A warning to keep away from the goat is not what you expect to see on a cafe door – but that’s the only sign of inhospitability from Pauline Harper, the owner and head cook of possibly the most charming cafe in the country.
Meet You Here cafe, a 1920s gatekeeper’s lodge in its own garden (for customers as well for as the goat), is a haven of tranquillity off the N5 in Ballaghaderreen, Co Roscommon. Surrounding the comfy sofas, log burner and bric-a-brac is a wide variety of paintings and pieces of art (all for sale). But it’s the food – and especially the cakes – that make the visit worthwhile. The menu is simple, but the quality of the results makes this small cafe memorable – and her desserts are renowned in the area, especially lemon tart served with home-made pistachio and raspberry ice-cream. Meet You Here makes a great stopover when driving between Dublin and Westport. The cafe is next to St Nathy’s school, off the main square, and is open every day, 8am-8pm (summer), and 8am-10pm (winter); call 086-3002803.