Co-located with with Meadows & Byrne and the excellent Botanical garden centre, Bakestone Café & Pantry was established in 2013 by Joe and Maura Carey of the renowned Ballincollig pub, The White Horse (see entry). It very soon earned a following for its all-day menu built on high-quality locally-sourced ingredients - and, especially, its hugely popular all day breakfast menu featuring greats like the wonderful Arbutus sourdough and East Ferry free range eggs.
Well situated just off the main Cork-Waterford Road and close to busy areas such as Carrigtwohill, Glounthaune, Cobh and the busy Fota attractions and the more recent Harper’s Island Wetlands, the bright and airy café is an ideal place to meet and eat while also enjoying a bit of quality shopping at Meadows & Byrne and the garden centre it shares a building with - and, more recently, also at their own retail shop, The Pantry, which specialises in artisan foods
The focus at The Bakestone Pantry is very much on Irish producers, including many of the most famous Cork names plus a wide range of their own Bakehouse chutneys, jams, pickles, relishes and dressings - and, of course, the fresh breads and baked goods that they produce daily.
To mark their 10th anniversary in 2023, Joe and Maura announced a special partnership with coffee roasters Badger & Dodo of Fermoy, by launching an exclusive house coffee blend, the aptly named Common Grounds. Badger & Dodo, which was founded by Australian Brock Lewin in 2008, is known for its focus on hand blended quality beans from single-origin estate sources. This exclusive medium bodied Bakestone blend (available only at Bakestone Carrigtwohill and Fota House) is made with washed Peruvian and natural Ethiopian beans with flavours of vanilla, milk chocolate and orange and has a smooth round finish on the palate that partners perfectly with the tasty Bakestone menu.
The smaller but very charming Bakestone @ Fota, nearby at Fota House, Arboretum & Gardens on Fota Island, is also a delightful destination in summer. There is a small charge into the estate for parking, but it is well worth paying - and can be redeemed on requesting a token, if you are only visiting the café.
10th year celebrations for this East Cork favourite will also include series of on-site events including a Meet The Markers event in autumn 2023, with all the latest news available on social.
