A Taste of Northern Ireland: Where to Eat, Sip and Savour Along the Causeway Coast

Looking for the best food experiences in Northern Ireland? From seaweed snacks and farmhouse cheese to cider tastings and coast-to-table feasts, the Causeway Coast offers one of the most authentic culinary journeys in Europe. I joined local guide, Wendy Gallagher of Causeway Coast Foodie Tours, for an unforgettable “food-to-fork” adventure that weaves together Northern Ireland’s proud agricultural heritage, artisan producers, and jaw-dropping coastal scenery. If you love to eat local, meet passionate makers, and dig deeper into food culture, this tour delivers it all.

“Our tours aren’t just about food. They’re about meeting the people, hearing their stories, and tasting the pride of Northern Ireland.” – Wendy Gallagher, Causeway Coast Foodie Tours

Causeway Northern Ireland Food Tour

The Boat House Gallery & Naturally North Coast and Glens Market

We began our day at The Boat House Gallery near the Giant’s Causeway, where local artists’ creations are inspired by the surrounding wild landscapes. Here, I sampled small-batch jams and cheeses from the Naturally North Coast and Glens Artisan Market, winners of Blas na hEireann and Great Taste awards. It was the perfect introduction to the region’s creative and culinary talent.

Left – Textile artist Louisa Kelly works mainly in felt, inspired by the rich textures and vibrant colours of Irish landscapes. Right – Photographer Conor Edgell stands with his impressive fine art prints from the Giant’s Causeway. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Seasons of The Glens helps support the thriving local craft foods of Northern Ireland. Photo: Wnedy Nordvik-Carr©

Map of Northern Ireland’s Causeway Craft Trail

North Coast Smokehouse Economusée

In Ballycastle, North Coast Smokehouse Economusée owner, Ruairidh Morrison, proudly demonstrated the process of his traditional smoking techniques as he placed his next batch of salmon into the smoker. We sampled the local house-smoked salmon, which is some of the best I have had. We then tried dulse, a chewy seaweed snack beloved throughout Northern Ireland. The rich, smoky layers revealed an authentic taste of place. I picked up a vile of smoked salt, pepper, and dulse to bring home for my family to experience.

North Coast Smokehouse Economusée owner Ruairidh Morrison walks us through the smoking process. Photo: Wendy Norvik-Carr©

North Coast Smokehouse Economusée owner Ruairidh Morrison talks to us about the wonderful area he lives in. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Market Square

Lunch was served at Market Square in Bushmills, a local café owned by Bushmills native Neil Campbell. The seasonally rotating menu reflects what’s fresh and local that week, and it’s perfectly paired with craft Lacada beer and crisp Armagh cider, both products of Northern Ireland’s booming independent beverage scene.

Neil Campbell, owner of Market Square in Bushmills. Photo. Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

A delicious fish chowder with local cider and beer served at Market Square. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Market Square Restaurant in Bushmills serves locally crafted tea and ciders. Pictured is: left, Suki Tea Makers Breakfast Brew; right, MacIvor dry Irish cider. Photo: Wendy Nordvik=Carr©

Broughgammon Farm: Ethical and Educational

Next, we visited Broughgammon Farm, a trailblazer in ethical, sustainable, regenerative farming. The Cole family began raising kid goat (cabrito) meat as a response to food waste in the dairy industry, and they’ve since expanded into free-range rose veal, pork, lamb, vegetables, and edible flowers.

After a behind-the-scenes farm tour by owner Charlie Cole, his wife Becky told us about their café and farm shop, where they hold a monthly Farm to Fork Supper Club dedicated to celebrating the farm. We sampled tasty farm-fresh bites, and I left with a thoughtful Broughgammon recipe book, a perfect keepsake of the experience.

Charlie and Becky Cole, owners of Broughgammon Farm, outside the farm shop and cafe. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Charlie Cole, owner of Broughgammon Farm, takes us behind the scenes and explains ethical, sustainable farming practices. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Iside the Farm Shop and Cafe with Charlie Cole, the owner of Broughgammon Farm. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Sampling some of the tasty offerings from the Farm Shop at Broughgammon Farm. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Ballykenver Farm Shop and Kitchen, Armoy

One unexpected highlight was Ballykenver Farm Shop. Everything in the shop is sourced from the farm or made lovingly by Amanda Hanna. Her award-winning Christmas pudding is one of the best I have tasted. Naturally, I made room in my suitcase to take a large one home for my family.

The dairy farm, handed down through the generations, is more than 200 years old and currently has 180 grass-fed dairy cows.

If you have time, consider taking one of Amanda’s cooking classes or attending an afternoon tea when available.

Amanda Hanna in her kitchen at Ballykenver Farm Shop and Kitchen. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Amanda Hanna’s famous Christmas Pudding. available at the Ballykenver Farm Shop and Kitchen. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Left: Amanda Hanna at Ballykenver Farm Shop and Kitchen holds her Sticky Toffee Pudding, which is sold in the shop and served us up fresh chutney (right) and a selection of cheeses. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Amanda Hanna shows us an old family picture of the farmhouse where we are standing. The farm has been handed down through the generations for her family to carry on. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Maegden Cheese

In Bushmills, we ended the day at Maegden, an artisan cheese shop run by the passionate duo, Emma and Jo. Here, I learned about and sampled small-batch Irish and British cheeses like creamy Coleraine Cheddar, tangy blue, and plenty more, all curated with personality and pride.

