The focus of this part of our web guide is on places to eat or drink in Newcastle, County Down, Northern Ireland.
As a coastal tourist community, Newcastle is home to a wide range of restaurants and public houses. Visitors and residents alike can find a wide range of options, from traditional Irish fare to locally sourced seafood and innovative international dishes.
For those looking for sophisticated Italian cuisine, Villa Vinci stands out. Its menu includes succulent roast cod and a tempting array of antipasto, and its classic Italian design and modern elegance provide the right ambiance for a leisurely dinner with friends. Similarly, Quinns Bar offers a warm, vintage setting reminiscent of 19th-century charm, where hearty comfort food, such as venison burgers and crispy chicken wings, is paired with a curated selection of beers and Irish spirits. This blend of high-quality fare and historical ambiance evokes Newcastle's deep-rooted traditions while catering to a contemporary palate.
Those inclined toward innovative dishes served in a relaxed setting, Great Jones Craft & Kitchen. Featuring an industrial yet comforting decor, its menu includes classic and creative flavors, from goat's cheese and beetroot starters to salt-cured Barbary duck, all of which present an interesting interpretation of modern cuisine. Moreover, its focus on fresh, locally sourced ingredients and artistic presentation makes it popular with those looking to explore new tastes in an unpretentious environment.
There is much to be said for Newcastle's bar scene, as well. Establishments like the Mariner Bar & Restaurant and Pacha Restaurant have carved out niches that cater to both traditional Irish drinkers and more cosmopolitan patrons. While one offers a scenic nod to Newcastle's maritime heritage with its seaside views and seafood chowders, the other features modern twists on classic dishes, such as steak, and Mediterranean ingredients.
Besides these, Newcastle has several cafes, bistros, and pubs that ensure that every dining experience is unique.
These, and other places to eat or drink in Newcastle, Northern Ireland, are appropriate topics for this category.
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Opened in 2014 above the Anchor Bar, Brunel's quickly earned a reputation for creative, top-quality cooking, relocating to a refurbished venue on Downs Road in 2017. Brunel's is renowned for its modern European cuisine, expertly crafted from the finest locally sourced ingredients. The restaurant sources as many of its ingredients as possible from local farms, fisheries, and artisanal producers, including seasonal vegetables, seafood, and grass-fed meats. Contacts are included.
https://www.brunelsrestaurant.co.uk/
Opened in 2006, Doc's is a licensed restaurant that seats 80-100 guests, offering both sit-in cafe service and takeaway options. Its highlights include traditional fish and chips cooked in beef dripping, lightly battered fresh scampi, beef and chicken burgers, hearty steak dinners, and cooked breakfasts, as well as authentic Indian curry every Tuesday and Wednesday night. The menu also offers vegetarian-friendly, vegan, and gluten-free options, along with desserts and beverages.
https://docsrestaurant.co.uk/
Specialising in modern Irish cuisine, the restaurant is on Main Street in Newcastle, Northern Ireland. Opened in 2015, it was named for Great Jones Street in New York City, where its founders worked for over a decade. The chefs are known for reimagining classic dishes. Examples include fishcakes with unexpected flavours, elevated beef & Guinness pie, and seasonal sharing boards, while its bar features craft beers from Ireland, Britain, and across the Atlantic.
https://www.greatjones.co.uk/
Established in 1805, Macken's is located on Newcastle's South Promenade, occupying one of Ireland's oldest harbourside pubs. The multi-level venue features a 100-seat restaurant upstairs (bistro style), a cosy pub lounge downstairs, and a 60-seat beer garden, all featuring views of Dundrum Bay and the Irish Sea. Its kitchen excels at both traditional pub classics (roasts, stews, sticky toffee pudding) and locally-sourced seafood, from sea bream and haddock to squid, lobster, and mussels.
https://mackensbar.co.uk/
Located on Ballyloughlin Road, about a 20-minute drive from Newcastle town centre, the Maghera Inn has been in business for nearly two centuries. The family-run gastro-pub is famed for its roaring log fire and its Irish atmosphere. Its bar is stocked with exotic brands, top-quality Guinness, plus a full wine and spirits list, along with a spacious dining room with modern decor. Its history, location, food and drink menus, a calendar of events, and client testimonials are set forth.
https://www.themagherainn.com/
The Percy French is a pub and restaurant at the foot of the Mourne Mountains, overlooking Newcastle's coastline on Slieve Donard Downs Road. Named after the renowned Irish songwriter Percy French, the facility specializes in pub classics and regional dishes made with local, seasonal produce. Signature plates include beer-battered fish and chips, Wagyu sausages with creamy mash, and rotisserie chicken with crispy chips and salad, served alongside a wide-ranging wine list and draught beers.
https://www.thepercyfrench.com/
In the 1920s and 1930s, Quinn's Bar was a combination of a pub at the rear of the present bar and a grocery shop at the front. The current business is an attempt to recreate the pub and shop as they were during that period. It features an unpolished wooden floor, sheeted timber strips on the walls, and the wallpaper as it would have been purchased at the time. Its location, a map, hours of operation, event schedule, contacts, and menus are published on the website.
https://www.quinnsbarnewcastle.com/
Located on Main Street in Newcastle, County Down, Northern Ireland, the restaurant features Italian-Mediterranean cuisine. Its address, hours of operation, and features are highlighted on its website, which includes its menus and a gallery of photographs. Situated in a coastal town, its location is an ideal stop for those who are beach strolling or for families on a day out. A map shows the location of the restaurant, and tables may be booked online. Contacts are also available.
https://www.villavinci.co.uk/
Situated at the Avoca Hotel on Newcastle's Central Promenade, The Wild Hare is the go-to spot for laid-back drinks, homemade bites, and music on weekends. The facility features a vintage-style interior and a beer garden out back. It features classic cocktails and mixology, as well as a selection of gin, draught and bottled ales, beers, and ciders. The wine list includes options by the glass or bottle. Menu highlights include battered haddock and chips, steak stir fry, and wood-fired pizza.
https://www.thewildharebar.com/
