There is something so incredibly comforting in a good cup of coffee or tea. I am personally a coffee drinker. I have tried to quit the stuff many a time, only to come back for its warmth and flavor. And I will have to admit, as many readers of El Boqueron Viajero already are aware, that I love a good coffee shop. I search them out in any spot where I am going to spend any length of time. I might not be able to tell you how to get from point A to point B, but I can definitely point you in the direction of a place where you can curl your hands around a mug of steaming coffee or tea and let the world melt away. This, to me (and I think to Rusko and a lot of you out there) is essential. Today we take you to a small Irish town about an hour away from Cork called Youghal.

The town of Youghal is quite small. It might take you 15 minutes to walk from one point to the other. As you walk down its main street you will come across small businesses, brightly painted houses and a huge clock tower. Just to the left of this clock tower is a small building with an almost crooked appearance which is home to the Rendez Vous Café. From the first time I passed by this café, I knew I had to go inside and try some of the amazing looking scones that were in the window.

As you push open the front door, you are welcomed by the smell of coffee percolating, and something amazing baking- be it scones, muffins, or a pot of home made soup. The wooden floor is well worn giving the restaurant a homey feel that fits perfectly with the wooden chairs and mismatched furniture. It is as if you were walking into your grandmothers house, with the neighborhood atmosphere of a place where everyone truly knows your name (as well as the name of your dog, your friends, and practically your whole life story.)

The first time I visited the Rendez Vous Café was a rainy morning in the month of July. I had just trekked in from the edge of town, and the bottoms of my jeans were soaked. As my umbrella dripped making dark circles on the wooden floor, I couldn´t get over feeling that this was the perfect place to sit and read a book or catch up with a friend. It was comfortable, and welcoming. I sat down at one of the tables near a window and listened as two business men talked about a deal they had to close in Cork later that day, and watched as a young mother bustled inside with her young children for a late breakfast.

At the Rendez Vous Café you can order the full Irish breakfast complete with baked beans, black pudding, eggs, and toast, or lighter fare like muffins or scones. I decided to try a homemade berry scone with a cappuchino. The scone was served with fresh whipped cream and home made orange marmalade. The scone was flakey and buttery, and full on comfort food. It made you wish that every day was rainy, and that every town were equipped with such a wonderful little haven because this was just the way that each day should begin. So often in the big cities (Madrid, New York, Paris) we see people rushing about, having a coffee standing at the bar of a restaurant, or asking for a take away cup in order to continue hurrying on their way). Here in Youghal, the pace of life is slower…but the café reminds us that sometimes, slower is just the thing.

The Rendez Vous also offers lunch and early dinner options including pasta dishes, hamburgers, salads and sandwiches. We ruskommend this little stop with a Golden Boquerón. It is the very definition of what a café should be, whether it be in a small town or smack dab in the middle of the West Village in New York City.