There has been a significant increase in the number of youth cafés and Garda Youth Diversion Projects in Ireland. It could be argued that they represent two differing approaches to youth work; that youth cafés generally represent the ‘universal’ approach, while Garda Youth Diversion Projects are more representative of the ‘targeted’ approach. This paper will consider both initiatives in the context of youth work in Ireland, setting their emergence and development against the backdrop of youth work’s traditions and values, while also acknowledging the changing nature of the field and questioning the current direction of youth work. It will question the extent to which these developments reflect the core traditions and values of youth work and will go on to suggest that youth cafés, if properly funded and truly grounded in the traditions and values of youth work, have great potential to engage young people as critical and active participants in their communities and society.