Anyone travelling to the North Coast should most definitely be stopping off in Friel’s Historic Bar and Restaurant. And to be fair, if you’re not travelling to the North Coast, this is a pub and restaurant worth travelling to for a real sense of hospitality and authenticity.
This is a special place and is a must stop destination for everyone. It’s fantastic inside and has an extensive courtyard which is full of nooks and crannies.
This family friendly bar and restaurant, which is popular with locals and tourists, is run by the fourth generation Friel family. It’s a bar which has been in the family name for over one hundred years. It’s interior and exterior shows how much the Friel family care about history and heritage, while keeping customers happy with its local approach to food and drink.
Nestled on a corner on the main A29 route to the North Coast, you will find yourself 30 minutes away from the Giant’s Causeway, The Old Bushmills Distillery, the Dark Hedges and you’re only 15 minutes away form the popular Seamus Heaney Visitor’s Centre.
In the public bar you will get a real feel of the old world, with pictures and memorabilia of bygone times and outside you will see the heritage of this place dating back to the Famine in Ireland.
As soon as you enter you get a great Irish welcome from the staff who are so friendly and are there to look after you.
It is an historic listed building established in 1846 and was formally a coach house, post office and doctor’s surgery in its early years. It also was used as a soup kitchen during the famine of the 1840s.
And now, 165 years later, it serves traditionally high quality cuisine with a modern twist.
The style of food is an around the world inspired cuisine also offering traditional old time favourite dishes. You are in for a real treat with dishes on the menu such as Honey Chilli Chicken on a bed of Malaysian Alaskan noodles, Chicken Tagliatelle and home made Hoi Sin Duck Spring Rolls.
More traditional dishes include Roasted Belly of Pork, Ballymoney Gammon and unique Chicken Maryland with a modern twist. All dishes are freshly prepared daily from homemade pate, soups, sauces through to the speciality dishes.
With a host of accolades lining the walls, the pub is a proud ‘Taste of Ulster’ member. The kitchen team always try to source, use and promote the best Northern Ireland produce while giving a genuine Irish dining experience.
This is a high quality dinning experience in a traditional family run establishment. The Friel’s reputation is very valuable as the whole team, from bar staff, front of house staff and kitchen staff, strive to provide the best in service with warm hospitality.
The traditional four course Sunday Lunch Menu is very popular with families, locals and passing trade and is a menu which changes every few weeks to give customers variety and choice.
On the recent success of winning Tourist Pub of the Year, the team attended the Holiday World Show in Belfast and Dublin.
We are very proud to welcome Friel’s Historic Bar and Restaurant as a Live It Experience It member.
Live It Experience It’ is a group of journalists and travel writers who tell the story of our members. We work collaboratively with our members, which are tourism businesses, to promote Northern Ireland through water, air and land based activities, food and drink and great places to stay. Together we let our visitors know of all of the amazing things Northern Ireland has to offer. To become a member business in of ‘Live It Experience It’ call our office on 028 3756 8436 or please submit your information through our online form. T&Cs apply – Sign Up Here Let us tell your story! Live It Experience It is the NW200 tourism partner for 2018.
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