I am very excited about this venture in Holywood. Finally Holywood gets something more than a…read morecoffee shop, a lovely contemporary but pretty place to hang out for some delicious treats. I feel that it may be a type of Meil et Moi goes to Holywood Patisserie, coffee house & Eatery. It will serve fine coffees with small sweet bites of patisseries, which enhance the flavour of the coffee. The launch evening gave people a taster of some of the fine food that it will be serving. There were some tasty goats cheese, salmon and cucumber canapes and some charcuterie and tapanades which give a taster of the savoury foods in store. We were also treated to some prosecco follwed by a sample of the patisseries i.e Black fruit domes, Raspberry fruit domes, macaroons, mini cheescakes and a good selection of others. We were able to sneak away with some small rhubarb and apple crumble pies, cherry tarts and other little treats to try. They were delicious. I can't wait to call into the Living Room for lunch or afternoon coffee. Staff were all very friendly and the decor was classy, but relaxed and comfortable.

Had a delightful night at The Living Room for Culture Night in Holywood. Wonderful Live Music from…read morea very talented jazz singer. Food was fantastic and served without fault. The young girl who served our party was delightful, very well presented and a good knowledge of the coffee. The young chap behind the counter has a smile that would please the unhappiest of person, a joy to watch. Although the establishment was very busy, this did not effect the quality of service. Fast and efficient. The manager even took the time to explain the whole concept of the Living Room and you really understand where they are coming from. Low tables are my only concern and as a larger man, It can pose a slight issue. I pointed this out to the manager and he explained why they did it that way and the plans going forward. He had so much passion about this business I was surprised to discover that he did not own the business himself. I wish him and all his staff every success but, honestly, with the direction and service they give, it will have no problems on that front.

All home baked food and treats. Staff are so friendly…read more Opens one Saturday a month from 10am to 4pm during North Down Craft Collective fair. Second Sat of month. Their ginger scones are lovely. Soft yet crunchy. Also their sandwiches and soups are lush. The tea room is in a wee room at the back of the hall. Not many seats. Parking can be difficult outside. Park across the street in the church.

I still love the Coffee Yard and for the most part the review I wrote for it a good while ago is…read morestill true, coffee, food, service, all great (if fractionally over the odds pricing.. but the quality is there to justify it). The only reason I'm writing this and loosing 2 stars, is because since COVID the upstairs part of the Yard has not reopened, it seems to have been given over to the adjoined art gallery, meaning that the yard itself gas been given over to just being the (slightly dark) narrow cramped feeling bit at the back of the premises which means its a lot less nice to sit in. The upstairs was so much nicer, more natural light, space, a fire in winter and often live background music, so wonderful. So... I really hope to be coming back in the future when I realise the upstairs is open again and stick this back up to 5 stars!!!!

Ladies who lunch everywhere you look! This Holywood High Street café seems to attract high-class…read moreHolywood residents and for good reason. The food is out of this world and the ambiance is even better. Joint on to an art gallery the Yard really is a masterpiece of relaxation. One thing that sets the Yard apart from the huge amount of competition in Holywood is the staff. Firstly there's always an abundance of them and secondly they are always extremely informative and helpful. Back to the all important food - Don't expect to get a huge feed at the Yard, it really is a café in its traditional sense. They sell tray-bakes, pastries, French toast and deserts as well as stocking local teas and coffee. There's a car park out the back of the Yard and you can use the back entrance if you're parked here.

I call in here on a fairly regular basis, at least once or twice a week…read more it will be familiar to anyone who has been in a chain coffee place in terms of coffee, food offerings and general feel, and of course to anyone who has been in any Nero before. The staff here tend to be good and there is a great consistency to the service so it's always a pleasure. The only drawback is there is a tendency for people in here to take up a seat before actually going to the counter and getting their coffee/food so there are times when after walking away with your order at busy times you might be lucky to get a seat with it !

staff all friendly and polite coffee always a good standard can be very busy at times not able to…read moreget a table, I usually just get a take away cup while on a walk with the dog. dog friendly place and would recommend if in Holywood to stop in a get a cup

I know it hasn't been long since I completed my first review on Eighty One but I feel it's due an…read moreupdate as I have now eaten there. On a sunny Holywood day you'll find it tough to get a seat outside and this was the case today. Instead of sitting outside we thought that we would visit the most airy bright café available and Eighty One came up trumps. Seated at a high table we were presented with the brunch/breakfast menu - the menu itself was full of variety - I opted for the Eggs Benedict with an Irish twist. This Irish twist was instead of a muffin the perfectly poached eggs were delicately placed on a piece of soda bread. The meal was small but perfectly formed - a perfect brunch treat. At £6.95 this was maybe a little bit steep especially in competitive Holywood. The serving staff were great - as soon as we entered we were given a choice of tables and our orders were taken promptly. One thing to note if you're a mid morning drinker they serve Prosecco with floating raspberry and breakfast martinis.

