Dublín, Irlanda
Crafting Authentic Mexican Delights — Co-founder and Chef at Apapacho
Mónica Zúñiga is a passionate Mexican chef with over 12 years of experience in the culinary world, specializing in traditional Mexican pastries, brunch, and Italian cuisine. Born and raised in San Luis Potosí, Mexico, her journey has taken her from running her own pizzeria to working in some of Dublin’s well-loved kitchens.
After years of perfecting her craft in both Mexico and Ireland. Mónica dreamed of something more personal: a space where she could share the joy of Mexican pan dulce with a new community. Apapacho was born from that dream.
Co-founder – Passionate About Baking & Mexican Traditions
With a strong background in journalism and extensive experience as a photojournalist, Carmen Villa has spent her career telling real, impactful stories through her writing, photography, and reporting.
It was in Ireland that she met Mónica Zúñiga, her partner and co-founder of Apapacho. Thanks to this connection, Carmen discovered a new passion almost unexpectedly: baking. What started as curiosity quickly became a joyful form of expression and creativity.
2
Professional Chefs
10
Most popular Mexican Pastries
12
Years of Experience
20K
Happy Guests
Apapacho Mexican Bakery—where every bread tells a story and Mexican roots are felt in every bite.
The word “apapacho” in Spanish means “a warm embrace for the soul,” and that’s exactly what Mónica brings to each piece of bread she bakes. From soft, colorful conchas to the deeply symbolic pan de muerto, our recipes are rooted in memory, tradition, and love.
Meet Our Team
Mónica Zúñiga
Head Chef & Co-founder
Carmen Villa
Co-founder
Our Journey to Dublin: A Home for Apapacho
Dublin is where our paths crossed — the city where we met, fell in love, and decided to build something beautiful together. It has given us the opportunity to grow, to study, to work, and to dream big.
We’ve found in Dublin a warm community, kind people, and — believe it or not — we’ve even come to love the weather!
This city is now our home, and Apapacho is our way of sharing a little piece of México through every panecito, every concha, and every pan de muerto. A warm embrace from our culture to yours — freshly baked, just for you.
Baking Borders: Mexican Pan with a Dublin Soul
Our bread is 100% homemade and prepared from scratch in our small kitchen, filled with love and passion. We use only high-quality ingredients sourced locally from Dublin — proudly local, and proudly made by hand.