Laois restauranteurs open new cafe at Dunamaise Arts Centre

A new café is scheduled to open at Dunamaise Arts Centre in Portlaoise.

Dunamaise Arts Centre announced the development on its Facebook on Saturday, October 31, writing:

“We’re looking forward to the café being full of life, conversation and the smell of fresh coffee again. Meet a friend, enjoy some scrumptious food and treats, and discover what’s happening here at Dunamaise Arts Centre.”

The café will be run by Portlaoise residents Santa and Kreshna Rambarrun and is the most recent addition to their Roots restaurants chain.

Ms and Mr Rambarrun opened Roots restaurant at Abbeyleix Golf Club in February 2023 and have since expanded to Royal Curragh Golf Club and Newbridge Golf Club. Roots café at Dunamaise Arts Centre will be their fourth establishment and first café.

Roots café will serve fresh coffee, breakfast, sandwiches, soups, hot meals, and kids meals.

“The first week we’ll be doing just a small menu with sandwiches and stuff, just to get up and running,” Ms Rambarrun said. “And then we will be doing more similar menus to what we do in our restaurants: hot meals, sandwiches, pastries, cakes and coffees – all the bits and everything.”

Roots is to replace Fort Café and Bistro, which closed in September after only ten weeks in business.

Roots café opens at Dunamaise Arts Centre on Tuesday, November 10, 2026. It will operate from nine to four, Monday to Saturday.