The 30 Best Restaurants in Holywood

“We had an absolutely amazing night at Cleaver celebrating 2 birthdays. From booking to paying the bill we were so well looked after by the staff, especially Matty. Can't recommend highly enough.”

“Had a lovely lunch at Linchpin over the weekend and was really impressed. The food was absolutely delicious - fresh, full of flavour and beautifully presented. The staff were friendly, creating a genuinely welcoming atmosphere. Service was efficient, and the whole place had a relaxed, chilled feeling that made it easy to settle in and enjoy the experience. Definitely one to return to!”

“What a lovely spot. On the bustling High Street but a hidden gem (well to us) How did we not know this was here when it's been open for 27 years! It was lunchtime so very quiet but we had such a nice time. Attentive and friendly service and the food! I had the confit duck salad with chocolate mousse for afters. One friend had scampi then doughnuts and the other had the burrata salad starter as a main. All so good! Beautiful room and a lovely outside deck too. We sat well behind lunch closing time (sorry!) but we weren't rushed and really had no idea we overstayed. We will be back!”

“Dropped in here on a Monday night as we were staying at a nearby hotel and wanted to eat locally. We werent really expecting much as we were just looking for a quick bite out but wow, does this place knows how to do food & service. From the minute we entered, the waiters were the most efficient I have ever experienced, two of them setting the table in unison, like clockwork! We never wanted for anything as they always seemed to be there just as you needed them, but in no way overbearing either. The food was excellent and one of the nicest Indians I have had in a long time. Next time we head up to Belfast we will certainly pay a visit here.”

“The place is always busy which says a lot. It’s bijou and quirky. The staff are lovely - just folk trying to do honest work to make a living. The food is really flavoursome, the fish always meaty & fresh. There’s a wide choice in the menu with plenty of sides or small starters / you decide. They’re not licensed but you can byob & there’s a corkage charge dependant on wine/spirits/beer. They will provide glassware. The place is always warm and it’s homely & intimate. Recommended without a doubt.”

“Some amazingly delicious food we got to taste here. I feel i have tasted the best Indian food until now in northern ireland. Very Authentic experience. A must must must try for everyone. Bombay chowpati chat♥️ Mango Lassi. Paneer Nawabi tikka..♥️♥️ Paneer garlic chili And garlic naan”

“Best pizza in Co Down!! We live in Ards and always drive up to Holywood specifically to get pizza here. Excellent value for money, the base is always crisp, sauce right out to the edges (no thick, dry crusts), every topping we could want. Worth going just for the garlic mayo, unreal!! Staff also lovely and so helpful. Tonight we ordered for collection and our car broke down on the way up and the girl (sorry didn’t catch her name) immediately offered to delay our order and told us to call when we were able to make it up. Unfortunately the car was unable to be recovered and she offered to deliver the pizza instead. Her kindness was so appreciated in the circumstances. We’ll be back up to reorder tomorrow!”

“Really hard to beat. Great food fantastic portion sizes and very reasonable on the pocket”

“So delicious! We had cod, chicken, sausages and haddock and all were really good. Tasted fresh. The batter was great. Portions size was very generous. Can't wait to go back.”

“A real hidden gem, just 10 mins on the train out of Belfast. The service was brilliant, really knowledgeable without being intimidating or pushy, and instead helped us order without overdoing it. The wine selection by the glass was great, and good value too, again, great recommendations. The food is the real star of the show, we went for the lightly grilled oysters, the jambons (which really feel like one of those dishes you’ll be craving every few days after), the moreish artichokes, steak tartare Caesar salad which was great fun, skate wing and their signature crispy potatoes. The food comes out when it’s ready in a really clever order, no rushing. The Veda treacle tart was a standout for dessert, and ask for a ‘Belfast coffee’ - like an espresso martini but nicer. By no means cheap, but quality of ingredients and the vibes were brilliant. We’ll be back again!”

“Absolutely superb. Definitely top shelf. Michelin Inspectors on the way”

“An excellent evening celebrating 4 family birthdays. The food was fabulous, Andy and the staff were great and couldn't do enough. A perfect evening with lovely memories made!”

“Really good, very affordable food. Staff are nice, service is quick. No complaints.”

“First visited this restaurant about a year ago and have been a number of times since despite it being quite a distance from where we live. We visited again tonight and once again it was excellent. Booked table online, which is very handy. Waiting staff are very friendly and efficient. Drinks arrived quickly and glasses were sparkling clean. I had the Nasi Lemak which was really delicious served with coconut rice. My partner had beef curry which he said was one of the best he's had. Really worth a visit and we'll definitely be back soon.”

“Good lunch, good craic, good price, good food, good buy”

“Great selection of fish. I had the hake supper, and my partner had a chicken burger (there is your classic cod/haddock but also sole and pollock - hard to find elsewhere). Both used quality ingredients, and they were succulent and tasty. Would highly recommend.”

“Wonderful pub, excellent food and service at a very good price. Loved the entertain too. A good night out”

“Dog friendly. Went for a evening meal and drinks with my partner and our dog. Great service from the start. Had some small plates between us and shared the special which was all brilliant. Curtis even went the extra mile and got my fiancée some olives when she chanced her arm after seeing they weren't on the menu. All in all a great night, cocktails were fantastic and would definitely go back!”

“We had the chowder and the spicy peanut eggs and the food was so delicious. The cafe is cute and cozy.”

“Called into the Holywood branch for a quick lunch on a Tuesday about 12:30pm. Staff were very attentive and helpful. I ordered a salad + margarita pizza, along with dough balls, dough sticks + kids margarita pizza. A few of the dough balls were burnt but the rest of food was delicious. Will definitely be back.”

“Great breakfast with a proper cup of tea. Service was great fast, polite and with a smile.”

“Fab fab fab. I hired the room upstairs for a baby shower and the staff couldn’t have been more helpful! Shout out to Laura who was lovely and even made the mum to be a fantastic mocktail. Food was great and it was the perfect event space.”

“Brilliant coffee shop, staff are lovely, I'd strongly recommend the chicken flatbread ☺️”

“Sandwiches are lovely. The Yard was delicious and the tray bake was spot on. Nice wee spot.”

“Fantastic old school traditional pub. The staff were very friendly and attentive. Over the four nights we used here the crowd were very civilized, no shouting or swearing. The Guinness is top quality and up there with the best in Belfast.”

“This is one of the best places to eat!! Staff are very pleasant and extremely friendly. This is also a kebab shop that will accommodate all your needs. Food fresh and delicious always the same quality. Highly recommend!!”

“My sister-in-law and I treated our 11 year old niece to a birthday lunch followed by a spa treatment and we had a wonderful meal. The portions were perfectly sized and the food delicious. The kids menu was great with our niece opting for the sausage and mash. The staff were friendly and helpful and, although we didn’t have one with us, it was wonderful to see dogs were allowed into the bar. Will definitely be back!”

“Food was lovely staff lovely friendly was a bit busy they had to turn people away which says a lot about how good the food and staff are. Food fresh warm place was clean tidy and staff amazing”