Village Cafe

Friendly staff, great atmosphere, and most importantly some of the best bacon I’ve ever had.

Fantastic restaurant/​café the food is fresh and so tasty the staff are very helpful and charming ! Great terrace for the sunshine

Best Breakfast Sandwich in Dublin… Update on this Brunch hotspot in Rathmines with an outstanding new addition to the brunch menu
I just had the Brunch Croque Madame and it was truly life changing, especially with a mid range hangover to deal with.
As mentioned previously this is one of the best brunch spots in the city and is always packed.
Their interpretation of the classic Croque Madame is wonderful, to use a ‘Simpson’s’ descriptive style…
first they take some beautiful slow roasted dry cured bacon and add two thick slices then they add some sumptuous creamy Kelly’s sausage gravy then they melt lovely Hegarty’s Cheddar over the whole sandwich and served it with square cut home fries.
This is a must try if you are in the area.

Love this place, food is amazing, staff are fantastic. They have a lovely terrace area, great for brunch and a sunny day glass of Chardonnay! If the rain and wind drive you inside the relaxed comfy atmosphere welcomes you. This place is among my favourites, can’t recommend it highly enough.

Love, love, love it.
Great staff and a brilliant setting. The badger and dodo coffee has me coming back time and time again. My only reservation is the brunch stuff is largely stuff you could easily prepare at home…
The € 10 dinners they’ve started doing intrigue me so must head back in to check them out. So great that this place is open again and I love the outdoor terrace.

For a long time, the Village did the best brunch I’d had in Dublin. It was therefore very disappointing when it closed down a couple of years back.
I’ve been three times to the new incarnation, twice for brunch and once for dinner.
The first time for brunch was a few months back and I had a very underwhelming eggs benedict for around € 13. I went again today and am glad to say that the brunch has improved immensely.
I had really nice baked eggs with merguez and homefries and my companion had eggs benedict. Both really tasty. It’s not quite back to the old heights but it’s close.
The location and laid-​back vibe make it particularly popular as a brunch spot but The Village is also amazing value for dinner.
You can get an early bird with 2 courses for € 22.50 that includes a delicious rib-​eye steak for no extra. The pudding/​cauliflower and mushroom starters are fantastic.

This is a really cute place in Rathmines, and despite dropping in on a Saturday night at 8pm, they had loads of places. This was great as we needed to be in and out fairly quickly, which we mentioned to our waitress. The staff are really nice but they still took their time with taking our orders, despite our request. That aside, the food was delicious! I had the chicken wings with sweet potato fries which were absolutely to die for, they’re chopped into tiny cubes so you can neck them by the spoonful! I was sad to leave some behind but I was absolutely stuffed with my meal! The chicken wings were a little less spicy than I’d normally like but they were still delicious and I gobbled them up. I’m not a slaw person but I tried some of the slaw that came with this and I have to say, it was pretty nice.
I’ll definitely be back again if I’m in the area.

I remember coming here a few years ago and really enjoying my lunch. I think that’s what I had. And then it seemed to disappear. And then reappear.
I’m glad the Village Café is back! Rathmines sorely needs some good quality cooking.
I went in for a Saturday brunch and really loved the options that were available.
I got the Huevos Rancheros, which were not as good as I expected. Unfortunately.
It felt like they were microwaved. The eggs were a bit over-​cooked and there wasn’t enough salsa or cream or anything to compensate. At least the home fries were really tasty. And they also made up for the small breakfast…
I guess the most points would go for the staff and service. Really friendly, not pushy or judgey (I went in alone). And that, to me, is worth the extra point for a rather 3 point experience.
The menu and specials look really good every time I pass by, so will definitely be back!

One of my favourite parts of seeing a movie at the Swan Theatre is having an excuse to grab dinner in Rathmines. The other weekend we had plans to see a movie so stopped into Village Café about an hour prior. As it was quite early for a Saturday, there was only one other table in the restaurant. We were quickly seated and informed of the day’s specials. After a brief look we placed our orders and crossed our fingers that we could still make our movie!
To start I had the Barbeque baby gem w/​Cashel blue & hazelnut dressing. The dressing was so tasty and I just love the texture of a nice grilled salad. J had the mushroom cappuccino. For some reason we both read it as carpaccio so were surprised when they delivered the cappuccino mug of creamy mushroom soup. Luckily, J loves all things mushroom and the flavours were delicious.
A bit later our mains came out. I ordered the red snapper with rice and pureed cauliflower and was quite surprised at the presentation. The dish was put together beautifully and tasted just as nice. The blackened fish was well seasoned and paired well with the cauliflower and rice. J had the chicken with savoury bread pudding, rice and asparagus. The chicken was perfectly cooked and the bread pudding made the dish interesting.
We didn’t have time for dessert but we thoroughly enjoyed our experience and will return. Super cool interior and fair prices for the high quality of the food. Thanks Village Café!

