About Café Gusto
Café Gusto continues a long tradition of selling coffee at 3 Washington Street. The site was converted to a café from an antique shop in the summer of 1941, when the O’Brien family took up the lease at a rent of £11 per month. Not only was their coffee renowned but also their ice cream was every kid’s dream, especially when made up into their divine birthday cakes.
On taking over the lease in autumn of 2000, Marianne and Denis have transformed it using the best local designers and craftsmen to provide a perfect backdrop for customers to enjoy their food and drink. To further ensure this, they have spent a lot of energy in sourcing the very best ingredients, producers and suppliers, so that your first visit will not be your last.
These standards can also be seen around the café in the bespoke furniture which was designed by imago alternatives and the graphic design by Cork design consultants bite! associates.
Marianne has worked extensively in food trade in the city of London before returning two years ago to manage The Exchange Bar on George’s Quay.
Denis was a student of the Ballymaloe cookery school and has worked in Mulligan’s of Mayfair, Isaacs and The Bodega Bar and Restaurant but is probably better known for his involvement in club nights such Mór Disco, Telefunkin and Hi-Fi.
In July of 2006, Café Gusto opened their second outlet on the Lapp’s Quay Boardwalk, situated in front of the prestigious City Quarter office development built by Howard Holdings on the banks of Cork’s River Lee.