Brunch might be everywhere, but only some locations are getting it just right – offering an imaginative range of brunch dishes with a seasonal and local ethos at their core. 

One such place that ticks every single kind of tasty box is our winner of Best for Brunch in our 2018 FOOD&WINE Awards in association with Nespresso Professional.

Meet Me in the Morning on Pleasants St, Dublin 8, is an über minimalist cafe that impressed the F&W judging panel with its excellent sourcing of produce, the colourful greens and veg on the menu and the well-executed and subtle flavours.

Speaking to F&W about the recent win, owner of Meet Me in the Morning Kevin Powell commented:

"We're overjoyed with the win, the team at Meet Me in the Morning work incredibly hard and together they all deserve the recognition for the award.

"We are proud to represent the amazing local producers that make our chefs job easy with the amazing seasonal flavours at their disposal.

"Working with local farms like the McNallys is an absolute pleasure and we owe a lot of the success of the cafe to their amazing produce. But in general, we couldn't be happier with the award and are already planning a party to celebrate the award with all our staff!"

Meet Me in the Morning started off in 2016, but the idea behind it began much longer ago in owner and chef Kevin's apartment, where he organised weekly supper clubs and pop-ups in local cafes.

Getting people to hang out and eat incredible, local food evolved into the wonderful cafe that is MMIM. 

MMIM differs from other brunch hotspots mainly due to its dedication to local and foraged foods on the menu. Kevin, alongside co-owner Brian O’Keefe (a.k.a coffee maestro and 2014 Irish Brewing Champion), forage for ingredients within Dublin city itself.

You'll find plums and figs from Smithfield, sweet chestnuts from the Phoenix Park, elderflower and wild garlic from Bushy Park and countless other ingredients, all picked fresh within 30 minutes of the cafe.

The food menu changes regularly depending on what fresh produce is in season from suppliers McNally family farm - Kevin tells us that their produce "is the foundations of everything we do."

Homebaked treats are also a top pick here, so don’t leave without ordering one of their stuffed donuts.

So, what else makes MMIM the best place in Ireland for brunch?

Coffee is key here, and it's provided by the sister cafe next door, Reference Coffee. Choose from uniquely sourced roasters such as La Cabra (Denmark) and Gardelli (Italy), with various coffee "guests", including 3fe.

A bright yellow La Marzocco machine swirls out espresso coffees expertly made by the team of friendly baristas, and MMIM is just as popular for takeaway as it is for sitting in. 

The cafe's design works with its old townhouse setting, using bare timber and natural light to create a homey space with lots of interesting quirks to gaze upon while you eat your overnight oats. 

Next on your hit list for brunch? It certainly should be. 

You'll find Meet Me in the Morning on 50 Pleasant's Street, St Kevin's, Dublin 8.