Karen’s Guidebook (Distiller’s Cottage)
Food scene
Bushmills. Good food made with local produce. Highly recommend.
39 locals recommend
Tartine at the Distillers Arms
140 Main StBushmills. Good food made with local produce. Highly recommend.
Excellent for dinner, though quite pricey. Does nice lunches and a decent carvery on a Sunday which is more reasonably priced. Lovely seating area outside if you’re lucky enough to get good weather, and warming peat fire inside if you’re not.
63 locals recommend
The Bushmills Inn Hotel
9 Dunluce RdExcellent for dinner, though quite pricey. Does nice lunches and a decent carvery on a Sunday which is more reasonably priced. Lovely seating area outside if you’re lucky enough to get good weather, and warming peat fire inside if you’re not.
Bushmills. Excellent for breakfast, lunch and casual early dinner. Great for families.
8 locals recommend
Market Square
62 Main StreetBushmills. Excellent for breakfast, lunch and casual early dinner. Great for families.
Bushmills. We’ve only been here once for dinner. Food was good but it was a quiet night and lacked atmosphere. Does a good lunch (recommend the antipasti platter) or coffee and a scone.
30 locals recommend
The French Rooms
45 Main StBushmills. We’ve only been here once for dinner. Food was good but it was a quiet night and lacked atmosphere. Does a good lunch (recommend the antipasti platter) or coffee and a scone.
Has a cafe for lunch. Great for kids on a wet day as it has a small indoor play area.
10 locals recommend
Creative Gardens Bushmills
88 Ballyclogh RdHas a cafe for lunch. Great for kids on a wet day as it has a small indoor play area.
Right beside the Giants Causeway. Good food made with local produce. Recommend the seafood chowder. Lovely to walk to via the sand dunes.
The Nook
48 Causeway RdRight beside the Giants Causeway. Good food made with local produce. Recommend the seafood chowder. Lovely to walk to via the sand dunes.
Portballintrae. Nice location, decent food. Steaks are good but expensive. Child friendly.
23 locals recommend
Bayview Hotel
2 Bayhead RdPortballintrae. Nice location, decent food. Steaks are good but expensive. Child friendly.
Bushmills. Basic but handy for a casual bite to eat with the kids.
15 locals recommend
Bushfoot Golf Club
Bushfoot RoadBushmills. Basic but handy for a casual bite to eat with the kids.
Portrush.
Fantastic food (mainly Asian inspired) and atmosphere. Doesn’t allow children and runs on a first come first served system (although this has sporadically changed through covid restrictions). Can require a long wait during busy periods but the cocktail bar upstairs helps with this.
Cocktail bar is also open to non diners. Definitely worth a visit.
32 locals recommend
Neptune & Prawn
54 Kerr StPortrush.
Fantastic food (mainly Asian inspired) and atmosphere. Doesn’t allow children and runs on a first come first served system (although this has sporadically changed through covid restrictions). Can require a long wait during busy periods but the cocktail bar upstairs helps with this.
Cocktail bar is also open to non diners. Definitely worth a visit.
Portrush. Excellent food, fresh fish and local specials. Doesn’t allow children. Bookable.
22 locals recommend
The Ramore Oriental Restaurant
1 Ramore AvePortrush. Excellent food, fresh fish and local specials. Doesn’t allow children. Bookable.
Portrush. Great for kids. Family friendly world foods. Runs a first come first served system.
13 locals recommend
The Harbour Bistro
1 Harbour RdPortrush. Great for kids. Family friendly world foods. Runs a first come first served system.
Portrush. As Ramore Wine Bar.
Great, friendly bar also (Harbour bar downstairs and gin bar upstairs which does pizzas.
13 locals recommend
The Harbour Bistro
1 Harbour RdPortrush. As Ramore Wine Bar.
Great, friendly bar also (Harbour bar downstairs and gin bar upstairs which does pizzas.
Basalt
1 Harbour RoadPortrush. Spanish influenced, casual dining. Takes bookings.
55 Degrees North
1 Causeway StPortrush
Portrush. We have heard this is nice but are yet to try it.
