Insomnia

I have found myself in insomnia much more frequently recently and it could be that the location on Nassau street is rather convenient but I also find it good to mix up where i get my weekend coffee fix as well (variety is good). I have found that their 3.75 special for a cappuccino and any muffin/​scone/​banana bread, etc. is handy for a quick ready-​to-​get-​my-​weekend started combo. The service is a little hit and miss though. I have received service which was seemingly happy and made me feel welcome once, but most often it is moreso seeming to just want to take my order, deliver my coffee and move on. Service with a smile at least could improve the ratings a bit.

This place has an excellent location for the Insomnia Experience before/​during/​after studying/(window)shopping. Nice choice for the caffeine dose so needed at a certain time of the day…

I don’t have anything particularly against this specific Insomnia… I just don’t like any of them.
When I first got to Dublin my normally daily-​caffeinated body was yearning for some coffee, so I went to the first place I could find – Insomnia. It was not a pleasant experience. I believe I ordered some sort of flavored latte, and it was ridiculously sweet. Like, it made me gag. Still, I tried again because of the convenience of it’s location. This time, I asked for half the amount of syrup in my latte… My request was not heeded. My drink was still disgustingly sweet. This place made me yearn to find a Starbucks, and I’m not the biggest fan of Starbucks by any means. While Dublin isn’t known for having the world’s best coffee, there are still many places around the city leagues beyond Insomnia. I’d advise you to stay far, far away.

Wi-​Fi never seems to work here for me. Always does in the one near the national gallery, just in case anyone needs it urgently.

The same thing happens every time I walk past Insomnia. I see the sign in the window and read ‘blah + blah € 5′ and immediately think that any deal for € 5 deserves to at least be entertained. So I pay closer attention and read ‘muffin + coffee € 5′. Woo-fuckin’-hoo, you’re not lunch, you’re not lunch at all. And I keep on walking.
The hot chocolate is very nice though, but it’s still not lunch.

A few years before Starbucks landed at our shores, when the economic boom was taking hold, the Irish public grew a distaste for the bland impoverished tea bag and a thirst for a drink that would meet their newly acquired, fast-​paced, sophisticated lifestyle needs. The drink of choice, from the student to the business exec, became gourmet coffee: in more flavours than logically necessary. As a result, Insomnia hit the newly enlightened coffee drinking public of Ireland, armed with Italian influenced sandwiches, fresh pastries and sweet cakes.
In comparison to other chains it isn’t bad value, there’s usually a combo deal on offer. The chairs are comfy and it’s conveniently located just a stones throw from Grafton Street. The cakes are nice, the sandwich portions are a bit small but enjoyable, and the coffee is tasty. I did also hear about Insomnia doing the ‘fair trade’ thing before it was strictly fashionable or profitable here on the emerald isle, fair play lads.
All in all it’s a nice spot, but in the end don’t believe the hype: it’s only a cup of coffee.

Insomnia probably have the best deals going at the moment…€ 3 for a muffin and any coffee? Double-​shot large skinny mocha and a blueberry muffin for me please… I’ll be healthy and avoid the double chocolate…
The seats are comfy, the staff are nice, and there’s wi-​fi. Can’t really go wrong then can you?! Although a lot of their food is pre-​packed (which I don’t particularly like), the soups and goodies aren’t, and they’re good!
They don’t rush you, and there’s generally seats available, so it’s a good place to rest your shopping-​weary feet after a long day (or 10 minutes) on Grafton Street. Grab a seat at the window and do some people-​watching — everything from exam-​stressed students, to power-​suit-​wearing executives and Levi-​wearing tourists pass by here, which makes the perfection of a fake ‘eyes glazed over, I’m totally lost in my thoughts’ face necessary, unless you don’t mind people knowing you’re staring at them!