North Coast

 One of my favourite areas to visit in Northern Ireland for a short break is the North Coast. It has everything you could possibly need; amazing restaurants, beautiful beaches and a great variety of activities. There are so many stunning places to explore and fantastic things to do it will be hard job to narrow down my top spots. 

My mum, me and my sister in Me and Mrs Jones

Lost and found eatery is a secret gem located close to Portstewart Strand and has the best brunch menu. The restaurants itself has a simplistic feel and overlooks the sea. Who wouldn't want to drink their morning coffee while enjoying the waves beat against the sand? This eatery is definitely a must visit for all the foodies out there, it is quite expensive but if you've tried the food you'll understand why. My personal favourite is the 'JackFruit Tacos' which are made up of pulled jackfruit, house salsa, lime aioli and  avocado on soft-shell tacos. It costs £7.50 and are filled with flavour. The L&F Benny Ba pictured below consists of two bacon rashers, house hollandaise, fried egg and rocket in a brioche bap for £7.50. 

JackFruit Tacos and L&F Benny Bap

After fuelling up for the day why not go for a swim in the sea. A visit to ocean warriors, located at the mouth of the strand and your ready to go. They can be found during the months of July and August and also on weekends from Easter to September. Don't worry they will cater for small groups outside of these allocated times upon request. This yellow van allows you to rent surfboards, bodyboards, paddle boards and even kayaks. For only £5 you can also rent a wetsuit for an hour enabling you to brave the cold water. 

Portstewart Strand by day

Portstewart Strand by night

A visit to road racing star Michael Dunlop's restaurant Villa is a must for dinner time. This modern, quirky restaurant is always buzzing with people and has great nightlife on the weekends too. The decor is stunning with each floor having a different theme. The ground floor is filled with plants and flowers, and the first floor 'ocean club' gives off a beach feel with surfboards and blue lights throughout. The restaurant is located on the ground floor and has a large menu with a variety of dishes and affordable prices. Starters range from £4-£7 and one of my favourite mains which is the peppered chicken stack is only £11 which includes tobacco onions, peppercorn sauce, champ and grilled chicken. The salt and chilli chips as a side are one of the best i've ever tasted. 

Starter: Loaded Nachos £5

Main: Sirloin steak with salt and chilli chips £19

Just a stones throw away from Villa is Me and Mrs Jones which is a luxurious 4 star boutique hotel. This hotel is located at the top of Portstewart's promenade so it is extremely accessible. The classic double room starts at £155 on weeknights and £240 on weekends, the price is reflected in the design as each room is uniquely designed for a stylish and chic feel. This hotel also has a beer garden which is very lively on the weekends, despite the cold weather they have a sheltered seating area with a fire and an abundance of comfy pillows so you can enjoy your evening in warmth. Every inch of the hotel is picture perfect, even the bathrooms have the perfect background for a mirror selfies. 

Me and Mrs Jones restaurant 

Urban Restaurant in Portrush is another well priced but tasty restaurant. As i'm sure you've guessed by the name this is a contemporary upbeat restaurant, but with a classy feel. This restaurant is relatively new as it only opened in December 2019. It is perfect for both lunch and dinner with a wide choice of dishes. Shown below is the 'honey chilli chicken noodles' which is £8 at lunch time and £10 in the evening, as well as seen in the background is the 'Irish fillet steak' with peppered sauce and mash potato, this meal is only available on the evening menu priced at £18.

Honey chilli chicken noodles