29 locals recommend
Ocho Tapas Bistro/Restaurant
78-80 Portstewart RoadPortrush. We have heard this is nice but are yet to try it.
Outside Portrush. Great for breakfast and lunch. Great for kids. Has a small indoor play area and play park outside.
6 locals recommend
Dora’s
39 Magheraboy RdOutside Portrush. Great for breakfast and lunch. Great for kids. Has a small indoor play area and play park outside.
Portrush. Excellent for breakfast and lunch. Opens seasonally. Child friendly and right on the beach. Limited seating but there are deckchairs outside.
25 locals recommend
Babushka Kitchen Cafe
South PierPortrush. Excellent for breakfast and lunch. Opens seasonally. Child friendly and right on the beach. Limited seating but there are deckchairs outside.
Portstewart. Italian. Great food and family friendly. Nice location beside the water.
71 locals recommend
Amici Ristorante
Portmore RoadPortstewart. Italian. Great food and family friendly. Nice location beside the water.
Harry's Shack
116 Strand RdPortstewart. Right on the beach, child friendly.
Me and Mrs Jones Hotel
1-7 The DiamondPortstewart. Excellent food and great staff.
Casual place overlooking the beach. Great for breakfast and lunch.
6 locals recommend
Shanty - Bites & Brews
29 Lansdowne CrescentCasual place overlooking the beach. Great for breakfast and lunch.
Sightseeing
A 2 mile walk away via the sand dunes, or there is a small steam train which operates seasonally. Check online first for times.
NB: to enter the Giants Causeway, go through tunnel, NOT the visitor centre otherwise you will get charged.
531 locals recommend
Giant's Causeway
A 2 mile walk away via the sand dunes, or there is a small steam train which operates seasonally. Check online first for times.
NB: to enter the Giants Causeway, go through tunnel, NOT the visitor centre otherwise you will get charged.
Old Bushmills Distillery
2 Distillery RdDunluce Castle
87 Dunluce RdCarrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge
The Dark Hedges
Bregagh RoadBallintoy Harbour
Game of Thrones filming location. Has a great café.
Rathlin Island Ferry
18 Bayview RdGet the train to Derry from Coleraine for a day trip.
Michael Pallin describes it as “one of the most beautiful rail journeys in the world”.
104 locals recommend
Londonderry
Get the train to Derry from Coleraine for a day trip.
Michael Pallin describes it as “one of the most beautiful rail journeys in the world”.
Kinbane Castle
81 Whitepark RdGorgeous views and a great walk.
Activities
Good for a wet day with the kids. Has soft play, cinema, bowling and arcade games.
30 locals recommend
Jet Centre
1 Riverside Park SGood for a wet day with the kids. Has soft play, cinema, bowling and arcade games.
Portrush Surf School
Harbour RdProvides surfing, paddleboarding and bodyboarding lessons.
Roe Valley Country Park
41 Dogleap RdBeautiful walks.
Diversity Park
144-152 Coleraine RoadPlay park for kids in Portstewart. Very good.
Portballintrae Boat Club
21 Beach RdPlay park for kids. Quite small but close to beach.
Beaches
Harbour and beach.
Popular for jumping off the pier and water and paddle boarding.
8 locals recommend
Portballintrae Boat Club
21 Beach RdHarbour and beach.
Popular for jumping off the pier and water and paddle boarding.
Portrush Whiterocks Beach
Beautiful beach, great views. Popular for surfing.
Can drive onto this beautifully maintained beach. Charges for parking but reasonable (also discount if member of The National Trust). Popular for surfing. Harry’s Shack also situated by car park. Walk way towards the Main Street/promenade with Lost and Found coffee shop en route.
73 locals recommend
Portstewart Strand
Can drive onto this beautifully maintained beach. Charges for parking but reasonable (also discount if member of The National Trust). Popular for surfing. Harry’s Shack also situated by car park. Walk way towards the Main Street/promenade with Lost and Found coffee shop en route.
Runkerry Beach
Short walk via the railway line to get to this beach.
Golf Courses
Bushfoot Golf Club
Bushfoot RoadRoyal Portrush Golf Club
Portstewart Golf Club
117 Strand Rd