Planning a spin down west?

We have seen a transformation in the humble café in these last few years; we now expect our favourite locals to not only be a locus of friendly meetups and coffee dates but also of music, mischief, poetry, workshops and various (largely alcohol-free) events.

A cosy spot in Ballydehob is certainly taking inspiration from this phenomenon and crafting a cultural corner for itself in the small West Cork village.

The Artichoke coffee and studio space opened its doors in mid-November and has been welcoming customers at a steady pace ever since.

In that short space of time, the cafe has hosted adult and children decoration workshops, open mics, and shoppers looking to purchase some of the fab art, kitchen wear, handmade crafts, chopping boards, prints, and even designs by the infamous Skibbereen fashion designer Alice Halliday, whose crowns and clothes can be purchased in store.

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by artichoke (@the_artichoke_studio)

Of course, there is a tidy selection of sweet treats and savoury snacks to choose from in the inspiring and comfortable atmosphere serving a classic coffee menu to go along with the friendly community spirit and the gentle patter of the rain.

Owners Ameleah, Kian and Ana are the founders of ADL Management – a music and event management company, which works closely with bands Ainm and Searching for Apollo to bring live music to various venues around Ireland in a one-of-a-kind setting.

“Our vision for the future is to combine these companies, offering intimate gigs that are recorded and broadcasted online – think NPR’s Tiny Desk. As well as support local creatives by hosting open mics and creative workshops,” the trio told Yay Cork.

If you’re down Ballydehob way, the cafe reopens on Friday, December 29th and into the New Year. They close every Monday and Thursday. For full details on opening hours, check out their Instagram feed.