Northern Ireland brunch café and coffee shop to expand into America

A Northern Ireland brunch café and coffee shop is opening its first venture in America next month.

Belfast-based Neighbourhood Café will open the doors on its new venue this July which will be located beside the forthcoming Austin, Texas outpost of The Dead Rabbit.

Dubbed “the world’s most awarded pub,” The Dead Rabbit, owned by north Belfast businessman Jack McGarry, has served as a cultural advocate, resetting the standard for Irish bars in the United States since first opening in New York City over 10 years ago.

This exciting venture not only marks the expansion of Neighbourhood Café into the United States market but also celebrates a significant partnership between the two distinguished brands.

Neighbourhood Café, founded by Oisin McEvoy and Ryan Crown, has garnered widespread acclaim for its exceptional brunch offerings and premium coffee. The new location promises to offer the same high-quality experience that has made it a beloved institution in Belfast.

Oisin McEvoy, co-owner of Neighbourhood Café, said: “We are thrilled with the opportunity to introduce Neighbourhood Café to Austin and partner with The Dead Rabbit. This is a significant milestone for us, and we look forward to sharing our passion for great food and coffee with the Austin community.”

Oisin McEvoy from Neighbourhood will source single-origin coffee from San Francisco-based Andytown Coffee for both the café and the bar. The coffee program will seamlessly integrate into The Dead Rabbit’s offerings, strengthening not only daily coffee serves but also collaborations with The Dead Rabbit director of Beverage Aidan Bowie.

Together, they will develop a range of coffee-based cocktails for both establishments, and bring The Dead Rabbit’s acclaimed Irish Coffee to life in a new market. Additionally, Neighbourhood will leverage The Dead Rabbit's cocktail expertise to create a range of alcohol and non-alcoholic drinks available throughout the day in the café space.

In addition to serving as a daytime café, Neighbourhood will play host to monthly programming and special events in the evening, as curated by The Dead Rabbit’s director of Music Liam Craig.

Ryan Crown, co-owner of Neighbourhood Café and Crown Creative, which is responsible for the creative output and design direction of both brands, explained: “We are delighted to see this partnership come to fruition. Neighbourhood Café and The Dead Rabbit share a common set of values, intentions, and dedication, centred around championing modern Ireland. We are excited to dovetail the efforts of both brands and explore what the future holds as they each grow further in the U.S."

Jack McGarry, managing partner of The Dead Rabbit, added: "In all that we do, we first look to Ireland for brands, partners, and artisans to champion. It’s a natural next step for us to partner with, and celebrate, Neighbourhood Café, a Belfast-based business that excels in the coffee space. Their commitment to excellence aligns with our own, and we are delighted to collaborate as we expand our footprint in the U.S."