A busy day at The Fumbally means every entree sells out. It means after closing, owners Luca D'Alfonso and Aisling Rogerson sink into chairs at a table near the register with a few of their staff, Luca pouring a few small glasses of red wine and rolling a cigarette. Luca jokes, “We prepare for a war every day.” But the vibe inside The Fumbally is anything but hostile. The organizers of Dublin’s successful Flea Market and its cafe are just over seven months into their new venture with The Fumbally Cafe and enjoying packed tables and busy lines for their barrista. Set outside of the city centre in Dublin 8, The Fumbally is chic with high ceilings and spare walls, comfy couches and hulking, handbuilt wooden tables. The vibe is attracting everyone from members of the Guinness family to business types to artists topped out in kooky hats. But for Luca and Aisling, what they are building is more than a cafe, it's a community. So in addition to serving breakfast, lunch and treats every day except Sunday, The Fumbally is also host to gigs by up and coming bands, and even early morning yoga classes.
I sat down with Luca at the end of one of these busy days to chat about what inspires him, the menu, and the overall vibe at The Fumbally.
