The best restaurants in Donegal

21/02/2026: Amazing Food , pub, service , atmosphere the list goes on. My favorite place to eat and drink in the country

16/12/2025: A really nice restaurant and bar. The food was amazing and the staff were both friendly and helpful.

20/03/2026: Great place for typical food. We had a delicious crab sandwich. Very friendly bartender 🦀

19/03/2026: Incredible place full of friendly people. The food was wonderful and the views to die for. A must see if you take a trip to Ireland!

07/02/2026: Lovely little restaurant. Nice food and staff

05/01/2026: Stopped here with my parents, wife, and 4 small children. We were immediately offered a highchair, and the clean bathrooms were equipped with a change table. The food and service were amazing. My 75 year old father claims the NQ burger was one of the best burgers he has ever tasted. My wife had the fish chowder, which she said was tasty, comforting, and delicious. I was recommended the naanwhich, and was certainly not disappointed. The children had fish and chips, sausage and chips, and the homemade soup, and all plates were left clean. I cannot recommend this place enough. Excellent all-around; we were supremely satisfied.

19/02/2026: A gem in the North West, had the pleasure of a wonderful meal this winter, a Michelin quality meal and service. They managed to deliver this with the usual friendliness and warmth of Donegal folks. Highly recommend.

16/02/2026: Amazing. Had the beef wellington served with potato pave, and added beef tallow cooked chips, mash pototoes. Eveything to perfection.

23/12/2025: Fantastic coffee, foot and service all located in a super scenic location!! Delicious mince pies also

29/11/2025: We really enjoyed our visit to the cafe. The food is great and the staff are very helpful and friendly. Definitely worth a visit if you're passing

31/01/2026: Best pub I’ve ever been to. Truly special atmosphere — warm, welcoming, and wonderfully authentic. We loved chatting with the patriarch of the bar and had such a great time talking with the locals as well — one of those places where conversation just naturally happens. A big thanks to Alan for the drinks — we’ll buy the rounds next time. The bartender, one of the owner’s daughters, was absolutely lovely, and sitting by the fire made the whole evening extra cozy. We’ll definitely be back — and next time we’re making sure it’s on a night when food is being served, because we hear it’s not to be missed.

08/01/2026: Nancy’s Bar in Ardara is the kind of establishment that captures the soul of Donegal the moment you step through its traditional red doors. This family-run gem manages to feel both like a step back in time and a masterclass in modern hospitality. ​The highlight of our visit was undoubtedly the fantastic full selection of oysters. Brimming with the fresh, saline bite of the Atlantic, they were expertly shucked and served with a precision that honors the quality of the local catch. Following this, the open prawn sandwich was a delight generous portions of succulent prawns resting on hearty bread paired perfectly with a bowl of seafood chowder. The chowder was velvety and packed with flavor, avoiding the common pitfall of being overly floury. ​ While the pub's popularity means it can get quite snug and bustling during peak hours potentially leading to a short wait for a table the atmosphere is so authentically warm that you hardly mind. The service is efficient yet retains that genuine Irish charm that makes you feel like a regular. Nancy’s isn't trying to be a polished gastro-pub; it’s a characterful, honest sanctuary for seafood lovers. It remains an essential stop for anyone traveling the Wild Atlantic Way.

19/02/2026: Great spot for great food in wonderful surroundings!

03/02/2026: Amazing. Me weans liked the food 🤤 Bacon was yummy 🤤 The machine that turned was even more yummy🤤↪️

15/03/2026: Had an excellent meal food was amazing staff so helpful and lovely! Will definatly come back

23/01/2026: Popped into Donegal for the first time after visiting Ireland many many times. Googled the best restaurants and this came up in top two and has an amazing website. Atmosphere is warm and friendly. Food for me was terrible. I have to walked into dives all throughout Ireland and had better seafood chowder and I've never once had dry dry brown bread anywhere in this beautiful country. The chowder was this weird super thick, grainy looking brush almost like a super thick stew with no broth. Just weird and not good. The small side salad I ordered was precut lettuce that looked like it was cut 5 days earlier all having slightly browned edges. Then the server, on a weekday in January, took forever to come back and ever check on us then being us our bill to pay. Acted like it was highest tourist season and they were less than half full. I've done two bad reviews on Google in my lifetime. But they need to be aware. One can never be served dry brown bread in Ireland

17/03/2026: Had an amazing short break, food was absolutely delicious, staff really friendly and helpful, beautiful part of the country even in winter, highly recommend it and will definitely be back. Thank you for making our stay special.

05/03/2026: Brilliant hotel. Not a great location. In the middle of nowhere.

18/01/2026: Went for dinner, it was excellent.

18/01/2026: Absolutely enjoyed our stay here. Food was excellent, and all the staff we met were pleasant, courteous and very helpful. Would highly recommend a stay here

03/02/2026: Ah lads… Hold up there. I know that we are blessed to live in a country where fresh produce is abundant, and good chefs are numerous… BUT… when you’re lucky enough to eat somewhere that has both of these things, the result is the culinary holy grail. Quay West in Donegal Town is most definitely one of these places… A beautifully diverse menu that showcases the best of Irish beef (Brazilian, Brashmillion…) delicate Italian pasta dishes, and even ventures into a wonderfully fragrant Indonesian curry. Being as close as they are to Killybegs, I couldn’t pass the freshness of the Kinnegar battered Haddock, with fresh tartar sauce and pea purée… Christ. That’s all. The fish must have hopped out of the water of his own accord, and got a taxi from the pier in Killybegs straight in to the Quay West kitchen, and begged to be battered… and being in Donegal, what better battering than a Kinnegar batter?!?! It was utter perfection, complimented by a perfectly tart tartar, and smooth pea which was definitely in several of the 40 shades of green. Also at our table were dishes of Chicken Parmigiana, curry, and the most incredible zesty crab and courgette linguine… I’m not sure what magic was worked to make this sooooo light, but Angels definitely wept. The delicate lightness of the lobster cream was unreal… if this was the base for a chowder or bisque, it would be unbeatable. If you happen to be lucky enough to be in Donegal at dinner time, do NOT pass this place by. The staff are friendly without being too overly attentive, and the view is nearly as perfect as the food. THIS Quay West, is much better than the other Key West, and doesn’t take as long to get to. 13/10 for fresh fishiness. Will dine again. Nomnomnom…

02/02/2026: Really great restaurant in Donegal Town. We were looked after from the moment we walked in the door and right throughout the evening. The menu was wide and varied with plenty of choice for everyone. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable and despite being busy, everything was under control and there was no long wait for our food. Hadn't eaten there before but will definitely be back. Really nice atmosphere. Thanks to Jo and team for a lovely evening.

03/01/2026: The menu was varied and unusual. The food was very very good. The staff were very pleasant, relaxed and charming. Good value as well

27/12/2025: Excellent dinner this evening. Incredible food and superb service, couldn’t fault a thing. Great menu and delicious vegetarian options.

17/02/2026: Went in for lunch, it stood out as very high quality and good value, will definetly be back

03/11/2025: Always a super meal and pint here - crab toes are a must!

18/01/2026: Fabulous food 🥘 great atmosphere with service with smile had a wonderful meal

10/01/2026: Beautiful food, and excellent staff. Would totally recommend.. five stars

01/01/2026: Breakfast on New Year's Day, wonderful experience

29/12/2025: Loved my vegan breakfast here! Generous portion (a massive plate of seasoned potato cubes!) w/ complimentary coffee, and they stock oat milk! Friendly service and a very warm welcome as you enter! Note: it is cash only, so keep this in mind if you plan a visit!