Guidebook for Coleraine
Food Scene
Amici is not the closest restaurant from Downhill (it is about 35 mins’ drive away) but is one of the best Italian restaurants along the coast (and our firm favourite). Located on sea front, Amici offers stunning views and great good at a reasonable price. Don’t miss the Arancini appetizer.
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Amici Ristorante
Portmore RoadAmici is not the closest restaurant from Downhill (it is about 35 mins’ drive away) but is one of the best Italian restaurants along the coast (and our firm favourite). Located on sea front, Amici offers stunning views and great good at a reasonable price. Don’t miss the Arancini appetizer.
Wooden shack on Portstewart Strand. Food is scrumptious, service always great and the views of the beach and sea are fabulous. Great place to watch the sun go down over Donegal. It tends to be very busy so book ahead.
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Harry's Shack
116 Strand RdWooden shack on Portstewart Strand. Food is scrumptious, service always great and the views of the beach and sea are fabulous. Great place to watch the sun go down over Donegal. It tends to be very busy so book ahead.
Ramore is a collection of restaurants located in one building. The wine bar is great for lunch or early dinner. They don't take bookings so I advise you to queue up well before 12.30 for lunch and 5pm for dinner - it is worth it. They have a pizzeria called Coast located in the same building, which is reasonably priced and also popular. If you have no kids or kids over 16 find tranquillity in Neptune and Prawn - we went there for our anniversary and had a special evening. The upstairs pre-dinner drinks/cocktails area is lovely. The Mermaid kitchen & Bar offers a casual and relaxed style of full service dining. It is a no-kids restaurant though (with the exception of Sunday Lunch Service).
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Ramore Restaurants
1 Harbour RdRamore is a collection of restaurants located in one building. The wine bar is great for lunch or early dinner. They don't take bookings so I advise you to queue up well before 12.30 for lunch and 5pm for dinner - it is worth it. They have a pizzeria called Coast located in the same building, which is reasonably priced and also popular. If you have no kids or kids over 16 find tranquillity in Neptune and Prawn - we went there for our anniversary and had a special evening. The upstairs pre-dinner drinks/cocktails area is lovely. The Mermaid kitchen & Bar offers a casual and relaxed style of full service dining. It is a no-kids restaurant though (with the exception of Sunday Lunch Service).
Drinks & Nightlife
The bar is always full - well it isn't very big. It has a really great atmosphere. You can stand outside and enjoy the fun. Although very touristy it still manages to retain authentic charm of an Ulster pub. Willie is brilliant, the place revolves around him. So much energy and makes everyone feel so welcome. You'll love being with the locals and sharing stories - and drinks! Great to end the evening after eating in the Harbour Bistro or one of the other Ramore restaurants.
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Harbour Gin Bar
1 Harbour RdThe bar is always full - well it isn't very big. It has a really great atmosphere. You can stand outside and enjoy the fun. Although very touristy it still manages to retain authentic charm of an Ulster pub. Willie is brilliant, the place revolves around him. So much energy and makes everyone feel so welcome. You'll love being with the locals and sharing stories - and drinks! Great to end the evening after eating in the Harbour Bistro or one of the other Ramore restaurants.
Sightseeing
Dunluce Castle - 30 mins by car (or 10 mins from Portrush town). Watch out for the sign as it is quite a sharp hairpin turn off the main road! As the former home of the clans McQuillan and MacDonnell, the roofless ruins are breathtaking especially at dusk, or in the sunshine with the white chalk cliffs of Portrush close by. A “Wee Cottage" is located next to the castle where you can grab a drink or a cuppa before or after your visit. Weather plays a big part in your enjoyment on the castle ruins - best save it for dry days. If you're lucky to see it on a sunny day the views of the coastline below including Whiterocks Beach and Portrush are stunning.
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Dunluce Castle station
Dunluce Castle - 30 mins by car (or 10 mins from Portrush town). Watch out for the sign as it is quite a sharp hairpin turn off the main road! As the former home of the clans McQuillan and MacDonnell, the roofless ruins are breathtaking especially at dusk, or in the sunshine with the white chalk cliffs of Portrush close by. A “Wee Cottage" is located next to the castle where you can grab a drink or a cuppa before or after your visit. Weather plays a big part in your enjoyment on the castle ruins - best save it for dry days. If you're lucky to see it on a sunny day the views of the coastline below including Whiterocks Beach and Portrush are stunning.
This is one of the places I must visit regularly, if only to take in the incredible views from the on the road above the bay. At one end is the tiny fishing hamlet of Port Braddan and at the other is Elephant Rock leading eventually to picturesque Ballintoy. The beach can be reached by a path leading down from the carpark or from Ballintoy. The path down is a bit of a walk but gives you time to take in the views.