Tapas and acoustic tunes, what more could you want on a Friday evening after a long weeks work?…read more EightyOne is a chic, classy establishment in the heart of Holywood. With a relaxed atmosphere and great staff you feel at ease as soon as you walk in the door. For £14 you can have 3 tapas plates and a carfe of wine! We went for the amazing sweet potato plate, the king prawns and the chorizo plates. Being particularly hungry we also added the chilli popcorn, the fresh bread and oils. As far as Tapas goes this incredible both in terms of the deal and the taste. Bravo EightyOne! We will be back to sample more of your tapas delights!

I find fish cafe variable on how they cook food. Half chance it's under cooked half chance it's…read moreburnt. Very greasy, even their gravy looks and tastes greasy. Anytime I've visited it's run by teenagers with an older person standing doing nothing. Orders always wrong, or not wrapped properly and spilt everywhere. It's a shame as it's the only sit in chippy on the high street.

I was drawn in by the little ad in the window for ice cream in an oyster - some of you younger folk…read moremight not know what that even means but it takes me right back to my childhood when the ice cream man used to serve them from his van. I decided to opt for a meal deal and so I had lunchtime fish and chips with bread and butter and an oyster for dessert - very greedy I know. The fish and chips were really nice, chunky, tasty and fresh and the oyster shaped wafer filled with ice cream was a delight though nothing can compete with my memories. This is a family run business right in the middle of Holywood - it is clean and attractive looking from the outside and also has seating for 45 people upstairs. A great wee place to dine in or take away and if you grab a meal deal you will have plenty of change from a tenner.

I would give 5 stars for the cinnamon scone. But that doesn't reflect the rest of the menu…read more The food is nice enough. Though if I was in Holywood I would eat in the Yard then go to Bay Tree for a scone. Which I did today. Lol Good to see all the evening events etc. Lots of fish on the menu. Not quite to my taste buds.

Anyone who's anyone has been to The Bay Tree, so it would seem. Apart from me, that is (well, until…read moretoday). Having heard rave reviews from friends ("You should sooooo go to The Bay Tree, they do beaut cinnamon scones") and my mum ("Aww, yes, that's where Liz and I used to go for our cinnamon scones), it seemed the whole blinkin' world loved this eatery, and its infamous cinnamon scones. Not one to follow the herd (baaa), I decided to go and try The Bay Tree out for myself. I know, I know...the temptation was just too great. I popped in with my sister earlier today, at 1:30, and the place was craaaaazy busy. We almost didn't get a seat, though a kind Englishman offered us his table as he and his wife were just about to leave, but we spotted one just in the nick of time. It wasn't a great location, situated right beside the kitchen door, at the side of a busy corridor, but the place was fairly noisy anyway so I guess it didn't make too much of a difference. One glance at the menus filled me with dismay...there wasn't really that much choice. Oh deary. My sister and I eventually settled on a two variations of the same panini, which turned out to be pretty delish (the red onion was beautiful), and was devoured rather quickly, with a cute little side salad. Our order had to be double checked, as there seemed to be some confusion in the kitchen, but other than that, the dining experience went rather smoothly. The staff were very agreeable, and the prices weren't too bad - £5.50 each for the paninis. The variety of drinks and desserts / sweets was a good deal better than the lunch choice, with everything you could think of from Chinese beer to Armagh Apple Juice. Neither my sister or I were feeling particularly adventurous, so settled for tap water, and the paninis were so filling that no dessert was required. A feeling of guilt shot right through me as we left, realising that neither of us had eaten a cinnamon scone. Oh darn. And seeing as neither of us are really scone fans, this made the situation slightly awkward. A sudden thought occurred to me, and I decided that we should pop into the 'Go' part of the Bay Tree (located just across the courtyard) and buy one to take home for my mum. As the waitress opened a large drawer full of the delectable baked goods, I noticed that these beasts weren't so much scones as humongous shiny pastries. Nice. Went down a treat by the way ("You know these scones are world-famous?!"). Ok, mum, whatever you say.

I have never sat in and eaten at Camphill so unfortunately I can not comment on the food their café…read moreproduces. One thing I do know is that Holywood is full of competing Café's so Camphill must be doing something right to have stood the test of time. I go to Camphill if I am looking for special ingredients for a meal. Their organic selection is second to none. If you are in to specialty food or have specific dietary requirements then pay Camphill a visit. If they haven't got what you're looking for in stock they will certainly tell you where you can source it. The staff are knowledgeable about all things organic. There's a real rustic feel about the store, spuds are freshly picked and still muddy and carrots still have their greenery sprouting from the top. You feel like you're shopping directly from the farm - no packaging and no middleman means you're getting the best local produce available.

I just noticed that Robbie B is raving about Camphill in Holywood and I agree with a lot of what he…read moresays. The staff are nice and it is sunny in Holywood (sometimes!) The cafe is nice and charitable and they do sell organic and vegetarian foods - all things I love but I have one complaint that is maybe very personal. When I was a child I got nits! dirty little head lice nesting down in my barnet and I remember my mum took me to a health food store to buy some natural remedy for head lice. All I remember from that trip was the overwhelming smell of herbs and spices and homeopathic remedies - that smell still makes me gag. That is the smell you have to sit in when you eat in this cafe. I sound terrible but that is my personal experience - I walked in looking for a diet coke, as soon as I spotted the fridge stocked with organic Scottish milkshakes and pure organic grape juice I knew i was in the wrong place. I did love the authentic old boxes inside which prunes and dates and walnuts are stored, there is a nice feeling to the place and it obviously goes down well with the local set as the place was heaving - unfortunately because of that dreadful smell I was too.

