A new drive-thru coffee spot is on the way for south Dublin, as Costa Coffee continues to expand its footprint across Ireland — with plans confirmed for a new facility in Dublin 24.
The company has secured planning permission for a drive-thru lane at its existing unit in Airton Road Retail Park, marking a significant upgrade for the location, which has been operating for around eight years.
The move forms part of a wider nationwide strategy by Costa’s Irish operator, MBCC Foods (Ireland) Ltd, to roll out more drive-thru services in suitable retail park settings.
The Dublin 24 development is just the latest in a growing list of approved projects.
In recent months, the company has secured planning permission for similar drive-thru additions at sites including Bray Retail Park, Waterford Retail Park, Drogheda Donore Retail Park, Castlebar Retail Park, Tramore Summerhill Tesco, Clearwater Shopping Centre in Finglas, and Enniskillen Lakelands Retail Park — highlighting the scale of Costa’s expansion ambitions across both the Republic and Northern Ireland.
That push is already well underway. Over the past 18 months, Costa has opened four new drive-thru locations at Portlaoise Retail Park, Blackwater Retail Park in Navan, Great Northern Retail Park in Omagh, and Sprucefield in Lisburn.
According to company director Michael Conroy, these sites have been “well received”, with no significant issues reported in terms of traffic or impact on surrounding areas.
Costa first entered the Irish market back in 2005, opening its debut outlet in Cork.
Since then, it has grown into one of the country’s largest coffee chains, now employing more than 1,500 people across roughly 150 locations nationwide.
However, only a relatively small portion of those outlets are suitable for drive-thru conversions, with the company estimating that around 10% of its estate can accommodate the format.
The introduction of drive-thru lanes is seen as a way to boost convenience while maintaining manageable traffic levels.
Unlike fast food giants such as McDonald's and KFC, where take-away and drive-thru orders can account for 40–60% of total sales, Costa’s drive-thru business is significantly smaller in scale. Currently, drive-thru transactions make up roughly 20–25% of sales, with projections suggesting that adding a dedicated lane can increase overall sales by up to 5%.
Importantly for local residents, the company insists that the impact on traffic and customer flow has been minimal at existing sites. The lower volume of vehicles compared to traditional fast food drive-thrus is a key factor, helping to ease concerns often associated with these developments.
For Dublin 24, the addition of a drive-thru is likely to be welcomed by commuters and locals alike, particularly given the area’s busy retail and business environment.
It also reflects a broader shift in consumer habits, with convenience and on-the-go options continuing to shape how people grab their daily coffee.
As Costa continues to expand its drive-thru network, the Airton Road development signals that even long-established locations are now being adapted to meet changing demand — and it may not be the last upgrade of its kind in the capital.
