THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
Step back into 18th-century Dublin on the 1700 Coffee Houses Tour—a 90-minute walk exploring the city’s historic coffee and tea culture, ending with a tasting in the oldest shop. Discover how these lively spots shaped Irish history and social life.
Step back into 18th-century Dublin on the 1700 Coffee Houses Tour—a 90-minute walk exploring the city’s historic coffee and tea culture, ending with a tasting in the oldest shop. Discover how these lively spots shaped Irish history and social life.
Book with Walk Dublin
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Walk Dublin · Dublin, County Dublin
Experience Dublin through the lens of its vibrant 18th-century coffee and tea culture on the 1700 Coffee Houses Tour, a 90-minute guided walk that begins in front of the historic City Hall. This immersive stroll reveals the role coffeehouses played in shaping Dublin’s civic life during the 1700s, where patrons gathered to discuss politics, art, and emerging ideas. The tour combines history and hospitality, weaving together streetscapes rich with tales of Dublin’s influential figures who found inspiration over a cup of tea or coffee.
Your expert guide leads you through atmospheric lanes and alleyways, illustrating the social and cultural importance of coffeehouses at a time when Dublin was a lively center of trade and intellectual exchange. The journey culminates with a tasting at one of Dublin’s oldest shops, where you can savor locally roasted coffee or finely brewed tea, deepening your connection to the city’s heritage.
The 1700 Coffee Houses Tour is more than a walk; it is a portal to Dublin’s past — offering genuine insights into how coffeehouses shaped social and political discourse in Ireland’s capital. Unique in combining historical narrative with a sensory experience, this tour stands out among Dublin’s many walking tours by focusing specifically on beverage culture and the communal meeting spots of the era.
Dublin’s coffee story is intertwined with its evolution as a city, with roots extending back to when coffee arrived from the East through Irish trade routes. Many spots along the route retain their vintage charm, framed by Georgian architecture and narrow cobblestone streets, offering excellent photo opportunities.
Visitors staying in Dublin’s city center will find this tour accessible and enjoyable at any time of year, perfect for food, history, and culture enthusiasts looking for a relaxed pace outdoors with a flavorful finish. 1700 Coffee Houses Tour is both a flavorful initiation to Irish history and a lively introduction to Dublin’s thriving café scene today, connecting past and present sip by sip.
easy.
1.5 hours.
Suitable for all ages and fitness levels; mostly gentle walking over flat, paved surfaces.
Yes, the 1700 Coffee Houses Tour is family-friendly and appropriate for all ages.
The tour starts at Dublin’s City Hall and finishes at the oldest coffee and tea shop in the city.
Yes, the tasting venue offers a variety of beverage choices including tea and coffee without dairy.
The route involves cobblestone streets and narrow lanes, so accessibility may be limited; please contact the operator for specific accommodations.
Booking ahead is recommended as tours often sell out; check availability online.
Yes, the tasting of coffee or tea in the historic shop is part of the tour experience.
Dublin’s coffeehouses played a vital role in 18th-century social and political life, often serving as hubs for literary circles and revolutionary discussion.
The tour encourages sustainable tourism by promoting walking and using local businesses, helping preserve Dublin’s historic urban fabric.
Walk Dublin is a guided walking tour company based in Dublin 8, County Dublin. The business offers themed, on-foot experiences that explore Dublin's residential history, medieval past, coffeehouse culture and darker stories of the city. Walk Dublin presents a mix of public and private options designed for families, children, groups and history enthusiasts. Walk Dublin's scheduled and private trips include Hidden Dublin Homes, a two-hour exploration of houses from Georgian townhouses to humble tenements; Deadly Dublin, a route through Georgian squares focusing on eccentric characters and darker episodes; the 1700 Coffee Houses Tour, a 90-minute walk from City Hall with a tasting in one of Dublin's oldest shops; Mostly Medieval, a 90-minute hands-on tour for children aged 7 to 14 featuring Viking-era sights and games; Rats for Tots, a 45-minute interactive introduction to Medieval Dublin for younger children; and Bespoke Tour, a fully customizable walking tour for families, friends or colleagues. Walk Dublin's experiences are delivered as guided, on-foot tours of Dublin city with clear durations listed for each trip to help visitors plan. The offered tours suit family groups, school-age children, adult history fans and private groups seeking tailored routes. The business operates from Dublin 8 and offers timed options ranging from 45 minutes to two hours. Tours include interactive activities, games, sword duels and tastings where specified, and guests can book public or private departures with flexible starting locations and tailored pacing to suit group needs.
Book with Walk Dublin