8 quirky coffee shops worth visiting in Northern Ireland
Some of the newest hipster cafés to check out
Northern Ireland's coffee shops are nearly as popular as pubs these days!
In a country famous for its cup of tea and Ulster Fry, the Northern Irish are increasingly turning to coffee as a quick fix to ease the daily grind.
The hipster movement has led to a new trend, with independent cafés popping up everywhere.
New figures released ahead of UK Coffee Week reveal that we now consume 95 million cups a day - that's a lot of cappuccinos and flat whites!
So, when that craving for caffeine calls, where do you go to get your fix?
We've picked out some of the best new coffee shops for connoisseurs to try out...
Founded Coffee
You don't have to travel to the cities for the best cup of joe in the country. Founded Coffee is an exciting hipster café outside Ballymoney serving up delicious food and decent flat whites. Make sure to try their sourdough w/peanut Butter/Banana/Blueberries/Walnuts/Maple Syrup combo, the Guinness chocolate fudge cakes are amazing too.
District
It's an exciting time for Belfast coffee fanatics as the already popular independently owned chain District recently opened their third cafe in the city on the busy Lisburn Road. Their passionate team of knowledgeable baristas serve up the best flat white. District pride themselves on using the best of local ingredients, be sure to try their vegan banana, choc and walnut muffins. Very tasty indeed.
Guillemot Deli, Bangor
One of the busiest places in Bangor for poached eggs breakfast or coffee! The new deli extension at Bangor's seafront is proving very popular with the locals. Bright and airy with a trendy European feel about it, the Guillemot serves up amazing olive salads and sweet treats all day. The deli sells lots of lovely local produce to take away. The food is sourced as locally as possible and the team care about the quality of their ingredients. It can get crowded at weekends, be prepared to queue for a table.
Bron Belfast
A relatively new hang-out spot in the east of the city. Exposed brick, pallet furniture, exotic coffee blends, water from a beer tap and awesome avocado - add all this with a slightly off beat location just off the Comber Cycleway and you get a great little café. Staff make you feel right at home when you walk through the door.
Root & Branch
The award-winning Belfast coffee company has recently expanded its Ormeau Road premises. These guys take their coffee very seriously, freshly roasting their own beans off site. Root & Branch was voted the top coffee shop in Northern Ireland by the Irish Times last year. They make a mean long black, be sure to try their homemade Italian biscotti or smoked salmon with beetroot and eggs.
Coop Coffee
A retro pink caravan, quirky baked goods, puppacinos and fresh coffee, what an epic combo. If you haven't heard of Coop before now, you must have spent lockdown living under a rock. It's been a viral success since it first opened in February. Located on the Upper Malone Road, you can't miss this funky caravan, with queues around the car park.
Canteen
This botanical spot on south Belfast's Ormeau Road, offers customers classic brunch options, with a funky twist. If you do stop by, you NEED to try their bacon, avocado and egg brioche bap! Their food looks too good to eat, so grab a snap before you tuck in, you're not going to want to stop eating once you start.
Railway St, Newcastle
You can tell these guys love their coffee and food! They have something for everyone on their menu, from colourful granola bowls to burgers and fries. Our favourite...the Brisbane. As well as their popular coffee shop in the heart of Newcastle, the team have also opened up a pop-up in Seaforde Gardens. If you're heading to the beach in Co. Down you gotta stop by!
Read more:
 Belfast beer gardens we can’t wait to visit April 30th
Outdoor attractions across Northern Ireland kids are going to love this summer
 Bottomless brunch spots in Belfast we can't wait to visit soon