I used to visit this café a lot when it was run by different people. As is often the case, the café gets taken over and everything takes a turn for the worse. Service and food are both far inferior these days and prices have increased a lot.
They used to do a great coffee, but the new beans leave you wishing you went to Dunnes up the road and bought a jar of instant coffee.
There are far better options in Rathmines and it’s just a pity they didn’t retire the name with they changed this over to the new management as that would have stopped people getting their hopes up too highly for what is frankly a terrible café.

Another place that would nearly make ya want to move southside. Nearly. Not quite. But that’s another story.
What a gorgeous little place. Down a few steps into a cosy basement with courtyard to the front (complete with outdoor heaters if you’re not feeling so brave). Inside, it’s like walking into the (large) front room of your (contemporary) Granny’s gaff. There’s a big stove and low beams, mishmash of furniture and lots of cushions and general comfort.
The staff were outstanding — so so friendly, smiley and helpful.
The food was REALLY good. I got the huevos rancheros which came with diced potatoes, char grilled bread brushed with olive oil. The eggs themselves were baked with cheese and pico de gallo on top. So tasty and good. I had to take away so didn’t get to add some sauces to it, but I’d defo be back to try again and eat in. Loved it.

The Village café has been a bit of an institution in Rathmines for years, it has gone through a few different incarnations but they have always managed to keep that slightly homely feel as well as the amazing outdoor area at the front that is so good on sunny days.
The latest iteration of the VC is aiming for and easily hits the mark for high quality food paired with reasonable prices and an excellent wine list; it still keeps the cool café vibe in the mornings, chic brunch spot for the weekends and adds a really excellent dinner menu for the evenings.
Myself and wifey wandered in last night to give it a shot, outside was cold and winterish while inside was warm, comfy, friendly and nicely lit.
The menu is short — maybe 8 starters, similar number of main and 3 desserts, all interesting and drool-​inducing.
I couldn’t resist the barbecue baby Gem lettuce, because seriously, who in their right mind grills rabbit food? I’m not sure what I was expecting but what I got was surprising, a lovely mix of char and nuttiness balanced by a salty finish from the cheese. Wifey had the butternut squash soup with smoked cheese — it was likewise excellent.
For mains I went for Chicken supreme with savory bread pudding, it sounds like I was playing it safe but I reckoned there was little chance of it being too predictable; I was right, it blew me away. The only other restaurant in Dublin that has caught me like this was San Lorenzos — serving up a dish which sounds like it will be a bit safe but turning into something noteworthy, I could go on for ages here but bottom line — go try it!
Wifey had the baked Hake, she loved it describing it as «delicate but incredibly tasty».
For dessert I ordered a pillow and a duvet, I could eat no more, I was most definitely done.
Wifey ordered the hazelnut mousse, of course I tried it after I was woken up to do so, it was excellent.
The Village Café is a must try, holding its own against some of the best in the city (Think San Lorenzo and Hugos) and has the potential to be properly stand out in a very short time.

Could not have been more thrilled with myself after suggesting to go here on a whim one Saturday morning!
The staff were so friendly that they actually caught me off-​guard, to the extent that I had to check over my shoulder at first to see if it was someone else that they were greeting so warmly!
The welcome you get is clearly a good indicator for the food you’re going to get
–because it was equally great– and as we all know:
cracking eggs + rambunctious coffee = the foundation of any good brunch.

Really nice to see this placate open again, Rathmines is in real need of more options but pity it’s only open until lunch (for now).
Went here for lunch today and sat outside, something which is seriously lacking in the area, and the sun was shining… beautiful.
The staff area great really helpful and friendly. We had asked for the veggie soup and were told they had none today but the waitress came back a few minutes later to say they could make some… great.
Myself and a friend had the chowder, tasty but lacking fish and potato which was meant to be the body of the dish so I was very disappointed. Also the bread on the side was stall and tough. € 7.50 for the small bowl of chowder with literally one small piece of fish was a bit expensive I thought.
The veggie soup came with a salad on top and hidden under this was an unexpected unpleasant surprise of jalapeño sour cream, I thought the soup was delicious and not bad at € 4.50 but again the stale bread.
I saw food order by other people and it looked amazing… I’ve also has the scones which are the best I’ve had in a long time.
I guess with chowder it’s the luck of the scoop from the pot. Will be making a regular return to try the rest of the menu.

