The best restaurants in Donegal

01/05/2026: Absolutely perfect. Huge room. Very warm. Clean bedding. Great location just across from the beach. Friendly staff and nice atmosphere in the bar area too. I highly recommend! I would definitely return

17/04/2026: The meal was very good and plentiful.

07/09/2026: What a fantastic experience at the Rusty Mackerel! 🌊🍀 Nestled at the foot of the breathtaking Slieve League cliffs, this is the perfect place to soak in the beauty of Donegal while enjoying great food, drinks, and authentic Irish hospitality. 🏔️✨ One thing we really appreciated was the considerable amount of space available, along with a convenient car park 🚗, making it easy for visitors to stop by and relax without any hassle. For our mains, we ordered the Traditional Fish & Chips 🐟🍟, the Rusty Mackerel 🐠, the Fisherman's Pie 🥧, and the Chicken Burger 🍔. Every dish was delicious, generously portioned, and clearly made with quality ingredients. The seafood in particular was fresh and full of flavour. We also enjoyed a few pints of Guinness 🍺, poured to perfection with that authentic creamy taste you'd expect from a traditional Irish pub. A unique touch that stood out was their iconic practice of painting a design on top of the Guinness foam 🎨🍻, which added a bit of fun and character to the experience. It's great to see that they've also introduced accommodation options 🛏️ for visitors who want to stay longer and truly experience the traditional Irish pub culture. With live music happening every evening 🎶🎻, it creates a fantastic atmosphere where locals and tourists can come together, enjoy the craic, and make lasting memories. Excellent food, great pints, friendly service, live music, accommodation, ample parking, and an unbeatable location beneath Slieve League. The Rusty Mackerel is a must-visit when you're in Donegal. We'll definitely be back! 👏😊🇮🇪🍺

06/09/2026: We stayed at the Rusty Mackrel based on a recommendation and found it to be brilliant, the room was a bit small but fine for a short stay. We had dinner there and the food was top notch, freshly prepared and quality ingredients, our waitress Ava made sure my wife had the exact food she needed for her dietry requirements. Very impressive, I had the fish and chips which was delicious. We then had a few drinks in the bar and again the staff were friendly and professional. The prices were ok for a tourist destination and I will be returning as theres lots more to explore in ghe area. I have no real negatives to say but I personally recommend the Rusty Mackrel as a brilliant plase to experience

06/08/2026: Lovely friendly plave that allowed our dogs on the patio. Menu a bit limited sandwiches etc but still enough of choice to get something for all in our party to enjoy. ( we have fussy asd kids)

11/07/2026: Got lovely lunch there ,very friendly and good price

12/02/2026: Great restaurant with excellent food and service. Couldn't be more complementary about the staff here. They were so attentive and friendly. The food was of a high standard, with the goats cheese and scallops starters being a particular highlight for us. Whilst it is an expensive menu, it absolutely delivers.

06/01/2026: I recently attended a corporate event at Lough Eske, and it turned out to be a genuinely memorable day in a setting that feels both luxurious and warmly Irish 🌿✨. From the moment we arrived, the staff were welcoming and the venue had that calm, polished atmosphere that makes you feel like you’re in good hands. We were served a set menu, and the selection was surprisingly impressive for a large group. For starters, we had a choice between a classic vol-au-vent — buttery, flaky, and filled with a rich, savoury mix — or a cream of vegetable soup that was smooth, comforting, and perfect for the season. You could tell the kitchen puts real care into even the simplest dishes. For the mains, the options catered to every taste: Roast Hereford sirloin of Irish beef, tender and full of flavour Traditional turkey and ham, beautifully carved and festive Baked fillet of Atlantic salmon, cooked just right with a lovely freshness Although the service took a little longer than expected ⏳, especially between courses, it honestly felt worth the wait once the food arrived. Everything tasted freshly prepared rather than rushed, which I appreciated — quality over speed any day. Dessert was the highlight for many of us: the Best Ever Castle Festive Plate. It lived up to its name 🎄🍮 — a generous, indulgent selection that felt like a celebration on a plate. The perfect sweet ending. Outside, the car park was spacious, easy to navigate, and well laid out, with plenty of room even during a busy event. I also noticed the wheelchair-accessible spaces and pathways, which is always reassuring to see — accessibility done properly makes a big difference 🚗♿. Overall, Lough Eske delivered a polished, enjoyable experience with great food, a beautiful setting, and thoughtful facilities. Despite the slightly slower service, the quality made it worthwhile. I’d happily return for another event or even a relaxing meal — it’s the kind of place that leaves a lasting impression 🌟.

