Ardtara Country House Hotel Restaurant in Magherafelt

Very good culinary experience and pleasant and efficient service. This was our first time at Ardtara, an interesting old country house in wooded grounds. Our only criticism would be that some of the decor was slightly tired.

We had a lovely dinner with friends - great & maybe slightly unusual food choices which we all loved, extensive wines & a really lovely environment. The only downside was the table service - empty glasses were not cleared & twice we suggested this, the main course was brought out at least 5 mins before the accompanying veg, main course wines took almost 20 mins to come. These are only small points, but if they could be rectified this is an outstanding restaurant & most definitely worth coming to for a nice night out, or a special meet-up with friends.

Ardtara is an exceptional country house hotel. Food was fantastic, rooms are gorgeous and the friendly and relaxed atmosphere created by the staff really sets it apart. The friendliest place we have ever stayed in!

Our family lunch was a great success. The fires in the entrance hall and dining room worked their cheery magic on a day of torrential rain and wind. The menu was varied, interesting but not intimidating. The food itself was delicious, nicely and unobtrusively served. We will most definitely be back, either for lunch, or perhaps dinner and overnight. Highly recommended.

Wonderful Sunday lunch! Truly exceptional food and wonderful staff. Pedro and the team were warm, welcoming and knowledgeable . Highly recommend as it’s on a different level to most other restaurants and combines that with a genuinely inviting atmosphere.

Food as usual was excellent. We ate every bite. What more can I say? We enjoyed a cocktail with the fabulous house gin beforehand in one of the lounges. Standard of hospitality from the staff in Ardtara is always exceptional. Attentive but unobtrusive. Unlike that in another ´top’ restaurant in Belfast where it quite ruined a meal with friends last week.

I love this hotel for a night away. Gorgeous food as always and the staff always provide excellent but discreet service.

Excellent food, service, location. A hidden gem in the little village of Upperlands. Have been a regular patron for many many years and it never fails to impress.

Our first time for Sunday lunch, though we have been a few times for dinner and an afternoon tea. My Saffron Risotto starter, Roast Sirloin of Beef, and Raspberry Panna cotta were without fault…excellent. Portion size just right. Attentive, friendly, efficient staff and Sean and Pedro are so welcoming. A nice relaxed atmosphere even though it was a very busy service. At £37pp it is value for money in my opinion. Can’t wait to go back.

We stayed one night and it was just fabulous. The surroundings, drinks, dinner, bedroom and breakfast were all fantastic. We were very comfortable and the food was delicious. I can't wait to go back!

A fantastic experience as always. The food was superb, service and welcome exceptional. Adtara is a charming country house hotel. It has been a favourite of ours since it opened and we are never disappointed.

Ardtara offers an unforgettable culinary experience with exquisite dishes, impeccable service, and a cozy ambiance. Each bite is a delight, showcasing masterful flavors and creativity. A must-visit!

Lovely food and great lunch treat out. Cannot fault the service at all, staff are lovely. Would absolutely recommend the lunch bar menu

AMAZING wonderful service wonderful food What a wonderful experience, from the minute we arrived we got looked after and had a beautiful meal.

Superb food and service was top notch. Sean goes the extra mile to make you feel welcome and it was very much appreciated. The surrounding environment is nice and serene which is exactly what we were after travelling up from Belfast.

We were there for my 65 birthday, the service and food were excellent, beyond reproach even, and far better than what is on offer up on the Nth Coast(barring 1894 at Portstewart Golf Club) I also rather over-enjoyed the beer from Northbound. The ambience in the dining room was also quite perfect and there was plenty of room to instantly wheel the pram out when baby Lydia very occasionally sounded off. A small niggle, we were early and sat outside, overlooking the tennis courts as were, unfortunately the wickerwork seats and the tables had not been cleaned, and prior to the weekend on a Friday evening, though the setting was very pleasant in the evening Sun. The grounds and gardens still need work, though I appreciate this is an immense undertaking. I cannot comment about the rooms btw.

Nice house and area. needs to have more money spent on it to justify the price and what it wants to pretend to be. Great service and great food though.

The food is always top notch, the rooms and lounges are beautiful, and the service from the entire staff is excellent. The level of professionalism, combined with a very personal and welcoming attitude from the staff, makes the service at Ardtara the absolute best. We have stayed at Ardtara 3 times in the past 7 months, and we plan to make it our regular destination for short stays and breaks. Highly recommended!

