From decades-old, family-run stores to trendy new patisseries, Dublin is full of quality bakeries. Whether you want to sit in and enjoy a freshly baked scone and read the newspaper or grab a coffee and a pastry on the go, here are the best bake shops to pay a visit to when you’re in the city.
Queen of Tarts is named appropriately, as this two-storey, confection-filled café is straight out of a fairy tale. Run by a pair of pastry chef sisters who trained in New York City, it originally opened on Dame Street in 1998, and today the two shops are still among the best places in the city to get baked goods. Their mouthwatering desserts include a decadent chocolate pecan tart, cinnamon cardamom swirls with apple butter, seasonal crumbles and a New York raspberry cheesecake – possibly harking back to the owners’ training – plus much more. The menu also features lunch and brunch options, scones, and savoury tarts.
Mannings Bakery on Thomas Street – near the Guinness Storehouse – is a family-owned independent bakery that has been in operation for over 60 years. They produce handmade sweet and savoury baked goods every day, available from their stores in Tallaght, Blanchardstown and the city centre. As well as in-store offerings, Mannings does custom-order and standard cakes, like fresh Irish buttercream sponges, sugar-craft and novelty items, wedding cakes, and cakes for special occasions. Gift cakes can also be ordered – with a personalised gift tag message – and delivered anywhere in Dublin.
Situated in the Dublin Docklands, Il Valentino is an innovative bakery that feels distinctly different. With a commitment to making the healthiest, most authentic baked goods possible, they use only Italian extra virgin olive oil and preservative-free flours to make their spelt, country malt-grain, stoneground loaves and other breads. They also have ‘theme weekends’ for their customers, focusing on fresh, seasonal ingredients – October is ‘apple comforts’ month, while November is all about chocolate and chestnuts.
The Hansel and Gretel artisan bakery and patisserie have an outfit on Dublin’s Clare Street – close to the National Gallery of Ireland and Merrion Square – as well as stores in the North Dublin suburb of Artane and in Navan, County Meath. Their cakes and breads are of superb quality and the design and displays in all of their shops are pretty and pleasant. As well as making the classics supremely well, their pastry chefs like to experiment; they recently introduced new ‘croissant muffins’ in banana and walnut or cinnamon flavours.
Located just off the main north-side thoroughfare of O’Connell Street, The Wooden Whisk is a welcoming bakery that is loved by locals and visitors alike – it’s the number one Dublin bakery on TripAdvisor. The perfect place to take a cosy shopping break, their sandwiches, pastries and cakes are some of the best crafted in the city, and their coffee is widely praised. Thanks to their central location, this place is nearly always busy, so it’s best to visit on a weekday if possible.
The Green Door Bakery in Stoneybatter opened in 2012, selling delicious fresh sandwiches, cakes, pastries and bread from a bright, well-stocked store on Manor Street. Unlike the previous options, it’s not possible to sit in here, but a quick stop for a coffee and a pastry if you’re in the area is highly recommended. They bake their wide range of breads fresh each morning, and they donate their leftovers – if there are any – to charity at the end of each day.
