The Top 5 Bars in Newcastle Co Down for a Merry One Full of Craic and Good Beer!
Living in Northern Ireland means people will instantly assume you drink a lot. Frankly, I don’t blame them because I do! Even my family and mates hop over to bars on a casual weekday afternoon.
What can I say, Irish beer is simply top-notch! My mates and I never run out of places for a tipple, and we know the best places in town that won’t disappoint you.
We’re done trying to keep a lid on it. Here are our go-to bars in Newcastle, County Down, where the beer will make you sit and the craic will make you stay!
How We Chose the Best Bars in Newcastle Co Down
1. Quinns Bar
Address: 62-64 Main St
Contact: 028 4372 6400, [email protected]
Hours: Monday – Sunday: 11:30 am – 1:30 am
Quinns Bar is your Newcastle Co Down gem, where the beer is good, and the craic is grand. It nailed down the traditional Irish pub atmosphere—the dark wood, unpolished flooring, and an overall cosy ambience.
The beer selection is where they shine the most, as they serve a variety of alcoholic bevvies, from the classic Irish favourites to beloved international options. The common cocktails are also on the menu, like mojitos and daiquiris.
The one we love the most is their Guinness, which the bartenders know how to pour the proper way—with a creamy and skinny head that touches the rim just a wee bit.
As far as the food goes, the servings are decent. The taste can be a hit or miss sometimes, but the portions are generous for the price.
It’s a beloved bar near the seaside, so it’s fairly common for the service to be slow during busy times. It’s banging for night outs, though, as there’s live entertainment seven days a week.
Great location, lovely staff
“Recently visited here for dinner as we were staying in the area and saw the reviews on google. Great location. Lovely staff. Food was great. I ordered the baby back bbq ribs with mash. Absolutely huge portion and the bbq sauce was incredible. I had a sex on the beach cocktail which was lovely as well. My partner ordered the curry. He said it was alright. Could have had more flavour. Very big portion as well. Played a game of pool too. Would recommend and would visit again. Thanks.”
– Laura Lee, Google Review
Good bar service with plenty of options
“We were staying locally for a couple of days. Walked into town and called in. Lucky we got a table almost straight away. Good bar service with plenty of options. Also had offers eg cocktail of month, pint of the month. Ordered food snacks and was served very quickly. Great taste and more than enough on the plate. Saw some other full meals being served. Better go hungry.. Friendly buzz about the place. A number of locals / regulars, but random visitors like ourselves were given equal standing. Soup…. steak…. curry…. all good”
– Mark Hyde, Google Review
2. Great Jones
Address: 73 Main St
Contact: 028 4379 8275
Hours:
- Monday – Tuesday: Closed
- Wednesday: 5 pm – 9 pm
- Thursday: 12 pm – 9 pm
- Friday – Saturday: 12 pm – 9:30 pm
- Sunday: 12 pm – 8 pm
The meticulously planned menu at Great Jones is one of our most favourite things. Open 7 days a week, this bar serves brilliant food and deliciously creative cocktails.
It’s more of a restaurant than a bar, but it’s a spot you cannot miss in Newcastle Co Down, because the beverages are top-notch. You can tell each glass is crafted carefully, especially once you taste the seasonal selection.
The service is absolutely accommodating. Our mates with gluten-free diets had zero problem finding a meal they wanted to try, and there are vegetarian choices as well.
We did have a craic during our visit, and the modern vibe with a rustic touch added to the positive experience. It’s a known spot in the area, so don’t be surprised to see it packed with locals and tourists most of the time, even on weeknights.
When it comes to prices, they’re not too bad. The cost reflects the quality and serving portions, so overall, you get your money’s worth.
Excellent food, amazing staff, and fantastic vibe
“Food is absolutely amazing. We eat here every time I visit Newcastle Co Down. Tried the cocktails yesterday and they were lovely. Staff are very friendly and always go above and beyond. Highly recommend Great Jones. Excellent food amazing staff and fantastic vibe 🤩”
– Martine Duffy, Google Review
The food here is phenomenal
“The food here is phenomenal! I had squid for starter, chicken supreme for main and peanut cheesecake for dessert and each of these gave me a food orgasm. Oh and the cocktails are done sooo well too!! I cannot fault anything here. And the staff is super friendly and accommodating (I’m coeliac and all of these gorgeous dishes are gluten free).”
– Natalia, Google Review
3. The Tap Room
Address: The Donard – Bryansford Ave
Contact: 028 4372 2614, [email protected]
Hours:
- Sunday – Friday: 11:30 am – 11 pm
- Saturday: 11:30 am – 1 am
The Tap Room is an under-the-radar gem located in Donard Bar, where every guest can enjoy the tasty menu, brilliantly poured beverages, and buzzing performances. It has been one of our go-to bars in Newcastle.