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Whitepark Bay
152 Whitepark RdThis is one of the places I must visit regularly, if only to take in the incredible views from the on the road above the bay. At one end is the tiny fishing hamlet of Port Braddan and at the other is Elephant Rock leading eventually to picturesque Ballintoy. The beach can be reached by a path leading down from the carpark or from Ballintoy. The path down is a bit of a walk but gives you time to take in the views.
At one end of Whitepark Bay. It can be reached however by car if you travel on along the Coast Road towards Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge. I absolutely love this little picturesque harbour, it has amazing dramatic scenery as you walk round the beach area. You could be lucky enough to be there when fishermen come in and sell the fish on the harbour side. Game of Thrones interest here too.
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Ballintoy Harbour
At one end of Whitepark Bay. It can be reached however by car if you travel on along the Coast Road towards Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge. I absolutely love this little picturesque harbour, it has amazing dramatic scenery as you walk round the beach area. You could be lucky enough to be there when fishermen come in and sell the fish on the harbour side. Game of Thrones interest here too.
Whiskey fans take note: Bushmills is Ireland’s oldest working distillery! Guided tours are available and highly recommended, for they provide great insight into the history and manufacturing process one of our favourite exports. The tour lasts about an hour and ends with a taste test...the sights, smells and atmosphere are exceptional. Well worth a visit especially on a rainy day!
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Old Bushmills Distillery
2 Distillery RdWhiskey fans take note: Bushmills is Ireland’s oldest working distillery! Guided tours are available and highly recommended, for they provide great insight into the history and manufacturing process one of our favourite exports. The tour lasts about an hour and ends with a taste test...the sights, smells and atmosphere are exceptional. Well worth a visit especially on a rainy day!
It is very close to the Giant’s Causeway. This famous and exciting rope bridge forms the centrepiece of a scenic hike (1 mile, 1 hour, moderate level) which starts at the reception hut. The hiking route is clear - there is only one hiking-trail/road leading to the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge (roughly eastward). On your left is the wild Atlantic Ocean, and to the right, fields of coastal farmland. PLEASE NOTE: You will need to purchase tickets only to cross the rope bridge (although there is no charge to park and walk down to the bridge's entrance).
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Εθνική Εμπιστοσύνη Carrick-a-Rede
119a Whitepark RdIt is very close to the Giant’s Causeway. This famous and exciting rope bridge forms the centrepiece of a scenic hike (1 mile, 1 hour, moderate level) which starts at the reception hut. The hiking route is clear - there is only one hiking-trail/road leading to the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge (roughly eastward). On your left is the wild Atlantic Ocean, and to the right, fields of coastal farmland. PLEASE NOTE: You will need to purchase tickets only to cross the rope bridge (although there is no charge to park and walk down to the bridge's entrance).
The gem of NI coast is beyond a doubt The Giant's Causeway, a vast stretch of hexagonal rocks formed by volcanic activities. From Downhill it takes about 35 minutes to drive to Giant's Causeway. If you enter through the visitor’s centre, consider taking an audio guide too. From the visitor’s centre you can walk (for about 20 mins) or take a shuttle down to the Causeway from the visitor's centre. Once down at the Causeway you can walk and climb over the stones - many a photo op awaits! I just love spending my mornings here - it makes my weekend.
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Giants Causeway
The gem of NI coast is beyond a doubt The Giant's Causeway, a vast stretch of hexagonal rocks formed by volcanic activities. From Downhill it takes about 35 minutes to drive to Giant's Causeway. If you enter through the visitor’s centre, consider taking an audio guide too. From the visitor’s centre you can walk (for about 20 mins) or take a shuttle down to the Causeway from the visitor's centre. Once down at the Causeway you can walk and climb over the stones - many a photo op awaits! I just love spending my mornings here - it makes my weekend.
Entertainment & Activities
Barry's Amusements is the largest theme park in Northern Ireland. It is situated in the centre of Portrush, County Antrim, on the north coast. It is a popular family attraction for visitors to the area. Barry's opens on a seasonal basis, normally from around two weeks before Easter until the first week in September. Barry's has a long-standing reputation of providing jobs for teenagers in the local area; rides are operated by older members of staff but the ride attendants are mostly school-going teenagers.
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Barry's Amusements
16 Eglinton StBarry's Amusements is the largest theme park in Northern Ireland. It is situated in the centre of Portrush, County Antrim, on the north coast. It is a popular family attraction for visitors to the area. Barry's opens on a seasonal basis, normally from around two weeks before Easter until the first week in September. Barry's has a long-standing reputation of providing jobs for teenagers in the local area; rides are operated by older members of staff but the ride attendants are mostly school-going teenagers.