Restaurants in County Donegal
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La Sabbia
This colourful cottage decorated with striking contemporary art has tables spilling out onto the front porch and attracts a lively, upbeat crowd. It's run by a Milanese chef, whose hometown specials include delicious risottos as well as crispy pizzas, and pasta dishes like porcini-filled ravioli.
reviewed
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Olde Glen Bar & Restaurant
Authentic down to its original 1700s uneven stone floor, this treasure of a traditional pub in the tiny hamlet of Glen serves a sensational pint. Out the back, its small farmhouse-style restaurant serves outstanding blackboard specials. It doesn’t take reservations and is popular with locals – turn up by 5.30pm to get a table for the 6pm seating, or by 6.30pm for a table at the 7.30pm seating. By the time you leave, you’ll feel like a local yourself.
reviewed
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Yellow Pepper
Set in a 19th-century former shirt factory with stone walls, copper light fittings and original hardwood floors, this cosy restaurant is a local favourite. The menu is heavy on fish but also offers plenty for meat lovers and vegetarians. Dishes are exquisitely prepared and beautifully presented. Book ahead.
reviewed
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Harvey's Point Country Hotel
At the water's edge, this elegant retreat is privately owned and run, and it's evident in the pride taken by staff – from the kindly concierge through to the chefs at the excellent French restaurant. Rooms range from large to enormous and are decked out in autumnal colours.
reviewed
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Cove
Owners Siobhan Sweeney and Peter Byrne are perfectionists who tend to every detail in Cove's art-filled dining room and on your plate. The seafood-skewed cuisine is inventive and deceptively simple with subtle Asian influences. After dinner, retire to the elegant lounge upstairs. It's on the main road in Port-na-Blagh. Book ahead.
reviewed
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Beetroot
Beetroot's bright wallpaper, bare wood tables and sleek banquettes are a chic backdrop for its slightly dated menu. The food is good but not creative, with dishes such as breaded brie, chicken escalope and Thai curry.
reviewed
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Kitty Kelly's
Dining at this restaurant in a 200-year-old, plum-coloured farmhouse feels more like attending an intimate dinner party. The menu is a gourmet take on traditional Irish favourites like rich stew and creamy trifle. It's on the coast road, 5km west of Killybegs. Opening hours vary annually; bookings are essential.
reviewed
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Mill Restaurant & Guesthouse
An exquisite country setting and perfectly composed meals make dining here a treat. Set in an old flax mill that was for many years the home of renowned watercolour artist Frank Eggington, it also has six high-class guestrooms. The mill is just south of the town on the Falcarragh road. Book in advance.
reviewed
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Beach House
With plate-glass windows facing the lough, this aptly named cafe/restaurant projects an elegant simplicity. Although the menu is also intrinsically simple, the quality and preparation are a cut above: ‘surf and turf’, for example, comes with fillet steak, crab claws, langoustines and creamy bisque.
reviewed
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22 Main Street
Recently revamped, this Mediterranean-style bistro offers excellent seafood fresh off the trawlers. It's the town's top restaurant and serves a tempting menu with some nonfish dishes but little for vegetarians.
reviewed
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Simple Simon’s
Attached to a health food shop, this bohemian cafe serves up such delicious organic soups, wraps, paninis, salads and home-baked treats (plus enormous mugs of hot chocolate) that we’ll pretend we didn’t notice the Dan Quayle spelling of ‘potatoe’ on the specials board.
reviewed
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Aroma
Hidden in the far corner of Donegal's craft village, this small cafe has a big reputation for fine food. Along with the excellent coffee and luscious cakes, the blackboard specials feature seasonal local produce whipped up into tantalising soups, salads and wholesome hot dishes. There's seating outside for extra space on fine days.
reviewed
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Blue Haven
Blue Haven's modern restaurant has giant windows overlooking the bay and an extensive, if predictable, menu of classic dishes. The sunset views are stunning.
reviewed
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Caife an Chreagain
If that sea air has given you an appetite, head for Mary's welcoming cafe/restaurant, offering great value for money. Outside the summer months (June to August), opening times can vary depending on the weather (and, by extension, the ferries).
reviewed
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Muck 'n' Muffins
A 19th-century rough-stone grain store now houses this waterfront cafe and craft shop. Even on rainy winter days, it's packed with locals tucking into healthy sandwiches, quiches and hot specials, tempting cakes and, of course, muffins.
reviewed
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Barron’s Cafe
Run by a friendly couple, this cheap, cheerful cafe serves staples like freshly ground burgers. Upstairs, the four guestrooms, each with private bath, are happy little dens and very tidy (single/double €32/56). Book ahead.
reviewed
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Oak Tree
Chunky seafood chowder with brandy, and roast duck breast with Chinese spices are among the highlights of the select menu at this promising newcomer. The dining room opens to an aperitif-friendly alfresco terrace.
reviewed
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Ań Stad T-Bar
Home-baked fare including tasty potato cakes are served up at Sandra Daly’s cheerful little cafe just off the main street. This is also where breakfast’s served for guests at Sandra’s B&B diagonally opposite.
reviewed
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Nancy's Bar
This old-world pub-restaurant successfully makes its guests feel as though they're sitting in Nancy's living room. It serves superb seafood and chowder with hearty wheaten bread and is also the best place in town for a social pint or two.
reviewed
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A
Market House
Replete with tartan carpeting and stone walls, the Market House manages not to feel touristy or old-fashioned. The kitchen tackles surf and turf mainstays with a fresh, light and contemporary ethos.
reviewed
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Fitzgerald’s Bistro
Opening onto a garden out the back of Fitzgerald’s Hotel, this plush bistro looks a little like a hunting lodge. Although seafood is the specialty, the kitchen is equally adept with meat and veg.
reviewed
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B
Donegal’s Famous Chipper
Its fame spreads as far as the town limit, but this is an excellent place to grab an order of fried cod to eat at the Formica counter or to take to a nearby pub.
reviewed
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C
La Bella Donna
Pizza, pasta and sizzling steaks in rich sauces pull in the punters at this lively, modern restaurant. It gets very busy at weekends so you'd be advised to book in advance.
reviewed
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Simpson's
The old-world charm, buzzing atmosphere and excellent seafood make Simpson's a great stop any time of day. The menu also includes solid surf, turf and international dishes, all of which are made fresh on the premises. The four-course Sunday lunch is only €15.
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Shines Takeaway
If you’re craving something with gills and fins by now, salt down a serve of cod and chips from this spick-and-span chipper and head to the beach.
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