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Something of a hidden gem, Blas Café is inconspicuously situated within the Chocolate Factory on Kings Inn Street.  No longer an actual chocolate factory (disappointingly), rather a home for a range of creative pop up ventures, from art and design to dance and horticulture. The café itself is a fantastic space, the large open room is bright and airy, with mismatched armchairs scattered throughout, and unusual pieces of art sparsely decorating the walls. The lunch menu is limited yet appealing, with three meat sandwich options (€6.95), a couple of vegetarian versions (ranging from €4.95.to €5.95), as well as salad and soup of the day (€3.50). Resisting the tempting chipotle chicken, I opt for the ham and cheese; thick slices of ham layered with creamy mature cheddar and sharp mustard on the softest brown bread imaginable, accompanied by a deliciously zingy homemade coleslaw. My partner went for the toasted three-cheese sandwich, an incredibly moreish blend of melted cheeses between crispy white bread. My cappuccino (using Roasted Brown coffee) was a work of art, but a rather tiny one at that — a few sips and it was gone, while my partner’s exotically named Moroccan Dusk Wall and Keogh tea had a divine scent and pleasing taste.  A selection of baked goods from the Wildflour Bakery line the counter, our blackberry, sage and walnut cake (€3.50) was wonderfully sweet, dense and moist, however no sage could be detected by either of us, and the petite portion was a tad disappointing. Blas will nonetheless become a firm favourite with its carefully crafted food and artsy atmosphere encouraging a return visit.

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Blas Cafe is open Monday-Saturday in The Chocolate Factory, 26 Kings Inns Street, Parnell Square, Dublin 1.