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Ireland 32 Cafe
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
9 reviews for Ireland 32 Cafe
9 reviews in English
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Review from Glen C.
Halifax, NS
12/1/2011
Best coffee joint in the city! Fresh brew, friendly staff, free WiFi, daily's at the door, and a clean bathroom. I love coming here. Ireland 32 has a relaxing atmosphere and unlike some coffee shops you don't feel like you're intruding in some cliche.
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Review from Philip H.
Halifax, NS
2/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
I was attracted to this little cafe because of it's organic and fair trade focus. It's a lovely little spot, not much seating for a place that advertises free wi-fi, however they do have a back patio that can be opened up (seemed to be closed for the winter when I went).
One thing that annoyed me a little was they advertise themselves as a cafe and t-bar. Loose leaf teas were on the menu, but no longer being served, and the only teas they sold were bagged Numi brand. They have a nice selection, but not what I would consider a t-bar by any stretch of the imagination (insert sad trombone here). Cafe, yes. Nice coffee, come cool looking lattes, espresso, etc.
The staff are great there. As I sat at a small table enjoying my hot cuppa coffee, Tyler the barista knew quite a few regular customers by name, and them him. This is great to see, I love places like this, so friendly and relaxing.
For the food, when I went the bakery case was mostly empty and not much to choose from, must have hit them between deliveries. I opted out.
Atmosphere was OK, but I wish they wouldn't play CBC radio, it really didn't go with the rest of the place. Nothing against CBC radio, it just didn't fit. -
Review from Ben B.
If there's one thing I've learned through Yelp, is that you never know just when some place might surprise you. On this rainy afternoon, I was running up against an online deadline but also needed to grab lunch, leading me to speedwalk up and down Quinpool looking for a place that a) had a sandwich of some sort, and b) had wireless internet so I could get up to some epic Skype-age. While my first lunch choice was a bust, it meant I stumbled into Ireland 32 which I had been meaning to check out for some time. I hadn't been in since Carlito's closed if that's any indication of my coffee-shopping neglect.
Within my first few steps, I realized just how different this place is from every other coffee shop in the city. It's...dare I say it?...a trendy café! Ireland 32 has more of a cocktail bar vibe than your average community coffeehouse, making it a unique place to hang out, get some work done, or host a nighttime party (seriously...I checked with the owner as soon as I saw the space). White and blue lights, chrome fixin's, modern furniture, and ever glowing stools - there's an awful lot to take in. It was great and energizing at 2pm but maybe a less welcome sight first thing in the morning?
Because I've spent too many sleepless nights hating my decision to try a new latté for the sake of a Yelp review, I punked out and got a Ruby Chai tea from a box which...well...was from a box. But I got it with a freshly pressed vegetarian panini on an herbed bread with cheese, tomato, and a nice light spread of some sort. Deeelish.
During my hour-long stay, the owner seemed to know every single customer that came in the door, enough to strike up a unique conversation about their lives. I just LOVE seeing business owners who are willing to go the extra mile to appreciate and get to know their customers. Completely admirable!
I'll have to come back for something espresso-based but until then my sleepless nights will be about what sort of events I could throw together in the space! Check it out... -
Review from Crystal E.
Calgary, AB
I just got back from a week long visit to my hometown of Halifax and this is one of the first places a friend took me when I was looking for some good coffee. Ireland 32 was not around the last time I was home, so I was glad to try a new place - love supporting local!
Well, can I just tell you that I LOVE this place. I'm not sure if it's the atmosphere, the great coffee, or the awesome owner that do it for me, but it's probably a combination of those things and more (the oatcakes were delicious!). To be honest, my friend thought the atmosphere was a little cold, but I quite enjoyed it and I know if I was still a student, I could probably study here all day - it definitely helped that the background music was U2! Atmosphere can depend on the person, but the wifi, good music, and some comfy chairs definitely suit me just fine.
Now the owner, Noel, is just awesome. Great personality, good chats and very helpful - you couldn't ask for more in that respect. I was only in Halifax for a week and I believe I visited this place 7 times, which I think speaks volumes for great coffee and feeling welcome in this shop - no pretentiousness here! I also bought a bag of coffee to bring back to Calgary, as I enjoyed it so much.... not sure what I will do when it runs out. Hope my friend is willing to ship some out to me!
