You can eat, shop and get practical help at Dublin Airport before going through security. This photo guide covers the public areas of Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, from arrivals cafés and convenience shops to the T1 Food Village, baggage services and passenger assistance.
Use it when you are collecting someone, waiting for a lift or deciding where to stop before check-in. “Before security”, also called landside, means the public side of the terminal. Always leave enough time for your airline’s check-in, security and boarding requirements.
Facility details checked: . Photographs supplied by APTS, with faces blurred for privacy. Shops, layouts and opening hours can change.
Dublin Airport before security: a quick guide
| Area | What to look for | Useful when |
|---|---|---|
| T1 Arrivals | Cloud Picker, Insomnia, The Clipper, Upper Crust, WHSmith, baggage services, bus tickets, currency exchange, shopping collection and The Grafton Barber | You have just landed or are meeting a passenger |
| T1 departures and mezzanine | Passenger assistance, Food Village, Burger King, Starbucks and the upstairs bar/seating area | You want help or a food stop before security |
| T2 public areas | Fitzgeralds, the Supermac’s food court, Roasted Notes, SPAR and public seating | You want a meal, coffee or essentials around your arrival or departure |
The photographs identify the particular outlets covered here. Some brands have additional branches beyond security, so check the terminal and access area as well as the shop name.
Terminal 1 arrivals: coffee, shops and practical services
The public arrivals hall is a useful starting point for arranging your next move. Agree a specific landmark with the person collecting you and keep the exit doors clear. For an APTS booking, use the meeting instructions supplied with your reservation and our Dublin Airport meeting-point page.
Cloud Picker Coffee
Cloud Picker gives this part of the terminal a connection to Dublin’s own coffee scene. Frank Kavanagh and Peter Sztal founded the roastery in 2013; its origin story explains how a visit to a mountain coffee farm inspired the name.
The brand confirms this branch is in Terminal 1 Arrivals. In the photograph, the counter advertises coffee, pastries, toasties and salads. It is a useful landmark to name if you are arranging a coffee with someone arriving into T1.
Insomnia Coffee
Insomnia began in a Galway bookshop in 1997, according to the company’s history. Dublin Airport’s 2024 refresh announcement identified its T1 Arrivals opening as a replacement for the former AMT outlet. Read the airport’s announcement.
The current airport dining directory lists the T1 landside Insomnia as open 24 hours. That makes it a place to check for a late-night or early-morning coffee; overnight food choice may differ from daytime service.
The Clipper and Upper Crust
These two shopfronts appear together in the photograph, but serve different purposes. The Clipper is a bar and restaurant; Upper Crust is associated with baguettes and drinks. Choose according to whether you want to sit down or collect something to take away.
Check the current menu and kitchen availability when you arrive. If you are meeting a driver, let them know before taking a longer food break.
WHSmith
The photograph shows the familiar WHSmith shopfront and travel retail shelves. For this guide, the relevant branch is WHSmith Arrivals in T1; the airport also has other WHSmith outlets.
The airport shopping directory lists the arrivals branch at 06:00–01:00 daily. The airport also names it as a seller of TFI Leap Visitor Cards, which may be useful if you are planning to use Dublin’s public transport. Check the card’s coverage for your intended service before buying.
Baggage services and bus tickets
The pictured counter area includes Dublin Express ticket signage and baggage-service signs. Treat these as separate stops: one helps with onward travel; the other deals with luggage services.
Dublin Airport’s luggage information identifies Smarte Carte as the storage and baggage-service provider. Its T1 Arrivals office is listed as open 05:00–21:00 daily. Confirm the charge, collection time and service you need at the desk. Missing checked baggage should be reported through your airline or its handling agent.
Dublin Express serves Dublin city and Belfast and gives current boarding directions for each terminal. Check the route and departure point before leaving the hall; the indoor ticket counter is not the bus boarding area.
ICE currency exchange
The currency exchange counter in the photograph is branded ICE. The airport’s bureau de change page identifies a T1 Arrivals branch after customs and lists its hours as 07:15–23:00 daily. Other airport ICE counters have different opening times.
If you need cash for the next part of your trip, check the displayed exchange rate and any fee before completing the transaction. A familiar counter name alone does not tell you the total cost.
Click & Collect and Shop & Drop collection
The signs in this photograph refer to collecting shopping. Follow the instructions attached to your own order rather than assuming every purchase can be collected at any airport desk.
Dublin and Cork Airport Duty Free’s Shop & Drop guidance describes a free service for customers travelling within the EU who leave purchases for collection on their return. Its T1 directions lead from arrivals past the Click & Collect desk to the Shop & Drop lockers. Check eligibility, collection arrangements and your return terminal when ordering.
The Grafton Barber
A barbershop is one of the less obvious services in an arrivals hall. The Grafton Barber’s airport branch page places it in T1 Arrivals and lists haircuts, beard trims and hot towel shaves, with daily hours of 09:00–18:00.
It is an option if you have a generous gap before a meeting or pickup. Ask about the wait and appointment arrangements before committing, particularly when a flight or driver is due.
Terminal 1 departures and the upstairs Food Village
The next photographs move into the check-in hall and the food area above it. The large Food Village signs help identify the upstairs dining area.
Passenger assistance in Terminal 1
The yellow signs in the photographs help distinguish passenger assistance from airline check-in. The airport places the T1 landside assistance desk on the departures floor, facing check-in area 11.
Dublin Airport asks passengers to request assistance at least 48 hours before travel through their airline, travel agent or tour operator, or via PRM Assist. If assistance is booked, follow the airport’s instructions for reporting to the desk. Arrange any vehicle accessibility requirements separately with your transport provider.
