Counter Culture is a wholesome café on the top floor balcony of the Powerscourt Townhouse Centre.
Founded and operated by Pamela Flood and her husband Ronan Ryan (a serial restaurateur who was behind the celebrated Town Bar and Grill), the pair have used their passion for getting fit and eating healthily to create a natural, nutritional-driven café and restaurant that offers delicious sustenance to health-conscious Dublin. Since opening in 2015, Counter Culture has developed a loyal following of regulars – and not just from the clean eating brigade.
Set on the bright top balcony of the Powerscourt Townhouse Centre, Counter Culture sits on a narrow walkway that bridges two design studios. The space comprises a mix of seating including high tables that are built into the bannisters, allowing customers to observe the hustle and bustle of the busy centre below. A counter at one end displays a bounty of natural snacks and treats, a line of Nutribullets and a shiny espresso machine.
Open seven days a week, the menu is simple and based around local and seasonal food. All-natural protein shakes and juices (Green Lemonade is made from kale, celery, cucumber, spinach, agave and sparkling water, for example) and a short but carefully selected alcohol list (organic and bio-dynamic wines,craft beer and cider) take centre stage with soup, salads, hot dishes, ‘clean’ desserts, brunch, coffee and provenance listed at each end.
Designed to please all tastes with a range of interesting shakes and juices, there’s a creative selection of satisfying salads and hearty meals comprising fresh fish and meat, toasted nuts, vegetables and fruit. Sweet potato fries are a house favourite as are the excellent house pickles. The all-sugar-free desserts are tempting with peanut butter chocolate brownie, homemade ‘bountiful’ and ‘snickers’ bar especially popular.
A good hot drinks list includes Fairtrade coffee and tea and matcha lattes with soy, almond and coconut milk available at no extra charge. A kid’s menu is available and everything is available as takeaway.
Service is warm and friendly, with staff well versed in the menu. As a healthy café Counter Culture bucks the trend, offering natural and nutritional food that packs moreish flavours too.
