Key takeaway: it’s dog-friendly

The owner of Rathmines’s beloved Grove Road cafe, Dona Watchorne has opened a new cafe on South Canal Bridge, in Harold’s Cross. Southbank is a spacious spot set along the canal, with the cafe offering artisan products, gifts, and wine. Speaking of the launch of the cafe Watchorne told us that “Southbank has been a real labour of love and has been in the making for more than two years”.

Serving up coffees from Delgany’s Roasted Brown, with teas from Wall & Keogh in Portobello, and dashed with milk from Carlow dairy’s The Village Dairy.

There are cakes, pastries, and sweet treats made in-house, alongside some Firehouse Bakery cult classics like salted caramel cruffins, espresso, and dulce de leche brownies, and Malteser chocolate biscuit cake all making an appearance.

There’s a greek yogurt, cacao and coconut granola pot with rhubarb compote for breakfast alongside and vegan-friendly oat milk porridge served with blood orange.

There’s chargrilled chicken and pulled beef brisket sandwiches for lunch, alongside red lentil dahl hot pot and a seasonal salad with tender stem broccoli, cumin-spiced cauliflower, and beetroot dressed barley.

Southbank are offering all-day brunch options, which are a fresh take on the classics like portobello mushrooms on toast, breakfast sandwich on sourdough with Hegarty’s melted cheddar, and North Wicklow Free-range mixed-up eggs with lime crème Fraiche and asparagus on toast.

It’s a big premises, with the ability to seat up to 70 people (once restrictions ease) through communal or single tables and window seats that look out onto the canal.

Southbank is open Wednesday to Friday, from 8am to 4pm and Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 5pm, follow them on Instagram for more information.

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