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Stoneybatter
From artisan delis to Hot Yoga spaces, Stoneybatter native
Kevin Casey gives an insider’s view of the area
he northside enclave of
Stoneybatter is a popular location
for movie shoots and TV shows
because it has retained its
essential Dublin character throughout the
years. Tradition thrives alongside vitality and
innovation, while the population takes it all in
its stride.
Near the top end of Stoneybatter on
Manor Street are Java Bay and Love, a pair of
neighbouring mews, each with a unique café
concept. Convivial and serving scrumptious
food, Java Bay specialises in appetising salad
and big bloomer sandwiches served with a pot
of tea and a newspaper.
Next door, Love (www.lovesupreme.ie/)
is a coffee-lovers’ experience where all of
the non-essentials have been pared away.
For example, there is only one size of black
coffee available (“Espresso On Water” to
give it its proper Love name). The result is
a a simple but exquisitely blended cup of
coffee.
Around the corner, there’s a Breakfast in
Bed delivery service offered by Slice café
(asliceofcake.ie). Order a breakfast roll, some
brew and a paper and they’ll deliver, which
might be just as well because the cosy café is
frequently packed out.
On Manor Street, the Green Door Bakery
crafts delicious cakes, homemade cookies,
breads and teas. Just make sure if you are
going for a lunchtime sandwich to get there
early because they sell out fast.
24 | Business Ireland
When Miley Ray Cyrus popped in to L
Mulligan Grocer’s (lmulligangrocer.com/) for
some gourmet bar food during her concert
tour in Dublin last May, word spread like
wildfire. Mulligan’s dishes revel in the clash
of traditional ploughman’s platters and black
pudding with the worldly taste of moules
frites and wild boar. The menu itself almost
reads like a Penguin poetry classic with its
“Free Range Termonfeckin Turkey Kiev” and
the “Runcible Spoon” desserts. Rumour has it
Miley had its celebrated Scotch Egg when she
dined here.
Nearby in The Yard, the handcrafts heritage
of Stoneybatter is re-invigorated for the 21st
century. Graphic designers are conveniently
located beside artisanal picture framers
(www.framefoundry.ie) and the cobblestoned
horse yard plays host to local craftspeople at
the Christmas craft fair (www.facebook.com/
stoneybatterguild).
Winner of an Irish Times Best Local
Shop Award, the Lilliput Stores (www.
lilliputstores.com) is a small and vibrant deli
and coffee shop, which has quickly become
a pillar of the community. With choice Irish
and international produce, craft cheeses,
condiments, and bread from the nearby Arun
bakery on its shelves, Lilliput is a hive of
activity from the moment it opens its doors in
the morning.
They have lively neighbours too. You would
have to be an early riser to catch the yogatinis
at the Boss Hot Yoga (bosshotyoga.ie) studio,
a converted metal workers, with classes
starting at 6.30am. The Joinery on the other
side has been used as a non-profit arts space
for years and is currently seeking a new role
in the community.
Stoneybatter has always integrated new
influences while wearing its traditional
identity on its sleeve. Dublin-Italian takeaway
Sorrento, home of the finest fish and chips, is
the unlikely birthplace of a new high-quality
culinary enterprise.
Manager Christiano is busy creating his
own genuine homemade Italian gelato.
With skills learned from the world’s only
‘gelato university’ in Bologna, he makes his
own Talento brand of Italian ice cream from
scratch in a variety of flavours including
lavender and honey (with supplies from
Lilliput Stores) Redbreast whiskey and
caramel (as commissioned by L Mulligans)
and gorgonzola and walnut.
He’s hatching a plan to create the world’s
first gelato made with Williams pear and
poitín. Christiano is typical of the hardworking but passionate brand of Stoneybatter
creativity. “It’s very expensive to make,
but I love it,” he explains, as he hands me a
concoction made from real roses, bourbon,
honey and chocolate chip. At the moment,
he sells it from the chip shop and from the
food market in Temple Bar on weekends. “I
dream one day to have my own shop,” he says.
One gets the feeling it won’t be long before it
happens.