a cafe.
Central Perk came to mind and it’s the comfy leather sofas dotted around, colourful bookshelves and friendly service that work the NYC vibe. Owner Anna greeted me with a smile and a chat, telling me about their new range of savoury fare. The goats cheese rosti looked delish but I was in a sweet mood and put my name on the last piece of chocolate profiterole cake. A serious slice of sugary goo…
I found a cosy corner and got stuck into the library as well as my creamy latte. Accents is home to BookCrossing, an international book swapping thingy, so there are loads of pre-loved tomes to choose from. “Karma, Destiny and Your Career” found its way into my curious mitts, which is funny as I think Accents might be my new writing hub. Spooky… Free WiFi and tasty snacks made up my mind too.
Downstairs is a fantastic lounge area, which is popular with Dublin’s night owls, as Accents opens ’til 11pm and 10pm on Sunday. Anna told me that she opened the place as an alternative to the pub as she noticed a culture shift in post-Tiger Ireland. Accents plays host to book clubs, a comedy night, tarot reading and many other creative groups, making it the ideal place to pop in and meet new people.
Music is also a big draw here with the Live Lounge acoustic sessions, Coffee & Chords, every second Friday. Night bites include a cheese board or hummus with bread and tortillas. Or one of their yummy cakes! Gluten free and vegan options mean there’s a treat for everyone. This place is a real home from home and I saw plenty of regulars coming in and out. Accents – where everybody knows your name!
Accents Coffee & Tea Lounge, 23 Stephen Street Lower, Dublin 2 / www.accents-lounge.com