About

Eoin Hurley, a chef from a catering background, and Ronan Power, on the business side, opened Alchemy before one Christmas after the crash, with pallets and furniture from thrift shops, attics and sheds. Ronan later opened the Lough Cafe; Eoin stayed with Alchemy.

The room is the point: art from local artists, with monthly exhibitions of local and overseas artists, pages of the Cork Examiner pasted on the walls, a floating table suspended in mid-air, a typewriter and books.

During Covid the shop took a place in the Marina Market for grab and go, described on its site as "our little café and bakery in the bustling hub of Cork City". Weekend cake sell-outs led to Alchemy Productions, a purpose-built kitchen.

Alchemy's own line: "It's not just a café... It's your café."