At Wild N Happy, we love a good cafe and that’s one of the reasons why we love Killarney, the home of cozy, tasty cafes! But with that said, WIFI is EXTREMELY hard to come by in our town, so here is your guide to finding that perfect cafe where you can sip your flat white, while imbibing the endless of tweets about #TBEXireland!
Killarney Town Center
JM Reidys
You won’t meet any other place with as much history and regard as JM Reidys. This place has been the cornerstone of commerce in Killarney for centuries, literally. Since the 1870’s, this shop not only served as a bakery, but also as a grocer’s, hardware shop, agricultural supply store, and the local watering hole for imported wines and liquors. They even stabled horses in the back to make the deliveries throughout the town! While our four-legged friends no longer live here, this place has kept its old-school charm; a nook here and a cranny there, enjoy the acoustical music, smooth coffee, tasty buns, and blog away as this is your portal to Irish culture. And yes, this place has wifi!
Lir Cafe
Lir Cafe will leave you saying truffle or tweet- this wifi-friendly, chocolate haven is almost always bustling with locals meeting up for a chat or tourists stopping for a hot chocolate to warm up. Lir Cafe is what I like to call the “late night” cafe as it stay open until 9 pm; you may think I am joking, but 9 pm is late here! Located in the center of town across the main roundabout, Lir is super convenient and welcoming place with a “mi casa es su casa” vibe. And if you haven’t had the chance to experience a ride with one of the jarveys yet, this is your chance as they all congregate right outside the front!
Petit Delice
Originally started in Cahersiveen (a small town about an hour south of Killarney), Petit Delice expanded into Killarney and rightfully so because every person needs to experience the brilliance of Petit Delice. Delectable buttery croissants, plush doughnut balls, and rich fruit tarts that add a bit of pizzazz to any tea party. Petit Delice is your answer to every sweet tooth craving you’ve ever had and it just so happens to have wifi too! Started by the experienced French Patisserie Chef, Monsieur David Aranda. Monsieur Aranda uses the freshest, local ingredients he can find and he even makes his own yeast for his pastries. So embrace the wonder that is Petit Delice because this is the perfect place to stay plugged in.
Desire Kitchen at West End
As the name suggests, this place will you leave you desiring more! A rare find in Killarney, this place serves beautiful coffee, has an outdoor seating area, and allows you to get on the World Wide Web! I will warn you though- you may think you are just going for a coffee, but once your nose gets a whiff of their lovely Irish breakfast or scones you won’t be able to resist. This place has a large following here in town and will surely fuel your creative mind! And in case you are not quite used to our cold Irish weather, they have a lovely wood-burning stove that will warm you from the inside out.
The Lakeside Bistro at The Lake Hotel
Killarney’s lakes have been inspiring Irish creatives for centuries and now it is your turn to take in the beauty! The Lake Hotel, about 3 km outside town down Muckross Road, offers a lovely way of viewing this ancient paradise all while in the comforts of fresh scones and wifi. And while this hotel may be elegant inside, it gives many access to the wildness that still remains in Ireland. Between the 12th Century Castle views, the breaking of the waves on the lake shore, and the footsteps of native Irish Red deer, you will find inspiration in this iconic destination. This hotel is the definition of where elegance meets wildness.
Notable cafes just a hop, skip, and jump away from Killarney
** these cafe’s aren’t so wifi-friendly, but they are a must experience if you have time
Dinis Cottage Tea Rooms
Dinis Cottage is unique in that it is only reachable by walking, cycling, or rowing. Built over 200 years ago, the cottage was built by the Herbert family of Muckross House as a hunting lodge. Since then, this cottage has taken on a new role as a place to stop for the perfect, tasty treat to add that extra something to your day out in Muckross National Park. This cottage has lots of outdoor seating, a vast array of cakes, and plenty of tea and coffee to keep your energy up. The cottage can either be reached by traveling along the Muckross Lake Loop or for the more adventurous, by rowing across Lough Leane from Ross Castle.
The Strawberry Field
This pancake cottage known as “the biggest little treat in Kerry” packs a lot of punch in its extensive pancake menu. This seems a bit random, but aren’t the best things in a life a bit unexpected? Margaret, the woman behind the pancakes, has her own secret recipe and tops them with the freshest, local ingredients she can find. The cafe is decorated with lovely paintings and strawberry decor and hands down wins the “cafe with the best views” award as it sits overlooking the mountains surrounding Killarney.
Cooky Monster Cafe
As if the name isn’t enticing enough, the Cooky Monster Cafe will live up to everything you are imagining in your head. Located in Bridia Valley in Glencar, this cafe is worth the drive or walk. This hidden gem is run by the lovely Sandy and John and provides a very warm, welcoming environment filled with lots of delicious home-cooked food including to die for chocolate chip cookies, delicious soups, sandwiches, and refreshments both adult and child friendly. Not to mention, the cafe is also coeliac friendly! It is located along the Kerry Way and also offers camping or a B&B stay if so desired. If you are driving, it’s only about a 10 minute drive off the main Glencar Road.
These are just a few of the many wonderful cafes in the Killarney area to inspire you during #TBEXireland!
For any questions, comments, suggestions, etc. give us a shout at [email protected] or tweet us @wildnhappyie!