Athlone business named in 'Ireland's top 20 coffee shops' for 2026

Athlone's Garrison Coffee Co has been named in a list of Ireland's top 20 coffee shops for 2026.

The recognition marks the second consecutive year the venue has featured on the list, and represents the highest placement to date for the Church Street café.

Since opening in August 2022, Garrison Coffee Co. has established itself as one of the midlands’ leading specialty coffee destinations.

The café serves Cloud Picker Coffee from Dublin, alongside a rotating programme of guest coffee roasters, as well as organic ceremonial matcha, superfruit sorbet bowls, and sweet treats from independent producers across the country.

"This recognition belongs to the team, full stop," said Athlone native Jamie King, Managing Director at MK Hospitality, which manages the town centre premises.

"They show up every single shift and deliver on what Garrison stands for: Quality, Hospitality, and People. Awards like this don’t happen without people who genuinely care about what they do, and this one is theirs."

He added that the award also reflects the quality of Garrison Coffee Co's suppliers.

Locally owned, Garrison Coffee Co is a partnership between MK Hospitality, headed by Jamie King, and local businessman Keith Tuohy, who is also part of the team behind FT Security Solutions, based in Athlone.