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Five stops worth leaving the motorway for
This route takes you from Belfast along some of Northern Ireland’s most spectacular coastline, through villages where slowing down is part of the experience, and past views that make you reach for your camera before your coffee cup. Along the way are five cafés that turn a simple drive into a proper day out.
Call it a coffee crawl. Call it a road trip. Either way, you’ll want a full day and an empty stomach.
The route
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1
Belfast · Cathedral Quarter
Neighbourhood Café
Donegall Street, beside St Anne’s Cathedral
Start here before you leave the city. Neighbourhood sits beside St Anne’s Cathedral and has become one of Belfast’s most popular brunch spots. Expect speciality coffee, a regularly changing menu, and plenty of activity at weekends. Go early if you can, grab a window seat, and leave full before heading for the coast road. My personal recommendation is the Neighbourhood Bagel. It’s out of this world.
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2
Cushendall · Glens of Antrim
North Coffee Shop
6 Mill Street, Cushendall
About an hour north of Belfast on the coast road, Cushendall is one of those villages that earns a proper stop rather than a slow down. North Coffee Shop sits in the heart of the village on Mill Street and serves speciality coffee alongside freshly prepared breakfasts, lunches and homemade bakes. It’s a relaxed stop in the Glens of Antrim and a welcome break before continuing along the coast.
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3
Whitepark Bay · Causeway Coast
Bothy
Between Ballycastle and Bushmills
Another 45 minutes along the coast and you’re approaching Whitepark Bay. Bothy is a popular stop on the Causeway Coastal Route, serving speciality coffee, breakfast, brunch and homemade treats. Its location makes it an ideal place to pause before continuing towards some of Northern Ireland’s most famous coastal scenery.
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4
Portstewart · North Coast
Lost & Found
3 Berne Road, Portstewart seafront
Twenty minutes further west brings you to Portstewart. Lost & Found is a popular seafront café serving speciality coffee, pastries and light bites. With views across the Atlantic and a relaxed atmosphere, it’s an easy place to spend longer than planned before continuing your trip. Highly recommend picking up a cappuccino and enjoying the view.
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5
Derry/Londonderry · Strand Road
The Coffee Tree
49 Strand Road, Derry/Londonderry
End the day here. The Coffee Tree is a family-run café on Strand Road that has built a strong reputation with locals and visitors alike. Freshly prepared sandwiches, homemade soups and traditional baking make it a reliable choice after a day on the road. When you’re ready to stretch your legs, the city walls and the Bogside are a short drive across the river.
The road home
If you’ve made it this far, you’ve probably consumed enough coffee to power a small village and taken enough coastal photos to fill your social media feed for a month.
The best road trips in Northern Ireland are rarely about getting somewhere quickly. They are about the unexpected stops, the places you’d miss if you stayed on the motorway, and the cafés that become part of the day out.
Just remember that if your day out involves more than coffee and scenery, and you find yourself dealing with the aftermath of a road traffic accident, the team at Paschal O’Hare Solicitors is always happy to help. Hopefully, though, your biggest decision will be whether the next stop calls for another flat white or a tray bake.