Food Village
The wider photographs show why this is worth looking for: an upstairs collection of food counters and shared seating, rather than a single café. It gives a group somewhere to compare what is available before choosing where to order.
The airport lists Food Village before security in T1, with daily hours of 04:00–19:00. Individual counters may work to different schedules. Use the signs in the lower-level photograph to orientate yourself, then check the counters upstairs.
Burger King
The pictured Burger King is in the T1 landside food area. Its large brand sign and ordering stations make it straightforward to recognise in the photo. For a group choosing different meals, nominate a table or another meeting spot before splitting up to order.
Dublin Airport also lists Burger King branches after security. Use the terminal-specific restaurant listing to make sure you are looking at the correct outlet.
Starbucks upstairs
This photograph shows Starbucks on the T1 mezzanine, beside the wider food and seating area. It provides another easily described landmark if your group is meeting upstairs.
If you have used a different airport Starbucks on a previous trip, check the terminal and location carefully rather than relying on the brand alone.
The upstairs bar and seating area
The photograph shows a bar counter and seating beside Starbucks and Food Village. It is included here as a visual landmark for the upstairs area. The photograph does not show a clear separate venue name, so “upstairs beside Starbucks” is a more reliable description than assigning it an unconfirmed brand.
Check at the counter for the current menu and service hours. When arranging to meet someone, send the photograph as well as naming the terminal and floor.
Terminal 2: food, coffee, shopping and seating before security
The T2 photographs cover public areas for a meal, a coffee or a pause before continuing your journey. They are particularly useful for recognising the shopfronts once you arrive.
Fitzgeralds Restaurant & Bar
Fitzgeralds has a direct link to airport history: Dublin Airport says the restaurant is named after Desmond Fitzgerald, the architect responsible for the original terminal. It was introduced in the space previously occupied by the Oak Bar as part of the airport’s food and drink refresh.
The photograph shows the restaurant entrance, useful if you prefer an identifiable sit-down meeting place. Check the current menu and service hours in the airport dining directory before planning your stop.
Supermac’s, Papa John’s and SuperSubs food court
The signs in this photograph bring several choices together. Supermac’s own T2 page confirms its landside location and the presence of Papa John’s pizza, SuperSubs and Bewley’s coffee alongside its burger and chicken menu.
This can help a group choose different types of food in one area. Check the individual counters for what is being served at the time. The airport and operator publish different closing times for Supermac’s, so confirm directly if you plan to eat late.
The photographed public food court is separate from The Mezz, which the airport lists after security. That distinction matters if you are meeting someone who is not flying. Check the airport dining locations.
Roasted Notes
Roasted Notes is the café name visible in the photograph. Dublin Airport announced the brand as the replacement for the former Caffè Nero unit on the public side of T2 during its food and beverage refresh.
The airport directory describes coffee, pastries, sandwiches and toasties. The photographed counter and seating offer a useful landmark for a coffee stop. Check the menu boards for the day’s selection rather than assuming the full range is always available.
SPAR in T2 Arrivals
SPAR is the convenience shop in the T2 photographs, useful to locate when you want everyday essentials before leaving the airport. The airport’s shopping directory lists daily hours of 06:00–22:00.
There are also practical services here: Dublin Airport lists the T2 Arrivals shop as a TFI Leap Visitor Card retailer and an M50 eToll payment location. Ask at the counter for the service you need and check current payment requirements.
A place to sit and pause in T2
The final photograph shows public seating beside a blue mural and green shopping collection lockers. It is a useful visual reference if you want to sit down while organising bags or contacting your lift.
We have not verified this as a formally named “rest and recharge” facility. The photograph alone does not establish charging sockets, a quiet zone or overnight sleeping facilities. Check the seating and nearby signs on arrival, and leave the locker access clear.
Frequently asked questions
Can I eat at Dublin Airport without going through security?
Yes. The airport lists dining options before security in both terminals, and the venues in this guide cover that public side of the airport. Check the location label for the particular branch you want. See the official dining directory.
Is there a 24-hour coffee option before security?
The airport currently lists Insomnia in T1 and Bewley’s in T2 as 24-hour landside options. This does not mean every neighbouring food counter stays open all night. Check current hours.
Where can I store luggage in Terminal 1?
Smarte Carte provides luggage storage through its T1 Arrivals office. Confirm the price and collection arrangements before leaving your bags. View official luggage-service information.
Can I arrange airport assistance when booking my trip?
Yes. Request it through the channels specified by Dublin Airport at least 48 hours before travel where possible. Airport assistance and an accessible transfer vehicle are separate arrangements. Read the assistance booking guidance.
Are the opening hours in this guide guaranteed?
No. They reflect the listings checked on 6 October 2026. Cloud Picker’s airport page and the airport directory publish different hours, as do Supermac’s and the airport. For an early or late visit, confirm with the outlet before relying on it being open.
Plan your onward journey with APTS
A coffee or food stop works best when everyone knows the pickup plan. Before settling down, confirm your terminal, meeting instructions and the time you are expected to be ready. If your plans change, contact your transport provider.
If you haven’t already booked a taxi, why not do it now?
Tell APTS your flight details, passenger numbers, luggage and any specific requirements when arranging your journey.
About this guide: The photographs provide visual references to the places shown. Facility details are drawn from the airport and operator pages linked beside each section. APTS is the publisher of this guide; the named shops and airport services are operated separately. For live directions, follow airport signs and staff advice.