It doesn’t disappoint once you set foot inside. The laidback vibe is spot on for casual nights with mates and no-pressure date nights when all you want is a good conversation and entertainment.
The menu, albeit with a small selection, is pure brilliance. The pizza takes the limelight in our tummies, because they’re perfectly cooked with charred bits on the crust.
And the drinks are just as good, maybe even better. There’s no shortage of delectable and carefully crafted cocktails, including the classics and seasonal themes.
If you’re a sucker for beers and entertainment, this bar has heaps of happenings. Talented musicians play from Friday to Sunday every week, and we especially loved the live sports viewings on the screens—overall, a fantastic bar.
Excellent bar
“Excellent bar, great staff and excellent atmosphere, I go on a regular basis for Sunday session of Jazz, four thirty to six thirty, not to be missed”
– Laurence Clarke, Google Review
Good selection of drinks
“Not what I expected! Like a good Belfast bar and a good Belfast bar is really hard to beat. Good selection of drinks great prices and really pleasant skilled staff”
– Nick Robinson, Google Review
4. The Maghera Inn
Address: 86 Ballyloughlin Rd, Castlewellan
Contact: 028 4372 2236, [email protected]
Hours:
- Monday – Thursday: 12 pm – 9 pm
- Friday – Saturday: 12 pm – 9:30 pm
- Sunday: 12 pm – 8:30 pm
The Maghera Inn is a small-town pub restaurant with a big heart. It’s the place to be if you fancy Irish hospitality, where the staff will welcome you with portions so massive, you won’t have room for dessert.
It’s a gem in Newcastle Co Down that serves some of the best Irish food we’ve tried. Every bite tastes scrumptious, probably from the fresh ingredients—locally sourced meat, fresh seafood, and handmade desserts (no pre-packed sweets here).
Let’s move to the drinks menu, where we had a blast discovering our new favourite tipple! There’s a good selection of wine, whiskey, and scotch, but we mostly enjoyed the finely made cocktails.
Plus, this bar is where we tasted one of the best Guinnesses in Northern Ireland—black with a nicely domed top. All in all, it serves up brilliant food and drinks, just expect a bit of a wait for your orders to come around—but no issues about the taste and portions.
Fantastic, hidden, cosy pub
“Fantastic hidden cosy pub. Staff are very friendly. Lots of delicious food options with very large portions and the biggest onion rings you’ll ever see. I recommend anything with the bushmills pepper sauce, never tasted anything like it! Also recommend the steak, peppered burger and salted caramel brownie. Guinness here tastes great too! Will constantly come back for more!”
– Jo, Google Review
Absolutely wonderful
“Absolutely wonderful!!! We thoroughly enjoyed our lunch here. What a sweet, cozy pub, with fantastic staff. The food was delicious- the seafood chowder is a MUST! We also quite enjoyed the sticky toffee pudding. The kids all enjoyed their kids’ meals and also got a special treat at the end- a very delicious slice of chocolate cake and vanilla ice cream. Highly recommend!!”
– Heather Norton, Google Review
5. Macken’s Bar
Address: 73 South Promenade
Contact: 028 4372 3430, [email protected]
Hours:
- Monday – Tuesday: Closed
- Wednesday: 7 pm – 12 am
- Thursday – Sunday: 12 pm – 12 am
As the oldest pub in Newcastle County Down (established in 1805), Macken’s Bar is a must-visit for locals and tourists. They’re not just about the history, but truly serve incredible drinks and food, as well as craic, live music, and views of the Irish Sea.
It’s one of our most visited, particularly when we have mates popping over. The beer is always spot on, with dark stouts and light lagers that have pleasant aromas and balanced tastes.
It has a brilliant selection of pub grub. The menu comes with all sorts of variety for every craving. We didn’t have a problem finding the perfect food-drink pairing with all these options, from the classic fish and chips to Thai spiced mussels.
For an Irish bar, it surprisingly has a unique menu, which includes Asian choices, like beef bao buns, pork gyozas, and Korean fried chicken wings—those aren’t something you normally see in the area.
They can run out of ingredients during busy nights, though. But the beers are always topped up and reasonably priced for an Irish gem of a pub.
Excellent pub
“Well worth walking out to get a better old style bar experience. Also to note is our round of drinks was 30% cheaper than the nearest bar in the town. Friendly clientele and dogs permitted in the front bar beside the open fire. Nice beer garden that gets the sun most of the day. Excellent pub. More”
– Stephen, Google Review
Staff are very attentive
“2 persons, great table with sea view. Lovely Sunday meal at 4 pm. Wonderful Seabass and delicious Turkey Roulade for main meal. Then 2 desserts, Apple Crumble and Choc brownie. All mouthwatering. Staff very attentive, speedy service. Haven’t been here before, but will be back!! Gem. Great value too. 😋”
– Rosemary, Google Review