Dublin, Monday to Friday

Dublin · 4–6 hours · any

Three specialty cafes across Dublin on foot, then a glass of wine to finish: from the Docklands to Christ Church and Redmond's Hill, and on to Portobello, about 3.6 kilometres in all. It is a walk with a coffee at each end, not a crawl: the first leg is 28 minutes, the next two only 8 and 10. Weekdays only, since the first stop is closed at weekends.

The route

1. Boca Cafe
Spencer Dock
Start here, early: it opens at 7:30 on weekdays and is closed at weekends, which is why this walk is Monday to Friday. A clean, spacious Docklands cafe with friendly staff and a sandwich menu, so have the piri piri sandwich with a latte. Then walk about 28 minutes to the next stop, the longest leg of the route.
28 min walk to the next stop
2. RóCo Café
Christ Church / Portobello
Small, quaint and over two floors, beside Christ Church Cathedral. Order downstairs and the staff bring it up to the second floor, where the best seats are. The flat white was nicely crafted, smooth and the right temperature. Open until 15:00 on weekdays, so do not leave it late.
8 min walk to the next stop
3. Brew Lab
Christ Church / Portobello
The strongest cup of the day, 650 metres on. Run by Irish barista champions, with a long bar, single-origin coffee and pastries worth ordering too. A flat white on whichever single-origin they are pouring. Open until 16:30 on weekdays, so finish here before heading south.
10 min walk to the next stop
4. Brindle Coffee & Wine
Christ Church / Portobello
End in Portobello, about ten minutes on. By day it is a coffee shop and by evening an organic wine bar, open until 8pm (9pm Thursday to Saturday). Take the back room, which is tucked away and made for a solo glass and a book. The La Parra white, a chardonnay and moscatel blend, tasted of ripe peach, apricot and green apple.