Our last day in Dublin and we decided to just keep it free and easy with no fixed plans. We were staying at the Holiday Inn Express Dublin City Centre and my hubby suggested we take a walk to Croke Park, the largest stadium in Ireland. At the same time, explore the surrounding neighbourhood.
While strolling through the quiet residential estate, we spotted this cute little café at the end of a row of terraced houses — The Duck Cafe. Honestly wasn’t expecting to find a café in the middle of a neighbourhood like that. It looks like someone converted the ground floor of their home into a small, cosy little spot. The kind of place you’d only know about if you lived around there.
The Vibe at The Duck Cafe Dublin
Super cosy, very neighbourhood-y. We sat at the high table and chairs right at the front of the café, looking out onto the street. The area is so peaceful and quiet — just locals going about their day. It was a really nice place to slow down, take a little breather, and just enjoy the moment.
Pretty sure the café owner is a big fan of ducks 😂
They also carry coffee beans, tumblers and a selection of gifts.
More outdoor seating can be found at the back.
Not touristy at all. Felt very much like a locals-only spot.
What We Ordered
Irish tea on the left, matcha latte on the right.
Irish Tea €3.00
Pretty much your standard English breakfast tea. Nothing fancy.
Matcha Latte €4.20
Actually quite decent. You can taste the matcha — the milk is light and not overpowering at all, so the matcha fragrance really comes through.
Caramel Crispy €4.80
Hard, sweet, caramelly rice crisps. Super crunchy and moreish.
Nice little snack to go alongside your drink.
Sausage Roll €4.90
Made with pure pork meat seasoned with herbs and spices — you can tell it’s homemade. Ours was a little dry, but the flavour was not bad overall.
They also serve sandwiches and wraps if you want something more substantial.
Final Thoughts
I wouldn’t say the food and drinks are so amazing that you’d want to make a special trip all the way down just for this café. But if you happen to be in the area — especially if you’re exploring Dublin on foot like we were — it’s definitely worth stopping by for a little break.
It’s a nice hidden gem. Quiet, unpretentious, and exactly the kind of place that makes slow travel feel worthwhile.