Enjoy a Taste of the Gardens at the Stables Café
A garden-led café where the 350m Estate to Plate menu turns the walled gardens and local producers into contemporary Irish breakfast, lunch, vegetarian and vegan dishes.
Open 7 days a week
Breakfast: 9:00 am – 12:00 noon
Lunch: 12:00 noon – 5:00 pm (Last orders 4:45 pm)
The Stables Café at Mount Congreve Gardens is located within the former stable yard of this 18th-century estate, where generations once prepared horses and carriages for life in the Big House. Today, the restored stone buildings provide a relaxed and atmospheric setting for breakfast, lunch, light bites and Afternoon Tea. Breakfast is served from 9:00am to 12:00 noon, with lunch and all-day options available throughout the afternoon-an ideal pause before or after exploring the gardens.
350m Estate to Plate
At the Stables Café, 350 metres matters.
That is the distance from the café to Mount Congreve’s walled and kitchen gardens – and it is where our menu begins. Everything possible is grown, harvested, and foraged within this short walk, allowing the gardens to lead what appears on your plate each day.
When ingredients cannot be sourced within the estate, we extend outward in measured kilometres, working only with trusted local and Irish producers. These distances are clearly signposted on the menu, so you can see exactly how far your food has travelled.
How the Menu Works
- +350m
Vegetables, herbs, fruit, and edible flowers from the Walled Gardens at Mount Congreve form the foundation of the menu- fresh, seasonal, and often picked the same morning. - +9km
Waterford Blaa from Walsh’s Bakehouse brings a local staple to the table. - +12km
Sourdough bread from Seagull Bakery complements garden-led soups, salads, and sandwiches. - +20km and beyond
Carefully selected producers provide meat, cheese, eggs, and dairy, each chosen for quality, animal welfare, and shared values around sustainability.
This approach allows the menu to remain naturally vegetarian and vegan-friendly, with optional additions sourced a little further afield – always transparently, always intentionally.
A Menu That Moves with the Gardens
Because the estate sets the pace, the menu changes with the seasons. A soup today may not appear tomorrow. A salad evolves as the garden does. Distance markers throughout the menu offer a simple, honest way to understand provenance at a glance.
This is not a fixed menu – it is a living one, shaped by the land around the café.
Provenance at a Glance
From 350 metres to further afield, every ingredient has a story:
- +350m : Walled Gardens, Mount Congreve
- +9km : Walsh’s Bakehouse, Waterford Blaa
- +12km : Seagull Bakery, Sourdough bread
- +12km : Freezin’ Friesian – Artisanal Ice-cream
- +16km : Flahavan’s Oats
- +20km : Derek Walsh, Irish Beef
- +22km : Mileeven Honey
- +23km : Lisduggan Farm – Bacon, Sausages, Pudding
- +44km : Tom Cleary Fruit and Vegetables
- +48km : Earlybird Free Range Eggs
- +65km : Knockanore Cheddar
- +101km : Ardsallagh Farmhouse Cheese
- +142km : Feighcullen Chicken
BREAKFAST AT THE STABLES CAFÉ
Served daily | 9:00am – 12:00 noon
Breakfast at Mount Congreve Gardens begins in the gardens.
Our Estate Breakfast is shaped by what can be grown, harvested, and foraged within 350 metres of the Stables Café – the short distance to the walled and kitchen gardens that influence the menu each day.
The dishes below are highlights from the breakfast menu, which evolves with the seasons and estate harvest.
Garden Breakfast
Homemade baked cannellini beans, mushroom stuffed with roast pepper quinoa, root vegetable lox, rocket & sunflower seed pesto, tomato chutney, and sourdough toast. A vibrant, plant-forward breakfast that reflects the garden-led heart of the Estate to Plate concept.
+350m : Estate vegetables, herbs & roots | +12km : Seagull Bakery, sourdough bread
Heritage Oats
Heritage oats from Flahavan’s, served simply for a nourishing start to the day. While heritage oats are served today, Mr Congreve himself favoured pinhead oats, reflecting the estate’s long-standing appreciation for honest, wholesome food.
+16km : Flahavan’s oats | +22km : Mileeven honey
Free-Range Eggs
Local free-range eggs cooked just as you like, served simply or with traditional accompaniments including Waterford blaa.
+48km : Earlybird Free Range Eggs | +9km : Walsh’s Bakehouse, Waterford blaa
Full Irish Breakfast
A familiar breakfast interpreted through the Estate to Plate lens, with estate-grown vegetables forming the base of the plate and additional elements sourced transparently from trusted local producers.
+350m : Estate vegetables & herbs | +23km : Lisduggan Farm, bacon, sausages & pudding | +9km : Walsh’s Bakehouse, Waterford blaa
Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options are always available, with the full breakfast menu changing naturally with the seasons.
LUNCH – ESTATE TO PLATE
Served 12:00 noon – 5:00pm – Last orders at 4:45pm
Lunch at the Stables Café is seasonal, relaxed, and garden-led, designed for lingering after a walk through the estate or gathering with family and friends.
The dishes below are highlights from the lunch menu, which changes frequently in response to what is being harvested and sourced locally.
Walled Garden Soup of the Day
A garden-led soup made fresh each day using vegetables, herbs, and edible flowers harvested from Mount Congreve’s walled gardens, often picked that morning. Served with warm, estate-baked brown bread.
