28 May 2025
By Elaine Murphy
elaine@TheCork.ie
Twelve years after first opening its doors in Carrigtwohill, Bakestone, the
independent Cork café and pantry brand, has officially opened a new location on
Perry Street. This marks its first expansion into Cork city centre, with a new café
beside Emmet Place that brings Bakestone’s locally sourced, high-quality food
offering into cróí na cathrach (the heart of the city).
Founded by husband and wife team Joe and Maura Carey in 2013, Bakestone
began with a simple idea, to create a space serving great food made with local
ingredients. Starting from humble beginnings in a former car showroom in
Carrigtwohill, the original café has grown from 55 seats to 240 and developed a
thriving in-house bakery.
Pictured at the launch were (left/right;) bakers Sarah Patterson and Dave Kinsella, with co-founder of Bakestone, Joe Carey (centre).
The opening of the new café on Perry Street has brought 18 new roles to
Bakestone’s growing team, which now stands at 67 in total. The new café
features dishes that have become favourites at the original location, all made
from scratch each day. The team, led by Head Chef Pat Kiely and front-of-house
manager Heather Doody, well known to many on Perry Street, bring years of
experience and local knowhow, helping to make the space feel instantly familiar.
With this move, Bakestone is not only strengthening its ties with local suppliers
but also creating new jobs in the city and investing in Cork as a vibrant place to
live, work and eat. The location carries a meaningful link to the region’s food
history, once housing butter firkins for Cork’s Butter Exchange, so the building sits
near the end of the old butter roads that connected rural producers in places as
far as Listowel, Co Kerry to the city.
“The space on Perry Street felt right the moment we saw it,” said co-founder Joe
Carey. “There’s real history in the building, tied to Cork’s Butter Exchange and to our
own family’s roots in dairy farming. It felt like a natural next step, like things coming
full circle. We’ve dreamed for years of bringing Bakestone into the city, and to now
be part of this community means a great deal.”
Maura Carey, co-founder of Bakestone, also added: “We have always admired
the independent food scene in Cork city, so to now have a place among so many
great local businesses is something we’re really proud of. Our hope is that this café
becomes part of the everyday rhythm of the city, a space where people can pause,
connect, and enjoy food made with real care.”
Bakestone has always backed Irish producers and cared about serving food
that’s real and well made, which is what led to the launch of the Bakestone
Pantry in 2017. What started as a small collection of around 20 items has since
grown into a range of over 150 Irish-made products, curated expertly by
Bakestone general manager Neil Muscheidt. From honey and hot sauce to their
own jams, ketchups and cakes, the pantry brings the quality and flavour of the
café into people’s homes and reflects Bakestone’s ongoing connection with local
food communities.
Not content with sitting idly, Bakestone opened a brand-new scratch bakery in
November 2023, right next door to their café in Carrigtwohill which now serves as
a hub for everything from all-butter French pastries to occasion cakes and
breads, with a highly creative and passionate team led by head baker Dave
Kinsella.
In addition to breakfast and brunch, the team has plans for Bakestone on Perry
Street that stretch beyond daytime service. With space to host up to 100 guests,
the café will double as a venue for community events, live music, launches, and
creative collaborations with other local businesses.
Bakestone on Perry Street is now open and serves breakfast, brunch, and lunch
seven days a week.
Visit www.bakestone.ie for more information, including full opening hours and
menu updates.
About Bakestone
Founded in 2013 by Joe and Maura Carey, Bakestone was created with a simple
aim: to offer a welcoming, relaxed space where people could take a break from
the demands of everyday life. Whether it’s reconnecting with friends, spending
time as a family, or simply enjoying a quiet moment over coffee, Bakestone has
always prioritised a sense of ease and connection.
Twelve years on, that original mission remains at the heart of everything they do.
The café offers a seasonal menu that celebrates Irish ingredients, from flavour-
packed soups and quiches to fresh salads and sandwiches all made from scratch
with local produce. A daily brunch menu runs until 2pm on weekdays and until
3pm on weekends, making it a go-to destination for those who enjoy quality food
in a relaxed setting.