Hidden Bookshops & Cafés in Dublin: 6 Literary Stops

Established in 1978, Books Upstairs is one of Dublin’s longest-running independent bookstores. Located on D’Olier Street, the shop has built a loyal following thanks to its extensive collection of Irish literature, poetry, politics, philosophy, history and contemporary fiction.

Books Upstairs also has a café where readers can stop for coffee, giving travelers who are specifically searching for a bookshop with a café in Dublin an option in the city centre. It was one of the places recommended to me while I was planning my Dublin trip, particularly because it combines an independent bookshop with a space where readers can linger rather than simply browse and leave.

Unfortunately, our tour schedule didn’t leave enough time for me to visit, so it remains on my list for a future trip.

Tucked away in Dublin 8 near The Liberties, Marrowbone Books is a small independent secondhand bookshop at 78 The Coombe. The shop specializes primarily in fiction, with much of its inventory consisting of reasonably priced paperbacks.

Because its secondhand inventory changes regularly, browsing is part of the appeal—you may find something you weren’t specifically looking for.

Marrowbone Books was another recommendation I received while planning my Dublin trip. It appealed to me because it’s a small local shop rather than a large chain, and it sounded like the kind of place where browsing the shelves could become part of exploring the neighborhood. Our tour schedule kept me from visiting, so it’s another stop I’ve saved for a future trip.

Nearby cafés throughout The Liberties provide places to stop with your latest find and make it easy to combine a secondhand bookshop with a slower afternoon exploring Dublin 8.

Located on Fumbally Lane in Dublin 8, The Fumbally is an independent café, shop and community space that has been part of the neighborhood since 2012.

The café serves breakfast and lunch along with coffee, cakes and drinks, while its kitchen emphasizes local ingredients, freshly baked bread and food influenced by cuisines from around the world.

The Fumbally was recommended to me while I was planning my Ireland trip because it offered something different from a typical sightseeing stop—a neighborhood café where food, coffee and community are all part of the experience. I didn’t get the chance to visit because of our tour schedule, but it remains on my list for a return to Dublin.

Hidden just off Wicklow Street in Dublin city centre, The Secret Bookstore is an independent shop selling new and secondhand books along with music-related finds.

Its selection includes Irish-interest titles, literature, poetry, history, philosophy, science fiction and fantasy, among other subjects.

Of all the hidden bookshops in Dublin on this list, this recommendation especially caught my attention because discovery is part of its identity. The Secret Bookstore is the kind of place built around browsing rather than simply finding the latest bestseller.

Its central location also makes it easy to combine with Grafton Street and other literary or cultural stops while exploring Dublin on foot.

Hidden within the courtyard of the Daintree Building on Pleasants Place, The Cake Café is an independent Dublin café that fits naturally into a search for quieter, less obvious places in the city.

The leafy courtyard provides a tucked-away setting beyond the busier streets, while the café serves freshly prepared food, cakes and coffee.

This was another recommendation I saved while planning my Ireland trip. The combination of a hidden courtyard, homemade cakes and a location away from the more obvious tourist stops sounded exactly like the sort of Dublin discovery I wanted to find. I didn’t manage to fit it into our tour schedule, but it’s staying on my list for a return visit.