Award Winning Food, Drink & Travel Magazine

TheTaste.ie
Picnics
Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on whatsapp
Share on linkedin

Perfect Picnics – Grab a Coffee and Treats and Head to Your Nearest Park This Summer

The summer is the best time of the year to have a picnic. Granted, you could sit in Phoenix Park in the middle of winter in the hopes that you don’t get a serious case of frostbite, but for the most part, it’s pretty safe to assume that picnics are summer activities.

While many people crack open the picnic basket and stock up in their local supermarket, making sandwiches and the like at home beforehand, you can be far more spontaneous with your picnic by popping into a cafe near your favourite park.

So grab coffee and treats and head to the nearest park for a memorable picnic experience this summer. Fingers crossed the sun stays shining.

St Stephen’s Green

A public park located right in the heart of Dublin’s city centre, St. Stephen’s Green is as big as it is beautiful. With water features, tree lined paths and enough space to breathe, even during busy periods, it’s a wonderful place to wile away the hours.

Grab a coffee and a few sweet treats from nearby Hatch and Sons to complete your daytime picnic in this Victorian style park.

Herbert Park

In Ballsbridge, stroll past the bandstand and plonk yourself on one of the benches in front of the pond. Depending on the time of year, there’ll be some ducks paddling by as you take in the sun in Herbert Park.

Before heading to your desired picnic spot, stop into the nearby Donnybrook Fair and choose from their range of artisan products, from butchers, fresh seafood, coffee and homemade deli foods.

Phoenix Park

Go deer chasing in Phoenix Park this summer. Home to Dublin Zoo and Áras an Uachteran, as well as a number of monuments, you can lose yourself in Dublin’s largest green area for hours on end. With tree-lined avenues and a herd of wild deer that have lived here since the 17th century, Phoenix Park is a true gem.

Pick up some healthy goodies from The Planted Bean to fuel your stay. Owned by Kevin Odgers, this takeaway coffee shop focuses on refined sugar free vegan desserts and vegan food with American twists.

Iveagh Gardens

One of Dublin’s hidden gems, the Iveagh Gardens are surrounded by buildings, making the park harder to find. Best known as the location for yearly festival, Taste of Dublin, the Iveagh Gardens are beautiful and unique and contain a maze, tower, waterfall and a number of fountains.

To grab your picnic snacks, head to Brother Hubbard South and stock up on coffee, caramelised brownies, tarts and much more.

Merrion Square

Sip a Flat White while strolling past sculptures of famous faces like Oscar Wilde in Merrion Square before taking up residence on a nice bench or a particularly inviting plot of grass.

A meeting point for coffee lovers all across Dublin, 3FE is the perfect spot to grab coffee and treats for your literary picnic in Merrion Square. You can also check out Eathos for some deliciously healthy snacks which are suitable for those with gluten and dairy intolerances too. In the words of Oscar Wilde: “I can’t stand people who do not take food seriously.”

St. Patrick’s Park

St. Patrick’s Park is located beside the famous cathedral of the same name in Dublin city. St. Patrick’s Park is perfect for those who want a little break from all the sightseeing and shopping in the centre.

A short walk from the park, you’ll find Two Pups Coffee. Known for their vibrant cuisine and coffee that hits the spot, you can be assured that you’ll find what you need for your city picnic here.

Griffith Park

Located on Dublin’s North Side, Griffith Park is a small but favourite spot among locals. Take your dogs with you and spend an afternoon strolling the grounds.

There are a number of coffee haunts located nearby, but you can’t go wrong with a steaming hot cup of your favourite brew from Bread and Butter and a salad or pasta dish from the Lovely Food Company next door. The Botanic Gardens are also located nearby if you fancy getting floral.

Dubs Linn Gardens

Dubs Linn Gardens near Chester Beatty Library and on the grounds of Dublin Castle is beautifully relaxing. It’s amazing that you can feel so relaxed right in the heart of a bustling city.

The library is one of my favourite spots in Dublin and on a sunny day, you can grab a coffee and snack from the Silk Road Café on the ground floor and sit outside on the landscaped castle grounds.

Malahide Castle and Gardens

Malahide Castle and Gardens are the perfect place to spend a sunny summer day with the family. Located in the northern suburbs of Dublin, the beautiful grounds are filled with natural wonders and a rich history thanks to the castle itself. Avoca Café is located on the grounds of the castle and is the ideal spot to grab a coffee and some of their artisan produce and head out for a walk and picnic.

FEATURE BY SARAH GLASCOTT

Sarah has always had a great love of travel, food and photography. Following her journalism degree at DCU, she developed a passion for travel writing while living in Spain.

Named Best Break Out Travel Writer at the 2018 Travel Media Awards, Sarah loves exploring new places and sampling the local cuisine. Working with TheTaste.ie combines her love of food and travel.

A big people person, especially when it comes to hearing other people’s stories, Sarah loves interviewing chefs, food producers and more.

Sarah Glascott Sarah Glascott
Recently Added

 Receive regular updates, special offers, reviews, competitions and much more..