This was the first cupcake stall that I noticed in the bustling St George's Market a few years ago…read more This is certainly not a place to visit if you're worried about an expanding waistline or are on Atkins. A small modest cupcake stall that has a multitude of sugary delights. The last time I was there with a few people we tried the Oreo cupcake which is based on and fashioned like an Oreo biscuity. Crumbling soft butter laden sponge with a rich dark chocolate bitterness sandwiched between a layer creamy butter filling. Superbly textured, rich and divine. The company does a comprehensive range of cupcakes in small bitesizes and standard. They also provide catered services for events. I've provided the full list available below. The range is extensive and adventurous. You won't be disappointed with the range available. I would say that you do pay for the privilege of home-made quality baking but then again if you are going to treat yourself it might as well be something of the utmost quality. Spiced Carrot Cake: Tender, delicately spiced carrot cake with golden raisins. Red Velvet: Luscious red vanilla sponge with a dash of cocoa and vanilla frosting. Orange Blossom & Vanilla: Zesty, melt-in-your-mouth orange blossom sponge with vanilla frosting. Chocolate Guinness: Creme fraiche and Guinness give this rich chocolate sponge an edgy finish. Reese's Peanut Butter: The most sumptuous brownie sponge with a shot of peanut butter inside. Blueberries & Cream: Summery sponge with gushy bits of blueberry oozing everywhere. Chili Chocolate: Subtle but scrumptuous chocolate sponge infused with homemade chili and a touch of cayenne. Chocolate & Orange: An irresistible combination of sultry orange and rich chocolate milk. Brownies & Cream: Swiss Meringue Buttercream frosting on our favorite fluffy brownie sponge. Green Tea: Delicious and rare Japanese macha tea folded into a soft sponge. Chocolate & Honeycomb: Dark chocolate sponge with honey cream frosting. Chocolate & Peppermint: Chocolate sponge with mint cream frosting and chocolate chips. Turkish Delight: Turkish delight chocolate bar folded into chocolate sponge, with rose frosting. Strawberry Cheesecake: Fresh strawberry sponge with rich vanilla cream cheese frosting and a sprinkling of biscuit. Lemon Drizzle: Zingaling lemon sponge with a double topping of crisp lemon and sugar topping, and lemony frosting. Raspberry & Lemon: Raspberry and lemon cake, vanilla frosting. Simple and delicious. Chocolate Devil's Food: An American classic; hunky cocoa sponge with cocoa and cream cheese frosting

Before writing this review, I have to attach a bit of a bias warning to it as Marshmallow Grove…read moreCupcakes is run by a good friend of mine. But being the foodie that I am, my stomach does not discriminate; it knows what it likes and what it dislikes. And it LOVES Marshmallow Grove Cupcakes. If I had one last meal to choose from, it would be Sarah's (the owner) Reese's Pieces Cupcake Special..anyways, enough drooling. These have to be the fluffiest, lightest cupcakes I've ever tasted. Along with the creamy icing, they just melt in your mouth and you just want to wait 15 seconds longer than you should before chewing so that you can savour the taste. I would order a batch of Marshmallow's cupcakes every week if my thighs would let me. As well as being on sale at the Marshmallow Grove stall every Saturday, you can also find MG cupcakes in venues across the city such as Belfast Coffee and Co on Royal Avenue. Now: go, buy, eat and savour.

Try the Florentines!!! Amazing! I use this and the Lisburn…read moreroad knotts! Both are great but I much prefer the Lisburn road. There is a huge selection of treats like paradise buns, raspberry tarts and lots of traybakes. They make fresh scones, sodas, breads and sausage rolls everyday along with takeaway lunches like salmon on weathen and salad. Huge slices of pavlova and cheesecakes. The carrot cake is delish!! The staff are really lovely and the manager is particularly good and quite funny! Well worth a visit!

I've been visiting Knotts Holywood branch for years but I thought it was time to put pen to paper…read moreor fingers to keys to express my affection for the place. The Knotts in Holywood is tiny in comparison to the larger Newtownards store but it still pack a punch. Each day the shop is stocked with fresh bakery items, sandwiches and salads. One piece of advice I would give is that if you are wanting to get your lunch from Knotts go as early as possible as they stock sells quickly and once it's gone it's gone. For instance on my latest visit they only had 2 salads remaining. This may be due to how cheap they are - a salad box will only set you back £3.95. The food itself is excellent - the salad boxes are filling, fresh and healthy and the buns are moreish and unhealthy which is a deadly but irresistible combination. They also make cakes to order so next time you have a celebration think of Knotts before you rush out to the supermarket. Last but not least the staff are top notch - they always greet you with a smile and talk you through the daily specials.