Avoca’s basement food-hall is “heaven” for food lovers. Their take-out sambos draw a select bunch who love the interesting combinations on offer. Made fresh each morning, enjoy their club bap with smoked chicken, lemon mayonnaise, asparagus and tomato, or a Ploughman’s with cheddar, tomato chutney, lettuce and tomato in an onion bap. Prices average 3.95 - 4.95, so you are getting great food for a great price. Set on the second floor of the Avoca store, Avoca Café is a lovely place to unwind and the service is excellent. Here. afternoon tea is definitely one of the highlights as it is served with a delicious choice selection of homemade desserts, home baked scones and biscuits. Why not purchase the Avoca Cookbook and cook these delicious dishes at home.

The Bite of Life Food Co. may be housed in a little café and may only seat a dozen or so people but this eaterie packs well above its punch. Alongside interesting homemade salads, their sambos draw a hugely loyal clientele. Choose from ciabatta or tomato bread, then mix and match inventive fillings like mango chutney, salami and brie. Try their homemade red pepper hummus, delicious homemade stuffing with chicken breast, or super- fresh egg mayonnaise. Classics like the BLT, tuna melt and even chicken tikka are all worth the wait in line.

www.biteoflife.com

This little café (located at the entrance to the new Italian district known as Quartier Bloom) is run by the team behind Dunne & Crescezi and La Corte cafes. This trademark Italian café uses premium ingredients, and their panini and focaccia cannot be beaten. Simplicity is the key with Parma ham, mozzarella and basil panini or maybe chilli salami, emmenthal and semi-sundried tomatoes. Their foccacia – thick pizza bread – are even more filling, but so brilliantly fresh and tasty. The veggie options come with grilled aubergine, buffalo mozzarella and rocket salad while the garlic salami, cheese and roasted pepper option is equally good. They also serve some of the best coffee in Dublin.

Located on South William Street in the city centre, Busyfeet & Coco Cafe is a busy little gourmet sandwich bar and cafe. In addition to interesting soups, sandwiched and paninis they serve good coffee and punters return religiously for their old style classic; a sandwich packed with fresh moist chicken breast, lettuce, tomato and mayo on delicious rye. Orders can be made up to take away.

Brewbaker is a coffee house which serves a variety of snacks and light lunch options together with a selection of coffees and teas. With a sit-down coffee shop and take-out sandwich store next door, Brewbaker has been feeding a hungry clientele for the past 13 years. Their Brewbaker sandwich is a bestseller, hot chicken breast, smoked salmon, garlic mayo and iceberg lettuce for 4.50. Other favourites include Mexican chicken with salad, roasted peppers, garlic mayo, hot chicken breast and fajita seasoning. Everything is made in house, from their coleslaw to potato salad, and the treat of the day has to be their ham, baked every day in-store and carved off the bone as your order. One not to be missed!

The sandwich menu at Cafe Irie has to be seen to believed, this funky café is frequented by students, arty types and those looking for creativity. Try the tuna sambo with peanuts and rocket or the salami with emmenthal and pickle. A wrap of fried tofu marinated in sweet chilli comes with pineapple, crushed peanut, avocado and mixed leaves. Excellent range of breads used for really great sandwiches. Soup and desserts are also available.

Itsa bagel was founded in 1999 by Dubliners Domini and Peaches Kemp. The bagels are made from the finest ingredients and have no fat or cholesterol and where possible they have used the finest natural organic and free-range products, these tasty bagels are flown in daily from NYC. Their ‘Everything Bagel’ at 5.75 is packed with roast chicken breast, bacon, brie, lettuce, tomato, mayo and red onion marmalade and flies out the door. They also sell bags of their famous bagels m which you can freeze at home and create your own treats.

Munchies belief is that their business can only survive by offering the best in quality and service. Their range of breads is enough to confuse– tomato, walnut, cheese & onion, granary, ciabatta, flavoured bagels, wraps – even GI wraps – while their fillings and salads are made fresh every day. Try one of our favourites - the Sizzler, mixing chicken tikka, guacamole, salsa and cheddar. Yum!