The Best Cafés on the North Coast of Northern Ireland
The North coast really is the gem of Northern Ireland. With its beautiful beaches, outstanding views and an ever-growing food scene, it’s certainly worth a visit. Below we have put together a list of our favourite cafés and coffee pit stops to visit when we get a chance to come back home.
A lot of these cafés are located in and around Portstewert and Port Rush, but we’ve also included some from across the entire North Coast on the map at the bottom.
Lost & Found - Portstewart
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 Portstewart promenade via the Covent Walk (approx 20 mins on foot).
Shanty - Port Rush
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 - Port Rush
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 are only a few tables, do expect to wait for a table.
Two Twenty Coffee House
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 - Portstewert
Awaken, a coffee shop on Portstewart Promenade open for hot drinks until 5 pm and food until 3 pm. They serve some delicious bakes that perfectly accompany that coffee, tea or hot chocolate. The only thing I ever want off the menu is toasted banana bread; so cinnamon-y and heartwarming.
Awaken doesn’t have a website, but we have their menu and all the info you need here.
Bothy Coffee - Causeway Coastal Path
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 - Benone Beach
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?
North Coast Map
Click the menu icon on the top left for a list of our favourite places on the North Coast. Or, for a better experience, click the fullscreen icon on the top right to view the map on Google’s app.
Browse our list of the best cafes in Northern Ireland