There are so many excellent bakeries and patisseries in the city, but at the moment our focus is on great bread. This list highlights where we are loving right now.
We can all agree that it is quite difficult to beat the home comfort of a good batch loaf and crisp sandwich, however, Ireland is in the middle of a bread renaissance with Real Bread champions producing bread that is as wholesome and pure as the ingredients it is made from. Not to mention absolutely delicious!
As a nation, historically, we wouldn’t be remembered for bread and baking skills, but this has changed with this new wave of bakers, they are innovators and trendsetters. In Dublin, we think these seven bakeries are at the forefront of the bread revolution.
Bread Nation, 41 Pearse Street, Dublin 2
Head Baker: Eoin Cluskey
A real gem in the city centre that was started by Eoin Cluskey, a former carpenter. The bread here is made using traditional, century-old recipes. They pride themselves on using both organic and local flour and the bread goes through a 48-hour fermentation process. That time and love that goes into each loaf can definitely be tasted with each bite. They opened up their first bakery shop, Bread 41, on Pearse Street in 2018 and have become a firm favourite in the city centre, with pastries that are mouthwateringly good. A must-visit!
Scéal Bakery, Spade Enterprise Centre, Smithfield, Dublin 7
Owners: Charlotte Leonard-Kane and Shane Palmer
Charlotte and Shane are the founders and bakers behind Scéal bakery. After meeting in DIT while both studying culinary arts, they realised they both shared a simialr passion for everything food and clicked immediately. Having worked in San Francisco together the pair came back to Dublin to set up their own bakery. From that they have gone from strength to strength, the bread changes weekly using foraged products from around Ireland's countryside. The brown butter and buckwheat loaf is a must-try.
Their bread can be found in Fumbally Café on Thursdays and Fridays and The Hopsack, Rathmines every Thursday and Saturday. Along with this you can grab a loaf in Naomh Olaf, Stillorgan on Fridays and Penders Market, Stoneybatter every Saturday.
The Bretzel Bakery, 1a Lennox Street, Portobello, Dublin 8
Owner: William Despard
The Bretzel Bakery has been around since 1870, so when they say ‘practice makes perfect’, these guys definitely know how to make bread. Their head baker Fabrice Hergaux keeps a watchful eye over their operation and ensures bread is prepared daily for both the bakery shop on Lennox Street and sent to over 120 shops and restaurants around Dublin. William has owned Bretzel for the past 15 years has maintained the authentic traditional Bretzel taste. Just a slice of their tradition sourdough and a lump of butter will set you up for the day!
Gaillot Et Gray, 59 Lower Clanbrassil Street, Dublin 8
Owners: Gilles Gaillot and Emma Grey
The moment you open the door in Gaillot Et Gray you are met with the smell of freshly baked bread – apparently, the most-loved smell in the world according to study results in the UK. Here the husband and wife duo also bake a French-style pizza in the evening using Emmental cheese instead of the more common Mozzarella. The bread is baked twice daily and is usually snapped up instantly. The bread is chewy and so fragrant, make sure and get there in time because it is a must-buy.
Arún Bakery, Spade Enterprise Centre, Smithfield, Dublin 7
Master baker: Vlad Rainis
Arun has been on the Dublin restaurant scene for many years now and is still going strong. Their bread takes a minimum of 12 hours to develop giving it that delicious tangy sourdough taste. Arun has also mastered their cinnamon rolls which has a soft chew centre which we love. Their Instagram will you the motivation you need to get baking.
Arun’s bread can be found mainly surrounding a delicious sandwich in places such as Deli 147, Oxmantown and The 105 and you can buy the whole loaf in Lawlor’s in Rathmines.
Camerino Bakery, 158 Capel St, North City, Dublin 1 & 37 Merrion Square East, Dublin 2
Owner: Caryna Camerino
Caryna has been baking for over 10 years now, she first opened up her beloved Camerino Bakery on Capel Street, having supplied some of the best cafes in Dublin such as Clement & Pekoe on South William Street and Nick’s Coffee in Ranelagh with her treats, she then went on to win the Irish Times Best Shops 2015. With this successful background, Caryna opened her second location on Merrion Square in October of last year. Which we were super excited about as its only a quick walk around the corner from our office. All the sandwiches served in Camerino Bakery in on their homemade Le Levain bread which is a slice of perfection. Caryna also is only of the only places in Dublin that make the Jewish bread called Challah, with this and her award-winning raspberry cheesecake brownies her food is a must try.
The Cupcake Bloke, Rialto Village 461 South Circular Rd, Ushers, Dublin 8
Owner: Graham Herterick
Graham, also known as ‘ The Cupcake Bloke”, makes amazing cakes and pastries, as well as his malted coffee and date tea brack which took home a bronze award at the 2018 Blás na hEireann awards. As well as this, Graham has a vast section of homemade bread on offer in his Rialto bakery, including his seeded brown soda bread, Guinness and treacle, and porridge and yoghurt bread to name a few. His porridge & yoghurt bread has even made a TV appearance on Virgin Media's Six O'Clock Show. This place is definitely worth a visit.
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