By chance, I was on my way to Boots in Rathmines when I walked in front of a shiny new storefront…read morefor The Natural Bakery, and I was instantly seduced by their gorgeous storefront.
This is the third location for the popular bakery. The first opened in Kilmainham, and with lines of people waiting to buy bread and sweet baked treats, the owner, Luke Creighton, followed his success with a site in Donnybrook and now (lucky, lucky us!) in Rathmines.
I hadn't heard of this burgeoning chain, but after seeing the new Rathmines location, I'm curious to see the others. I wasn't kidding about the luscious display in the window (I'll have to go back and take a photo of the storefront soon!), but I was even more impressed when I walked in the store. The space is narrower than it is long, and they've made the most of it with the left side featuring clean, sleek, bread-filled shelves that invite the eye to inspect seed, fruit, and grain filled loaves, rounds, scones, and much more. If you can't tell, I really appreciate beautiful bread, and I couldn't believe the reasonable prices. More on that in a moment.
It honestly took me a few minutes to turn around and see what most people would probably find the most enticing: the dozens of sweet treats behind the long "bar" where the loveliest people await your sweet wishes. The Natural Bakery serves coffee and has a generous, raised seating area at the back of the shop where weary shoppers, families, gossiping friends and just anyone who can imagine an excuse to stop and have a coffee and a pastry might enjoy a break with the most beautiful, fragrant view of the shop and the street beyond.
I honestly don't know how they managed to do it, but The Natural Bakery folks created an environment that feels like a specialty boutique shopping experience, a relaxing respite served by quick staff who nonetheless seem laid-back, and an intoxicating sensory experience with delights for the eye, sense of smell, and taste. Actually, I even liked the music!
To give their wares a try, I chose a huge berry and nut-laden scone for €1.60, and an equally-laden sourdough baguettes with cranberries for the ridiculous price of only €2.00. A full loaf of sourdough bread packed with cranberries, if I could possibly have found use for it (I just might go back in the morning and buy one for an early meeting that I have tomorrow), was only €4.00. I think good bread might generally be cheaper here in Ireland than it is in the U.S.A., but this still seems like a great price to me.
The Natural Bakery makes their own breads and pastries. The Rathmines store is served by the ovens at their Donnybrook location, which is perhaps a 15-minute drive away.
As someone who worked as a baker, I honestly admire what The Natural Baker offers customers. I know how difficult it is to produce beautiful bread and consistent pastries, and I know what a challenge it is to do it every day. To do all of that, to have a shop that is truly inviting, and to have staff that does them even more credit.... I truly don't know what to say.
I hope the standard continues because I have family planning to visit, and this is one of the "must visit" places in Dublin that I plan to share.