Guidebook for North Down

Peter
Guidebook for North Down

Food Scene

Great cappuccino and cinnamon scones! Busy from morning until late afternoon. Great lunches and also open on Friday night for dinner. If you're lucky you'll catch a "tasting evening". http://www.baytreeholywood.co.uk/
6 locals recommend
The Bay Tree
118 High St
6 locals recommend
Great cappuccino and cinnamon scones! Busy from morning until late afternoon. Great lunches and also open on Friday night for dinner. If you're lucky you'll catch a "tasting evening". http://www.baytreeholywood.co.uk/
A real quality restaurant - must be a hair's breadth from a Michelin star. Fine dining in an intimate space. It's tiny, so book well in advance. https://nobleholywood.com/about/
6 locals recommend
Noble
27 Church Rd
6 locals recommend
A real quality restaurant - must be a hair's breadth from a Michelin star. Fine dining in an intimate space. It's tiny, so book well in advance. https://nobleholywood.com/about/
Our favourite Indian restaurant in Holywood.
Tulsi Indian Restaurant | Indian Takeaway
51 High St
Our favourite Indian restaurant in Holywood.
Good for coffee during the day but its real character comes out on Thurs - Sun nights, when it stays open until late, serving pizza, steaks on a stone and pasta dishes. Bring your own wine!!!
Panini
25 Church Rd
Good for coffee during the day but its real character comes out on Thurs - Sun nights, when it stays open until late, serving pizza, steaks on a stone and pasta dishes. Bring your own wine!!!
A fine restaurant for lunch and dinner. For Sunday brunch, one of the best Ulster Fries you'll taste. They sporadically do early-bird specials. Keep an eye on the doorway and website. http://www.restaurantfontana.com/
9 locals recommend
Koi Restaurant
9 locals recommend
A fine restaurant for lunch and dinner. For Sunday brunch, one of the best Ulster Fries you'll taste. They sporadically do early-bird specials. Keep an eye on the doorway and website. http://www.restaurantfontana.com/

Drinks & Nightlife

This is our "local": a real pub where people go to talk to one another instead of watching TV! Expect to bump into cast and crew of the many TV shows and films made here. Expect the best pint of Guinness you'll ever taste.
9 locals recommend
The Maypole
55 High St
9 locals recommend
This is our "local": a real pub where people go to talk to one another instead of watching TV! Expect to bump into cast and crew of the many TV shows and films made here. Expect the best pint of Guinness you'll ever taste.
This is a great pub with excellent food, a variety of cask ales, friendly and helpful staff, a perfectly positioned beer garden and (usually excellent) live music from Thurs through Sunday. Be there at sunset for an unforgettable view of Belfast Lough! http://thedirtyduckalehouse.co.uk/
23 locals recommend
The Dirty Duck
2-4 Kinnegar Rd
23 locals recommend
This is a great pub with excellent food, a variety of cask ales, friendly and helpful staff, a perfectly positioned beer garden and (usually excellent) live music from Thurs through Sunday. Be there at sunset for an unforgettable view of Belfast Lough! http://thedirtyduckalehouse.co.uk/
This converted church is a great music venue and is right beside a railway station (15 mins from Holywood by train). It's worth keeping an eye on what's on: http://www.thebelfastempire.com/
55 locals recommend
The Belfast Empire
42 Botanic Ave
55 locals recommend
This converted church is a great music venue and is right beside a railway station (15 mins from Holywood by train). It's worth keeping an eye on what's on: http://www.thebelfastempire.com/

SightseeingThe Titanic Exhibition Centre

This is a "must-see" exhibition. It's a little pricey if there are a lot of you but worth it, in our opinion. Make sure to ring in advance and check if The Nomadic will be open for visitors - it's a superb part of the experience. http://www.titanicexhibitioncentre.com/
For an unusual view of Belfast, try a Lagan Boat tour. You'll get a different perspective on where the great liners were built and maybe see some seals too! It's probably best to book in advance. https://laganboatcompany.com/
Lagan Boat Co
66 Donegall Quay
For an unusual view of Belfast, try a Lagan Boat tour. You'll get a different perspective on where the great liners were built and maybe see some seals too! It's probably best to book in advance. https://laganboatcompany.com/
We went on one of these open-top bus tours with an Australian visitor - we loved it. It was informative and entertaining and (as it's hop-on-hop-off) you can use it as a novel way of getting around Belfast. Booking advisable. https://belfastcitysightseeing.com/
City Sightseeing Belfast
We went on one of these open-top bus tours with an Australian visitor - we loved it. It was informative and entertaining and (as it's hop-on-hop-off) you can use it as a novel way of getting around Belfast. Booking advisable. https://belfastcitysightseeing.com/

Parks & Nature

On a good day, take a walk along the coastal path from Holywood for some lovely views of the Lough and over to Scotland. You will see many seabirds, maybe seals and migratory geese (depending on time of year). A good day out is to take a train part (or all!) of the way towards Bangor, join the path and walk back to The Dirty Duck in Holywood, for refreshment!!! The path runs close to the stations at Helen's Bay and Carnalea.
North Down Coastal Path / Ulster Way
Station Road
On a good day, take a walk along the coastal path from Holywood for some lovely views of the Lough and over to Scotland. You will see many seabirds, maybe seals and migratory geese (depending on time of year). A good day out is to take a train part (or all!) of the way towards Bangor, join the path and walk back to The Dirty Duck in Holywood, for refreshment!!! The path runs close to the stations at Helen's Bay and Carnalea.
This delightful National Trust property is worth a visit for it's fabulous gardens (voted one of the world's top ten!) and stately home. Guided tours of the house and gardens are available daily. There is a restaurant serving coffee and lunches. On the last Sunday of each month there is live music (usually a jazz band) in the garden - perfect for a picnic. Try the unique, specially commissioned lavender ice cream!
38 locals recommend
Mount Stewart
Portaferry Road
38 locals recommend
This delightful National Trust property is worth a visit for it's fabulous gardens (voted one of the world's top ten!) and stately home. Guided tours of the house and gardens are available daily. There is a restaurant serving coffee and lunches. On the last Sunday of each month there is live music (usually a jazz band) in the garden - perfect for a picnic. Try the unique, specially commissioned lavender ice cream!