EATING & DRINKING
Self-Catering
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Lough Mardal Lodge is self-catering. We offer Breakfast packs, our own organic Dexter Beefburger packs and Pizza DIY packs which can be selected as an Optional Extra when booking. There is a large fully-equipped kitchen for guests and everyone has their own allocated cupboard and fridge space to store food supplies. There are Supervalue, Aldi & Lidl supermarkets in Donegal town (15 min drive) and there is a small local shop for basic supplies in Ballintra, less than a 10 minute drive.
The Lodge offers plenty of dining space for guests and there is also a BBQ area and Pizza Oven. Guests are more than welcome to catch their own dinner, there are Pike and Perch in both lakes! And for those who would like to check out some good local eating and drinking spots, below are some good places to start.
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Bars & Restaurants
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Whoriskeys Bar & Music Lounge - Cashelard, 9km
The local pub and your best closest option. Midweek they do super pizzas and fish 'n' chips but at weekends there is an extensive menu of very good pub food with a big screen for sports events and occasional live music. Their slow-braised steak sandwich with crispy fried onions and pepper sauce is exceedingly good! They also offer a good take-out menu.
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Smuggler's Creek - Rossnowlagh, 13km (closed midweek in off-peak months)
Bar & Restaurant. Good seafood and grills. Unbeatable setting positioned high up on a clifftop with breath-taking view of Rossnowlagh beach - wonderful spot to watch the sun set. Reserving a table is recommended during the busy summer months.
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Creevy Pier, Creevy, 17km
The restaurant at Creevy Pier Hotel is another wonderful spot on a sunny day with very good food, particularly great seafood. Set on charming Creevy Pier you can also enjoy a quick dip in the sea whilst there. There is a lovely walk along the clifftops and the surrounding landscape is as picturesque as Donegal gets. Reserving a table is recommended during the busy summer months.
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Chandpur Indian Restaurant - Donegal Town, 18km
Multi award-winning Indian restaurant in Donegal Town - absolutely delicious Indian food for eat-in or collection.
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The Harbour Restaurant, Donegal Town, 18km. Award-winning seafood restaurant - but not exclusively seafood
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Quay West - Donegal Town, 18km
Top seafood award-winning restaurant in Donegal Town overlooking Donegal Bay
The Courthouse - Kinlough, 23km
Excellent Italian. A deliciously authentic Mediterranean dining experience. Excellent Italian. Award-winning and recommended by Georgina Cambell, McKenna's Guides & Bridgestone Guides.
Biddy O'Barnes - Barnesmore Gap, 28km
A bit further afield (but still only a 25min drive) and a top recommendation - nestled picturesquely between the dramatic Bluestack mountains in the Barnesmore Gap Biddy's do top notch food and claim to pour the best pint of Guinness in Donegal! They also have a large beer garden.
Cafes
Blas - Donegal Town, 18km
A great large family run cafe serving the finest coffee and homemade cooked food daily - breakfasts & lunch and brunch on Sundays. The finest ingredients are sourced locally using local traders. Delicious homemade scones & jam and their pancakes and french toast breakfasts are to die-for!
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The Weaver's Loft - Magees, Donegal Town, 18km
The Weavers Loft Cafe is situated upstairs in Magees. A good offering of breakfast, lunch, desserts and baking - all freshly prepared in-house. If you get your timing right you can catch a demonstration of their traditional handloom.
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Blueberry Cafe - Donegal Town, 18km
Busy family-friendly cafe beside Donegal Castle in Donegal Town centre
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Aroma Cafe - Donegal Craft Village, 16km
An intimate little cafe just outside Donegal Town, everything is baked daily on the premises. Handy coffee-stop while browsing the craft village wares.
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Salthill Cabin, Mountcharles Pier, 27km
A quirky pier-side cafe the kids will love. Delicious treats, freshly made crepes and ice-cream, sea air in the lungs and to top it all a petting zoo around the back.
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Doggie-friendly dining options are listed at the Doggie Dining Club There's a very small subscription fee but for that you get access to an extensive listing of dog-friendly restaurants & cafes around the country, including Donegal.