It may have been three years in the making but Harnen - Mark Jennings and Sadie Pearce's keenly-anticipated new bakery-cafe-shop in the West Cork village of Leap - was well worth waiting for.
The couple built a stellar reputation at their much loved Pilgrim's restaurant in Rosscarbery and fans are delighted to have them back at the helm at this exciting daytime destination in Leap.
Whether for morning coffee and a scrumptious pastry, an afternoon cuppa with a slice of calorie-free cake, a proper little lunch or a bit of wholesome shopping, the former bric-a-brac store is now a destination well worth factoring in - and t's easy to find, on your left in the village when travelling west from Cork city,
Named after an old Irish cooking utensil, the iron harnen stand, which was kept beside the hearth and used for cooling bread that had been cooked over the open fire, it harks back to simpler days when using local seasonal food was just the way things were. And, although simple, harnen stands are also quite decorative thanks to the individuality of the local blacksmiths whoi made them - a lovely feature that is reflected in the Haren logo.
Always known for their focus on putting quality and wholesomeness first and supporting local producers, the couple had anticipated opening Harnen’s doors fairly quietly in early June 2026, but they reckoned without family and friends along with loyal fans from their Rosscarbery years, who wasted no time and visited in force - no doubt encouraged by good weather and plenty of outdoor seating.
Inside It is quite small inside with fridges, displays of vegetable and fruit from their garden and hedges, and also produce on sale from trusted suppliers such as Barry’s Tea, Blanco Nino of Clonmel and the Merry Mill - using Irish grains where at all possible is a point of pride and, although more expensive than imported ingredients, the difference is in the taste and texture and well worth paying for.
The shop may have some surprising items from the garden too - even, perhaps, “a lovely first pick of nectarines” from their tunnel, even after a long cold spring.
Although vegetables come first here (and you can also buy super veg here to take home), it is not all vegetarian and you're likely to find a pork sausage that is the stuff of legends and also seafood treats such as a shrimp sandwich.
But what they do with the garden bounty is a real delight. Meadowsweet cream buns with gooseberry jam and crystallised hazelnuts, perhaps, or local peaches poached in a fig leaf syrup - or a fig leaf infused custard bun with a fig leaf sugar. Or you might try a brioche bun roasted with lavender, burnt honey, cream cheese and some house granola..
Whatever you choose, it's certain to be a joy - well worth a stop, or indeed a detour.