Find out more about the stories behind the makers of these award-winning craft cheeses.

Maegden owners Emma and Jo are proper cheesemongers. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Meet Wendy Gallagher: The Woman Behind Causeway Coast Foodie Tours

Wendy Gallagher doesn’t just run food tours; she tells Northern Ireland’s story through them.

“I’m the sole owner of Causeway Coast Foodie Tours,” she explained when I asked how it all began. “People often ask me which tour is my favourite, but honestly, I can’t choose. They’re all my ‘babies.’ If I had to pick one, though, I do have a special fondness for the Coast and Country farm-to-fork experience. It was the very first tour I created, and it set the tone for everything that’s followed.”

Wendy’s path to tourism started early. By 11, she was already hooked on the industry, a passion that carried her through years of study in Travel and Tourism before she began teaching the subject at a local college. However, life called her back into the field. When her son, who has learning difficulties, needed more of her support, she looked for a more flexible career, one that still connected her with people and her love for Northern Ireland.

The spark came in 2016 during the Year of Food and Drink in Northern Ireland. “It felt like the right moment to finally bring my two passions—food and tourism—together,” she said. From that leap, Causeway Coast Foodie Tours was born.

What makes Wendy’s tours special is her personal approach. She carefully handpicks every stop, whether it’s a farmer, a cheesemaker, or a market trader, for their quality and authenticity. Guests might taste smoked salmon by the sea, sip Armagh cider, or meet a family farm turning sustainability into flavour.

Northern Ireland’s food scene has earned global recognition. The Lonely Planet named the area the #1 region to visit in 2018, and it was awarded Best Food Destination at the International Travel and Tourism Awards in 2018/19. Wendy’s tours are a big part of what brings those honours to life, offering visitors more than just good food; they leave with a deeper connection to the land and the people who call it home.

Wendy Gallagher of Causeway Coast Foodie Tours buys a giant cauliflower at the Broughgammon Farm Shop. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Where I Stayed: Bushmills Inn

I checked into the historic Bushmills Inn, a cozy retreat just minutes from the Giant’s Causeway. Dinner in the hotel’s wood-beamed restaurant featured local lamb and fresh fish, rounded off with sticky toffee pudding and half a bottle of house wine. It’s the kind of place where you can sink into a leather armchair by the fire and forget about the rest of the world.

Bushmills Inn along the Causeway Coast in Northern Ireland. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Must-Try Northern Irish Specialties

No guide to food in Northern Ireland is complete without celebrating its iconic dishes. Here are a few you’ll see on menus and market stalls across the country:

• Ulster Fry – The ultimate breakfast: bacon, sausage, soda bread, potato bread, and black pudding.
• Soda and Potato Bread – Staples in every Northern Irish kitchen, best served hot off the griddle.
• Fifteens – A sweet no-bake treat made from 15 marshmallows, 15 cherries, and 15 biscuits rolled in coconut.
• Champ – Creamy mashed potatoes with scallions, butter, and milk.
• Pastie Supper – A deep-fried spiced meat and potato patty served with chips and gravy.
• Dulse & Yellowman – Chewy seaweed and bright yellow honeycomb toffee, especially popular at the Ballycastle Lammas Fair.
• Barmbrack – A spiced fruit bread served especially around Halloween.
• Irish stew, seafood chowder, and wheaten bread – Classic, comforting, and found in pubs and cafés everywhere.
• Don’t leave without sampling a glass of local cider, Irish whiskey, or even Irish Poitín—a once-illegal spirit that’s made a modern comeback.

Extend Your Northern Ireland Food Journey with a Home Cooking Experience

In the countryside village of Bellaghy at Bakehouse NI, Bronagh Duffin welcomes you into her beautiful home kitchen and shares recipes passed down through generations.

During my visit, I learned how to bake Barmbrack, a soft, spiced fruit loaf that’s been part of Irish traditions for centuries. While I mixed, kneaded, and shaped my own loaf, Bronagh shared family stories and techniques.

The Bakehouse also offers afternoon tea at selected times.

Bronagh Duffin teaches us how to make Barmbrack in her Bakehouse kitchen. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Planning Time in Belfast? Add a 5-Stop Brunch Tour

If Belfast is part of your itinerary, don’t miss the 5-Stop Brunch Tour. This guided walk through the city’s tastiest corners introduces you to local favourites, from fresh pastries and small-batch coffee to classic bites you’ll only find in Northern Ireland. It’s a relaxed and delicious way to explore the city, one plate at a time.

Belfast’s award-winning Taste & Tour Sunday Brunch Tour delivered in every way. This guided walk-through grazing-style experience, featuring unique stops, showcased different facets of the local food scene, from quirky cafés to creative cocktails. Note: No two brunch tours are the same. Stops are not announced until the tour begins.

During my tour, I met a group of about 18 food enthusiasts, all but three of whom were locals or from the nearby countryside. One of the benefits of taking a local food tour is meeting the locals in the area.

Brunch treats from the Pocket and the Juice Jar, which is famous for its colourful Acai Bowls

Looking for more ways to explore Northern Ireland? Check out my complete Belfast Travel Guide for places to stay, things to do, and where to eat.

If you are planning adventures elsewhere, check out my ongoing series on France, Spain, Canada, Hawaii, Norway and Alaska Cruising

Send me an email, and I would be happy to answer any of your questions.

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Travel Writer Wendy Nordvik-Carr participated in a press trip hosted by Discover Northern Ireland, which did not review or approve of this article before it was published.