03/08/2026: Excellent food. This place is really good value for money. Highly recommend.

23/07/2026: We were visiting from California and really missing tofu (lol), so we were excited to find this place! We got the grilled tofu steak and the chow mein with tofu, and both were delicious. We appreciated that we were able to get the chow mein without egg. Such a great spot, it made our evening!

15/05/2026: Big pub Very cold pub, heating non existant Toilets need a really good clean. Staff all lovely, Guinness nowhere near as good as it used to be.

20/04/2026: Cool pub which has everything. Busy on the day but heard it was good Guinness there but was only average imo. Has a lot of little rooms so easy to find your own space.

24/08/2026: Great carryout. Quick service and food excellent!

23/07/2026: Food was excellent. Friendly staff and very professional.

18/07/2026: Incredible food and staff. We were staying in the area for a little over a week and after a having a poor experience at another restaurant, we came here, all 7 of us loved it. I had the blackened steak first night which I was so happy to see on the menu as I love a lot of seasoning on my steak at home and this meal was exceptional. We returned twice more during our stay and was tree same amazing standard every visit. Looking forward to coming back next year

13/07/2026: I had a couple steaks with garlic potatoes and chips yesterday and it was 10/10. Way better than steak dinners I've had at steak restaurants in the cities. Great pint of Guinness to . Thank you

18/07/2026: Imagine the first cafe in Letterkenny you walk into has gluten free cannolis!!! The guy behind the deli was so friendly and helpful too 💗

08/07/2026: If in Letterkenny and you fancy a great coffee call into the team at The Counter Deli. New Kid Coffee and a superb range of treats. After that you can browse the shop for some heart value wines and some cheese and more treats. A go to location

11/07/2026: The Inishowen Gateway is a very pleasant spot to stay, with friendly staff; comfortable and quiet rooms; an atmospheric bar; and a well appointed leisure centre, with indoor swimming pool and well equipped gym. The location is not too far from the town centre, the food is tasty, and the overall ambience is one of easy relaxation.

09/07/2026: It a great wee place to just relax and enjoy, great service good food and a pleasure to b there friendly staff clean premises great walks on the beaches and the park town is lively too.

15/07/2026: Tasty coffee and The flashing lights were really cool. There was a playful sense of fun in the decor and it was extremely large buttons that you should not press under any circumstances ever I like it. popular with the locals so they must be doing something right😉

11/06/2026: Nice coffee, pleasant staff, young 'vibe'. Comfortable, clean and fast service. Lots of well behaved young folk there - nice to see.

08/07/2026: Fantastic food.. great service.. would highly recommend if your passing through..

07/07/2026: Friendly staff...great tasty food will definitely be back

07/07/2026: Very nice pub. Probably the best in Ballyshannon that we saw. The pizzas from the back were very tasty too!

26/06/2026: Deliciously loaded pizza that doesn’t make you feel bloated! Best ever pizza tasted!! Well done!

20/04/2026: Fantastic food,,all the staff was very friendly and couldn't do enough for you,,will definitely be back

26/12/2025: Very nice place to eat, food 8/10, worth to stop 👍

17/08/2026: 2nd time this weekend ive eat in supermacs 1st in galway on the headboard road and the 2nd in donegal town and both times they for got my order an waited 25 minutes not impressed this time 1st time ive had any problem like this an for it to happen twice in 2 different stores on the same wk

16/08/2026: Waited 50 minutes for food and when we got it, it was cold.