The best cafés in Northern Ireland
Neighbourhood Café
A friendly café located in Belfast’s buzzy Cathedral quarter. Neighbourhood café hasn’t had the easiest of journeys after their original home had a devastating fire.
We were so happy to see they reopened their doors in December 2022 with that same warm, welcoming service. It’s open daily, serving up excellent brunch options, all for £10 or less.
Read our full review of Neighbourhood Café here
Middletown Coffee
A modern coffee shop in Ballymena which is a breathe of fresh air of the café scene. If you are looking a menu that has variety and is more than just ‘avocado and eggs’; then this is the place to come for breakfast or lunch. The staff are really friendly and their service is top notch!
Third-Day Coffee
A café in Antrim which serves up breakfast, bakes and brews. They really do care about coffee, giving you the best beans and attention to detail in each cup. You’ll certainly get a friendly welcome so go on, and pop in for brunch; no need to book.
Joxer
A restaurant serving up breakfast, lunch and a few late evenings a week located in the heart of Holywood; near Belfast.
It’s dog friendly, so bring your furry friend and enjoy a coffee or cocktail with your plate full. Soon to be opening a branch in Bangor too.
Lost & Found
A coastal café that encourages you to get lost in their local produce and carefully sourced coffee, which you can grab from their coffee hatch if you’re on the go or chill out inside in their airy space. They offer up an ever-changing, seasonal brunch menu. Their cinnamon morning buns are a delight!
Lost & Found Portstewart overlooks the ocean; with a beautiful view of Portstewart Strand (a long stretch of beach) & a top of a cliff in the distance, you can see Mussenden Temple on a clear day. If you are lucky, you may spot dolphins swimming in the sea, so do keep an eye out whilst you’re here. There is a small car park, or you can go on foot; you can walk to it from the Portstewart promenade via the Covent Walk (approx 20 mins on foot).
Shanty
Serving locally sourced produce, brews and bites, this previous boathouse and shelter in Portrush has been beautifully renovated and has opened its big red doors to the public for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
It is located by the sea, has lots of car parking nearby and is near White Rocks Beach which you can see in the distance; so enjoy your food and why not go for a stroll on the beach after you dine. Delightful!
Babushka
A tiny café by Portrush harbour. Grab a coffee and sweet treat and sit on their deck chairs overlooking West Strand Beach. A perfect place to watch the world go by.
You’ll see plenty of wet-haired/sandy-toed customers who have come straight into the café from their morning dip in the sea. Babushka offers a small brunch menu (expect french toast and avocado on toast), but as there is only a small number of tables, do expect to wait for a table.
Two Twenty
This café is located in a small holiday home site but do not let that put you off. Once you walk through the doors, you will feel at home, with their log burner roaring in this barn-style café. They serve coffee and have daily specials for breakfast and lunch, such as pancakes and toasties, as well as homemade pastries. I’d recommend their warm cinnamon swirls for a sweet treat after lunch.
Awaken
A coffee shop on Portstewart promenade open for hot drinks until 5pm and food until 3pm. They serve some delicious bakes that perfectly accompany that coffee, tea or hot chocolate of choice. For me, the only thing I ever want off the menu is that toasted banana bread; so cinnamon-y and heartwarming.
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Bothy Coffee
Located on the scenic Causeway coastal path, this café is a must if you visit one of our favourite beaches, White Park Bay or the famous The Giant’s Causeway.
On a wild, wintery day, as the name states, you will feel sheltered in this cosy bothy. If the Northern Irish weather behaves and remains dry, there is also seating available outside where they occasionally serve up pizzas from their pizza oven during the warmer months. Sit back and relax to a lovely coffee and eat from their breakfast or lunch menu.
Sea shed (coffee & surf)
A takeaway coffee bar right on the edge of Benone beach. Here you can grab a hot (or cold) drink and a few baked goods, such as cookies or cake.
After all, who doesn’t like to walk a beautiful long stretch of beach without a coffee in hand, especially on those crisp winter days on the North Coast? Or if you’re keen, why not hire a surfboard whilst you’re there?