All in all, the prices are reasonable, the owner is great, and the coffee is good. So, whether you live in Halifax or are just visiting, you should definitely check this place out. Say Hi to Noel for me!Listed in: Coffee Time!, Adventures in Halifax
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Review from Jill M.
2/5/2011
I don't often find myself on Quinpool Road, but last summer I had to venture there for a job interview. I took a bus and arrived well before my appointment time, so I stopped at Ireland 32 Cafe for a much needed muffin while I looked over my notes. (I mean, really, who wants a grumbling tummy during an interview?)
When I went to pay, it turned out that the establishment didn't take debit. (This might not be true anymore.) I apologized and said I wouldn't get the muffin, but the owner insisted that I take it anyway, and even offered me a coffee as well.
I ate the muffin, rocked the interview, and then hit an ATM so I could go back and pay as I'd promised to do. And the lovely, friendly owner refused to take my money. He said that coming back to pay was enough and I deserved the good karma.
All this is a long-winded way of saying that I love this establishment, I love the owner, and it's exactly the kind of place that makes me love Halifax. And for the record, both the muffin and the latte were delicious.Listed in: Keen on Caffeine
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Review from Laura P.
7/8/2010
Formerly known as Carlito's, Ireland 32 is officially open for business. Not having the advantage of knowing Carlito's personally, I am unable to draw comparison between the two. However, as I popped into this Quinpool café under summer's peak, I can only report solid times.
The place seemed cool, calm and with a comfy urban chicness. Quinpool has its fair share of super spots, and I think that the ownership here will fare just fine. A menu to offer all the favorites, Ireland 32 dishes out fresh sammies, paninis, baked goods and bite sized treats to grab on the go. Beverages, both hot and cold, cover the spectrum, and Haligonians need not fear because appetites will be taken care of.
I thought I'd give a veggie samosa a whirl- sheerly an experimental buy- and it was a gem! My first item off the menu... and it was enough fixate a craving 3 days later. This, my friends, is a sure sign of a quality treat.
Another neighborhood goodie, Ireland 32 has atmospheric delight and the menu to match. -
Review from Deirdre L.
Halifax, NS
11/30/2010
Full disclosure: I loved Carlitos (the previous incarnation of this café). It's what got me hooked on mochas, and I would chat with Carlos, the owner, almost every day and he was always cheerful in a non-manic kinda way. Even better, his mochas were my idea of perfection - an ideal blend of chocolate-y goodness with zings of espresso, at just the right temperature.
So Ireland 32 had some big, uh, cups to fill ... and at first, it seemed like they would ... the barista was friendly, and our gi-normous latté and mocha cost just over $7, which is crazy reasonable.
However ... as we strolled down Quinpool, I detected a liquid not normally found in a quality drink. It seems like the super-big mocha was super watery, so much so that the last few sips tasted more like water with a hint o' mocha than anything else.
To be fair, the BF's latté did not seem to suffer the same fate, so the next time I'm rolling down Q'pool, I'll give Ireland 32 another go ... stay tuned! -
Review from Lacey H.
Updated - 6/3/2010
I have to say that this place is pulling its socks up and becoming a neighborhood hot spot. It's fairly similar in vibe to Carlitos and the offerings are all pretty much the same, but the place has some new decor additions...
...Like a huge flat screen TV perpetually showing soccer footage! At first I thought I'd find the background noise irritating, but now I find it adds a bit of life to this pretty gray space. They have a board advertising samosas, paninis and scones plus cinnamon buns and other snack foods. The prices have remained the same, and as always, taxes are in so you know the cost when you arrive at the register to pay.
My American today was great, and the owner has soy milk readily available at the little milk stand so you don't need to make a special request, as is the case at a lot of java joints. I'm digging this place, especially the nice flowers out front and the sweet patio furniture.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/23/2010 First to Review
Carlitos hasn't officially transitioned into Ireland32 just yet, but rest assured, the old… Read more »
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Review from Jennifer C.
Halifax, NS
7/28/2010 1 photo
Soon after Carlitos closed up shop, new owner Noel Gallagher opened Ireland 32. The new place has a similar vibe esthetically to the old one... (although it now has a TV which was showing soccer when I was in there last) However part of the charm to Carlitos was owner Carlos Wong who was almost always behind the counter. The big upside to Ireland 32 is they have paninis and they are pretty good. They also had samosas, and of course all the sinful, sugary treats you could want to go with your coffee.
