The "Foodie"

You're a lover of all things food & drink, whether thats dining in a 5* restaurant, enjoying some quality street food or savouring a great cup of coffee.

This itinerary is sure to satisfy your culinary needs, because here in Mid & East Antrim we have some great places to dine out, and food & drink experiences that we're sure you'll come back for again! 

Day 1

Arrive at Accommodation and Let The Good Times Be Gin

An ideal base to call home during your Foodie tour of Mid & East Antrim is Galgorm Resort. Not only does it have a selection of renowned restaurants (which we'll come to later) but it provides the perfect start to your visit - gin tasting! So arrive late afternoon, drop your bags off and head to the Gin Library where you'll be guided through a selection of gins by the Gin Bar Manager (Thurs - Sun at 6:30pm). You can also customise your drinks by adding garnishes from a selection of ingerdients from the garnish board. We can't think of a better way to kick off your weekend!

Dinner in Style at Galgorm

After your gin tasting experience, you'll want somewhere close by for dinner, so staying with Galgorm Resort you'll find a selection of fabulous restaurants to enjoy. Try Gillies Grill for classic brasserie dishes, a grill selection and Asian-inspired creations with a satisfying accompanying wine list. Encompassing all menus is a commitment to using the freshest of ingredients and the very best local Antrim produce. Or you could choose Castle Kitchen & Bar, with menus that fuse an eclectic mix with modern dining twists, daily chef specials and house-made desserts. Here you'll discover a unique dining experience set to ignite your taste buds, and an emphasis on carefully sourced local prime meat cuts and steaks, chargrilled to perfection over a charcoal flame. 

Savour the luxurious surroundings of Galgorm on your first night and get a good nights sleep before your next day of delicious discoveries...

Day 2

A Taste of Days Gone By - Soda Bread at Arthur Cottage

After a hearty breakfast, head to Arhtur Cottage (just a few minutes drive from Galgorm) for a dining experience with a difference! Arthur Cottage is the ancestral home of the 21st President of the United States of America, Chester Alan Arthur, and today welcomes visitors to experience what life was back in the late 18th Century - including the food! Soda bread and potato bread will be prepared and cooked just for you on the griddle, over the original open fire. Try some of the jams made using seasonal produce from the garden, and even home-made punch which was enjoyed in days gone by. It's a unique addition to your trip, and the foodie in you will appreicate the fascinating contrast with the other modern dining experiences.

Time for a Chocolate Fix at Chocoa Couture 

While you're in the Ballymena area, no true foodie would pass on the opportunity to visit Chocoa Couture, where you'll find luxury desserts, handmade chocolates and a host of other sweet treats in the beautiful setting of an old bank building. Why not pre-book a coffee and chocolate tasting experience where you're given a speciality coffee alongside a chocolatier's creation? 

Whiskey Tasting at Londonderry Arms

Onwards to the quaint seaside village of Carnlough, where you'll find the Londonderry Arms Hotel . Here you can pre-book a whiskey-tasting experience where an expert talks you through a selection of three whiskies from Northern Ireland's Bushmills Distillery. You'll also be served a delicious sharing platter and local delicacies to enjoy during your tasting experience. This takes place in the Arkle Whiskey Bar, with it's roaring fire and cosy surroundings. The hardest part will be deciding on who the designated dirver will be! 

While you're here, take a stroll around Carnlough harbour (where a famous Game of Throines scene was filmed!) and enjoy the fresh sea air before you head back towards Ballymena for your dinner. 

Dinner Under a Thatched Roof

You're back in Ballymena, before going back to your accommodation you'll need some dinner. The Thatch Inn Bar & Restaurant has some really great pub fayre downstairs where you can dine in the warmth of not one but two open fires. Upstairs hosts an A La Carte menu restaurant, so you'll find something to suit everyone here, and be in one of the best places to enjoy a nightcap after a busy day!

Day 3

Chill Out at the Thermal Spa Village

Galgorm is home to one of the most renowned spas in Northern Ireland, and the Thermal Spa Village is just the way to begin your final day in Mid & East Antrim. After indulging for the past two days in some of the best produce around, relax this morning in these incredible spa facilities - Awarded Best Destination Spa at the Conde Nast Johansens Awards 2024, the Thermal Spa facilities offer you the chance to experience the ancient rituals of bathing in cold, cool, warm and hot environments to aid detoxification, purification and relaxation. Open to both residents of the Hotel and Day Spa guests alike, these facilities include saunas, snow cabin, Celtic Sauna, River House relaxation space and eco-friendly Riverside Bathing Tubs, as well as indoor and outdoor pools, the famed Vitality Pool, cabanas, Salt Cave and experience showers. Situated across three gardens, the Alpine, Riverside and Serenity Gardens will guide you on a journey of rediscovery. What a way to start your day!

Afternoon Tea in Glenarm Castle

There's time for one last thing before your itinerary comes to an end. Finish off with a trip to Glenarm, another gorgoeous town on the Causeway Coastal Route, and home to Glenarm Castle. On arrival for your afternoon tea experience you will be warmly welcomed by the family Butler with a glass of champagne. The experience begins with a guided tour of the castle by the butler and visitors are given a rare chance to see the unique artefacts, such as the Armada chest from the Girona Ship, shipwrecked on the rocks of Dunluce Castle in 1588, and works by renowned artist Angela, Countess of Antrim, in areas of the castle not normally on view to the public. Enjoy hearing about the castles intricate history. 

Afterwards, indulge in a traditional afternoon tea in the elegance of Glenarm Castle’s dining room, expertly prepared for you by the castle staff. Enjoy homemade scones, freshly prepared finger sandwiches and expertly crafted savoury and sweet delicacies, made using fresh, local produce such as our famous Glenarm Shorthorn Beef and Glenarm Organic Smoked Salmon. Savour this special dining experience, whilst listening to the wonderful stories and captivating tales from the family butler.

Be sure to pre-book this in advance!

We know you'll be impressed with the food, drink and hospitality of Mid & East Antrim, and this Foodie itinerary shows off just some of our amazing produce! So treat yourself, your family and friends to a culinary trip to remember! 

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