This attractive café-cum-bakery makes a good stopping off point for visitors to coastal Connemara situated, as it is on the Galway side of Spiddal village on the main road west. The craft and design centre features local artisans, some of whom work on site: potters, weavers and jewellery makers.
Builin Blasta - The Tasty Loaf, in Irish - is a simple café seating about forty at solid pine tables and chairs; the enticingly displayed breads, scones and cakes are homemade and the quality is excellent: multigrain loaf, focaccia, baguettes, muffins and scones are all gorgeously wholesome, alongside a range of tempting cakes and desserts.
There is talent in the kitchen and the familiar café fare of soup, sandwiches, tarts, salads and desserts is far above the usual standard; the talent in question is the owner-chef, Heather Flaherty, who was formerly head chef at the much-missed McCambridges in Galway city and has been running this café with the same enthusiasm and high standards since 2015.
Builin Blasta has become the go-to place in the area for quality breakfasts and brunches - breakfast is served until 1pm on weekdays and all day at weekends; the menu features familiar dishes (homemade granola, smoked salmon & scrambled egg, the Builin Fry...), but also less usual options such as homemade sausage rolls and a really good Veggie breakfast, featuring the superb Aran goat's cheese from Inis Mor.
Unsurprisingly, this little gem attracts a queue at lunchtime - but tables are turned over quite quickly, and there is a sense of everything being under control at this well-run business. Favourites like a really good seafood chowder top the list of hot dishes, but there is plenty of variety - filo tarts are a speciality that's available in several guises, including a vegetarian option.
The high standard of cooking - and pleasantly gentle and caring service by local girls - make for an experience that ensures plenty of returning customers.
Vegetarian, vegan, paleo and gluten free options are woven through the very appealing menu, which also features a Suppliers list proudly crediting local and artisan producers - and even tells visitors how to say please and thank you in Irish.
A great list of beverages includes the excellent Ponaire coffee roasted in Co Tipperary, pots of whole leaf tea, homemade lemonades, kombucha, a short list of wines by the bottle and glass (from €26/€6.50) and local craft beers from Spiddal River Brewery. Baking is a forte here, and Heather Flaherty's trademark no fuss cooking is perfectly in tune with the surroundings - which are enhanced by an ever-changing exhibition of work by local artists.
All round, it's just the kind of place that every visitor to Connemara hopes to happen on.