I was disappointed when I found the Village Café closed when I eventually made an effort to go and try the place out. I think that was back in 2012.
But today the Village Café has reopened — hurrah — and I was here for a quick spot of lunch with a friend.
I took a table outside, which was just fantastic in this Indian summer heat we are experiencing. The seating was very comfortable too.
For food I opted for the soup of the day which was a delicious tomato based soup, which was full of yummy food. It really was a meal in itself: carrots, celery, jalapeño (gave a lovely kick), small meatballs, bits of chorizo and pieces of ham. It also had some blue cheese spooned on top, melting in and two pieces for crusty bread on the side.
My friend went for the wild mushroom quiche with rocket and parmesan from the main lunch menu. He said it was nice, but small. And for the price of 7.50 EUR I would have to agree, it was quite small for the price.
That said, it was the only downside. The staff were very friendly and the service was really quick.
As we were leaving I noticed that all the tables out front were taken. The place has only reopened a few days, but already the crowds are coming. A good sign.
And guess what Unilocal,there IS bike parking nearby ;)

Great spot for brunch! Eat inside or outside on a fine day. We ordered the Greek omelet and big breakfast. Both meals were fantastic.
The staff is friendly and the ambiance is pleasant.
They have an early bird dinner special too.
Be sure to order a cappuccino — multo bene!

I’ve been in here for brunch on several occasions. And while the food is generally of good quality, there’s a few problems with value and service that detract from the overall experience.
Last time I went I had the eggs benedict with parma ham. Tasted lovely (especially the Hollandaise, which was tasty and not too heavy) but it was € 9.50 for a poached egg on half a bap with a drop of side-​salad. It’s not worth it, and there are better options on the menu when it comes to value.
Staff are definitely a problem here. While I understand that it’s a café and obviously informal, often I find the waiters standing in a corner or by the coffee area chatting away to themselves in plain sight, and not spotting customers who want service. Some are just downright unfriendly. Also because of the tight seating arrangement and the proximity of the cutlery and drinks areas, the staff’s activities are often so noisy that I can’t hear anyone with me. So if you’re looking for a relaxed atmosphere sitting outside is the only option.
The Village is one of those frustrating situations where the good food is affected by a poor environment and Celtic Tiger prices.

Brunch until 4pm is the sort of thing I can get behind. I’d recommend it as an election slogan (it’d look great hanging from a lamp-​post).
Good thing that the brunch at Village Café is excellent too. Their full Irish is pretty good, but I was really into their Spanish omelette. So good, but not the sort of thing I want to get into the habit of eating, unless I feel like carrying a lot of extra Dave around.
Village deserves a bit of credit for its setting as well. Set just below street level, it puts some precious yards between you and Rathmines Road as well. It’s really peaceful and relaxing, just like a good café should be.

So wanting to have a lining in my belly before hitting the Cocktail making Elite Event I sensibly decided to grab a bite in Rathmines and following reviews from my fellow Unilocalers I tripped along to the Village Café in Rathmines. Boy i wasn’t disappointed. 2 courses for 16,95. We were a group of 5 including two discerning Unilocalers (MAIRE B). Decision was made to skip the starters although they were tempting in favour of a mains and dessert combo (in the interests of Unilocal of course).
I had the tagliatelle with sundried tomatoes, prawns with spinach, my partner in crime had a wonderful chicken and asparagus risotto which came heavily garnished with flat leaf parsley (too much in my opinion) while the others had the tagliatelle and cod on a bed of mash with chives. The tagliatelle was tasty but could have been better seasoned (put right with a sprinkling of black pepper). My fellow Unilocaler was dismayed to discover the mash contained quite a lot of pepper to which she has an allergy.
Desserts are homemade on the premises (the waiter proudly announced a no. of times) and we ordered the raspberry and cream cheese chocolate brownie with vanilla icecream. It was moist it had chocolate, I struggled to get the cream cheese taste and the raspberry was a bit hit and miss. That my friends explains the minus 1 star.
I would note for the management that one waiter up until 7pm was crazy. The poor guy was run off his feet and customers albeit patient were not given due service no fault to the waiter.
Will I be back yes. Good value for money, good standard of food. Nice ambience and pleasant staff. We’re planning to check out the brunch some weekend soon.

The times that I have popped by this place it’s always packed, today I got lucky. It’s a compact little spot with French interior influences, music is inspired from that era and the servers are foreign for lack of a more detailed nationality description, basically they talk sexy and look superior.
Brunch is served between 10am — 4pm. I ordered the Greek omelet and coffee. The omelet took awhile to come and once I got it I knew why.
Cooked from scratch, absolutely fantastic. The feta cheese contrasted perfectly with the sun-​dried tomatoes like soul-​mates who found each other. The texture was moist and fluffy. The side salad of rockets & sweet peppers was really tasty too… I never thought that I would find rockets tasty.
Popular with hungover students. Young couples with babies. Older couples. Newly crossed lovers that are celebrating the morning after, yeah there is a lot of projected love in this place.
Lacks the 5 star treatment because although the staff are friendly, they are a tad bit slow off the mark. It pains me to have to burn people with my eyes in order to get their attention. I am not a fan of my intense stalker like gaze and shockingly they were impenetrable for a good 10 mins, that’s pretty impressive.
Oh free Wi-​Fi!!!
Live Jazz every Thursday Night!!!