+350m : Walled Gardens, Mount Congreve | +12km : Seagull Bakery, sourdough bread
The Stables Beetroot Burger
A signature estate beetroot & quinoa burger with wild rocket and tomato & mint relish, served in a traditional floury blaa with triple-cooked estate potatoes.
+350m : Estate beetroot & herbs | +9km : Walsh’s Bakehouse, Waterford blaa
Fresh Walled Garden Salads
A rotating selection of fresh garden salads shaped by what is growing across the estate—leaves, vegetables, herbs, and edible flowers dressed simply.
+350m : Estate gardens
Vegetable Patch Quiche
A daily changing quiche filled with freshly picked estate vegetables and herbs, baked with local eggs and cheese, and served with garden leaves.
+350m : Estate vegetables & herbs | +48km : Earlybird Free Range Eggs | +65km : Knockanore Cheddar
Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options are always available, with the full breakfast menu changing naturally with the seasons.
FAMILY-FRIENDLY
Following their garden adventures, families are warmly welcomed at the Stables Café at Mount Congreve Gardens, where the Estate to Plate philosophy extends naturally to younger guests.
Breakfast and lunch are designed to be delicious, nutritious, and garden-led, with a dedicated children’s menu that mirrors the same commitment to local sourcing, seasonality, and quality found across the café. After exploring the forest playground, children can refuel with smaller portions of freshly prepared dishes, including homemade soup, sourdough toasties, omelettes, and classic favourites made with trusted local ingredients.
Where possible, children’s dishes draw from estate produce and familiar local suppliers—offering food that parents can feel confident about, without compromising on flavour or enjoyment
Families can choose to dine indoors or on the outdoor terrace overlooking Mount Congreve House, with ample seating for groups of all sizes. Highchairs and baby-changing facilities are available to ensure a relaxed and comfortable visit.
A visit to the café can be easily combined with time in FOXFORD’s shop, where children will enjoy discovering retro sweet treats, nature-inspired books, and soft toys from the woodland world—making the Stables Café a natural pause point in a family day out at Mount Congreve
TRADITIONAL AFTERNOON TEA AT MOUNT CONGREVE GARDENS
Afternoon Tea at Mount Congreve Gardens is reimagined through the 350m Estate to Plate philosophy, with the gardens and estate traditions guiding the experience.
Afternoon tea was a daily ritual enjoyed by Mr Congreve, who famously favoured brown scones. Served in the the beautifully restored Tack Room. Surrounded by gardens, trees, birds and wildlife, our afternoon tea is served on three-tier cake stands with crisp white linen, Irish silverware, and fine bone china.
Seasonal fruit, herbs, and edible flowers from the estate influence both the savoury and sweet tiers, ensuring Afternoon Tea evolves naturally throughout the year. Savoury finger sandwiches showcase carefully sourced local ingredients, while freshly baked scones and desserts are shaped by what is in season-often incorporating estate produce, preserves, and vegetables. The Stables Signature Chocolate & Beetroot Brownie is a standout example, bringing estate-grown beetroot into a classic Afternoon Tea indulgence
To avoid disappointment pre-booking is required with a minimum of 24 hours’ notice.
Please advise of any dietary requirements at the time of booking
Traditional Afternoon Tea: €38.00
TO MAKE A BOOKING:
Book online or call 051 348 075 between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm
Reservations are confirmed only by credit card. Balance to be paid on the day.
Cancellations
No-shows or cancellations within 24 hours of arrival will result in the full payment taken from your credit card.
Changes or cancellations can be made 24 hours prior to arrival time by calling us on 051 348 075 or amending your booking in the OpenTable app.
DOG- FRIENDLY DINING
Visiting with your dog? You’re very welcome at the Stables Café.
While dogs (with the exception of registered guide dogs) are not permitted in the main gardens, well-behaved dogs are welcome at the Stables Café, where you can relax and enjoy food and coffee together. Dogs should be kept on a leash and under close supervision at all times so that everyone can enjoy their visit.
Water bowls are happily provided on request, and we simply ask that dogs remain calm and considerate of other guests. It’s the perfect place to relax with your four-legged companion.
Our Ethos
Sustainability, Zero-Waste & Estate Stewardship At Mount Congreve Gardens, sustainability is not an add-on—it is built into how the estate operates and how food is cooked. By sourcing the majority of ingredients within 350 metres of the Stables Café, the Estate to Plate approach significantly reduces food miles and carbon footprint. Vegetables, herbs, fruit, and edible flowers travel from the walled gardens to the kitchen in minutes, not hours, ensuring freshness while lowering environmental impact. The menu is garden-led and zero-waste by design. Dishes are shaped around what is ready to harvest, meaning surplus produce is avoided and the garden sets the pace for the kitchen. Trimmings and off-cuts are repurposed into stocks, soups, pestos, and preserves, while seasonal gluts are managed through daily specials rather than over-ordering. This approach also supports biodiversity and soil health across the estate. Crop rotation, seasonal growing, and responsible harvesting ensure the gardens remain productive and resilient year-round. A naturally vegetarian- and vegan-friendly menu further reduces environmental impact, with protein additions sourced thoughtfully and transparently from nearby producers when required. The result is food that is lower impact, higher flavour, and deeply connected to the landscape—good for the gardens, good for the plate, and good for the future.
