Quick info
About Harbour Lights Cafe
Harbour Lights Cafe is a cafe in Ballymena at 11 Harbour Rd, on the Causeway Coastal route, with rooftop views over the harbour. Breakfast centres on the fry, and complimentary tea or coffee comes with it. Toasties and a steak sandwich with garlic sauce are also on the menu. Payment is cash only, so guests should bring pounds, and an ATM stands across the street. Dogs are welcome at the cafe, so visitors can bring their own along.
Good to know
- ParkingFree street parking · Parking
- Good for kidsGood for kids · High chairs · Kids' menu
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Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention harbour and rooftop views, cash only payment, fry with complimentary tea and steak sandwich with garlic sauce.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention harbour and rooftop views, cash only payment, fry with complimentary tea and steak sandwich with garlic sauce.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers most often praise the harbour view alongside home cooked food, with the fry singled out as the best along the coast and served with complimentary tea or coffee. The steak sandwich comes up for its garlic sauce, which one diner says should be bottled and sold in stores. Another mentions the toasties, and another a proper pot of tea. Portions are described as generous and prices as reasonable, and several call the welcome lovely and friendly. Service is the recurring complaint, though. A few describe waitresses with long faces early in the day, and one party felt unwelcome as tourists. Another group was seated without menus until a staff member asked about them some minutes later. One reviewer liked the food but found the coffee terrible, and another was disappointed that the fish had run out. Even so, one diner who ordered off menu said nothing was a problem.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers most often praise the harbour view alongside home cooked food, with the fry singled out as the best along the coast and served with complimentary tea or coffee. The steak sandwich comes up for its garlic sauce, which one diner says should be bottled and sold in stores. Another mentions the toasties, and another a proper pot of tea. Portions are described as generous and prices as reasonable, and several call the welcome lovely and friendly. Service is the recurring complaint, though. A few describe waitresses with long faces early in the day, and one party felt unwelcome as tourists. Another group was seated without menus until a staff member asked about them some minutes later. One reviewer liked the food but found the coffee terrible, and another was disappointed that the fish had run out. Even so, one diner who ordered off menu said nothing was a problem.
Featured reviews
- Gareth Franklin
“Food was really nice - coffee was terrible though. We weren't given menus when we went in - just told where to sit, then about five minutes later, a staff member asked if we had menus. Luckily, we knew what we wanted anyway. Service wasn't rude, but it wasn't overly nice either.”
- KEVIN NORONHA
“The food and the view were great, but the service was mediocre. I’m not sure if our waitress was having a tiring day or if she simply wasn’t fond of tourists, but unfortunately, we didn’t feel very welcomed. That said, there was another waitress who was very kind and friendly. I hope the staff can be a little more welcoming to all guests, as the food and atmosphere were otherwise lovely.** Cash only cafe**”
- Ellen Butler
“Maybe it was too early but waitresses faces were long .. ordered a filled soda . Taste was there but I’d of like a soft egg and my soda fried on both sides - again .. maybe too early for them”
- JD
“Nice little restaurant with beautiful views of the harbour . Decent grub, very reasonable prices and friendly service. They were out of fish , which was disappointing as im sure it would have been very good & they closed at 3pm ? I guess they are quiet at that time of the day in April time . Will definitely return , its a nice wee place.”
- shane sands
“Fantastic breakfast in one of the most beautiful places on the coast road”
Hours
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Highlights
- Great coffee
- Great tea selection
- Popular for breakfast
- Popular for lunch
- Popular for solo dining
- Healthy options
Amenities
- Free street parking
- Outdoor seating
- Dogs allowed outside
- Dine-in
- Good for kids
- Cozy
Show more amenities
- Onsite services
- Coffee
- Healthy options
- Quick bite
- Solo dining
- Restroom
- Dining options· 5
- Breakfast
- Brunch
- Lunch
- Seating
- Table service
- Highlights· 1
- Great tea selection
- Crowd· 2
- Groups
- Tourists
- Parking· 1
- Parking
- Atmosphere· 1
- Casual
- Family-friendly· 2
- High chairs
- Kids' menu
Location
Cafes near Harbour Lights Cafe
- Carnfunnock Cafe4.6249.1 mi away
freshly baked scones, coffee drinks, gluten free options
| Place | Rating | Distance | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harbour Lights CafeOutdoor seating | 4.5321 | — | harbour and rooftop views, cash only payment, fry with complimentary tea |
| Carnfunnock Cafe | 4.624 | 9.1 mi away | freshly baked scones, coffee drinks, gluten free options |
The 1 nearest cafes by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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