Small wonders

Few things make us happier than our morning coffee, so we were chuffed to stumble upon the excellent brews at the noisily named Sip ’n’ Slurp cafe at 67, Charlemont St, Dublin 2. Opening at 7.30am as a cheery wake-up call for passing commuters, if you pop in after they’ve all hit their desks, there’s a calm, friendly atmosphere – pastel walls and painted furniture – in which to enjoy some fantastic Aussie-inspired coffees, such as flat whites and long blacks with beans roasted by Alchemy Coffee.

We had some still-warm raspberry scones (€2.10 or €4 with a coffee) which are made daily on the premises, as are the six daily soup offerings, which include mushroom and tarragon, beef goulash, and chicken, chorizo and chickpea (from €3.80, or €6.50 with a sambo or wrap). There’s gluten- and dairy-free soups too, an array of home-baked goodies, and plans are afoot to do weekend brunch.