Our sons bought this trip for us. On arrival we were greeted by Sean who checked if our room was ready. We were taken to our room by Leanne who was not only friendly but explained everything so well. The food, rooms and staff are all a credit to Sean as he runs a wonderful team of staff. Highlights were the home made snacks as well as the breads. This little gem is well worth a visit. I have to mention Leanne as we saw her quite a bit throughout our stay, each time she had a smile and the service she provided was impeccable.

Beautiful surroundings and interior decor. The lunch we had was delicious and mouthwatering dessert. The service was excellent. 10/10

Beautiful country house. Love the period decor and furniture. Homely with an edge. Lunch was very good, service excellent and we will be back. The gardens are so lovely to have a walk.

We spent an overnight in Ardtara on the recommendation of a relative. It is an elegant country house in a lovely rural setting. On arrival staff were friendly and welcoming and all the staff are approachable and helpful. Our room was spotlessly clean , warm and welcoming with a beautiful view of the gardens. The high point was our evening meal. All courses were delicious the stand out being the rhubarb soufflé dessert. Breakfast too was excellent. The cuisine is of a very high standard. Go if you want a restful few days in a quiet tranquil setting. We hope to return later in the year.

We were on the sleepy Sunday package which was an overnight stay with 2 course evening meal with wine pairing and breakfast. Breakfast up to 11 and late check out 12:30. Excellent value as meal was delicious and Pedro could not have been more attentive. Beautiful room and excellent breakfast. A complete steal for couples looking for a relaxed get away. A hidden gem. Mrs L McCrory

My wife and I booked for afternoon tea at the end of March, having been given a voucher by family as a gift for Xmas. While we have no complaints regarding the quality of the food provided, we have issues concerning its presentation. It is traditional to serve the various courses of afternoon tea simultaneously, yet, for whatever reason, we were served with plates of finger sandwiches on their own together, at the start, with tea and coffee. Then we had to call for service due to an unacceptable wait after finishing the sandwiches. Next, rather surprisingly, we were given a cup of soup and a savoury, which we felt should have been served first rather than the sandwiches. Finally, the remaining courses arrived on a presentation platter along with more tea and coffee. On reflection, the decision to serve the first two courses as if sitting down to high tea, and the unacceptable time we had to wait between them undermined the whole experience. These presentation issues would not have arisen if everything had been placed on the table at the start, the normal practice when taking afternoon tea. It is worth noting that we are seasoned global travellers who have sat down to afternoon tea at a number of 5-star international hotels, including The Ritz (London), The Sanghri-La (Singapore) and The Langham Hotel (Auckland). In other words, we are reviewing our meal with you in the light of standards we have found elsewhere.

We had an amazing lunch and with two small girls we couldn't have felt more welcome. Sean is the perfect.front of house , I have visited on several occasions and I can honestly say iv never met a more pleasant and professional man. I really look forward to visiting Ardtara again soon.

Unique country house hotel with outstanding cuisine.

Ardtara offers the visitor a beautiful setting, relaxed atmosphere, friendly and competent staff and outstandingly good food

110% as always. food was delicious, service excellent and the location just lovely. Weve been many times, a real favourite it never disappoints.

No complaints from us! Sean, Pedro, Leanne & the team were fab. We love Ardtara & chose it for our Easter wedding Friday 29th March (Good Friday). Our guests enjoyed the food, atmosphere & warm welcome. Beautiful gardens for photos. Highly recommend.

A fabulous lunch, food and staff superb. I would have a very very small issue with the ambience of the room. A little bare in atmosphere.

Easter Sunday Lunch served to perfection We enjoyed a beautiful Easter Sunday lunch at Ardtara. Exceptional food and service

Beautifully cooked Easter lunch with the usual wonderful service. Lovely way to spend an afternoon. Will definitely be back soon.

I was here for afternoon tea with my best friend. This was my first time at Ardtara and it most certainly won't be the last. We had such a great afternoon..I have a wheat intolerance and they gave me lots of substitutes and without any issues. The staff were so helpful and pleasant and I just loved the experience. I will definitely be back for a few drinks and I couldn't rate it highly enough.

Such a lovely treat . A fabulous experience from start to finish. Sean , Pedro, Leanne and Caroline could not do enough , remembered our names . Food was fine dining at its best. Definitely going back. Thank you

We stayed at the hotel for two night and had dinner both nights. The dining experience was wonderful with friendly and attentive service, excellent food and a diverse (but competitively priced) wine list. There appeared to be local people eating there, which is always a...

Excellent hotel, rooms and beds very comfortable. Would definitely recommend dinner. Lovely parsnip crisps and olives served whilst reviewing menu. Also various breads and tartlets arrived before starter. Nice touch. All courses very tasty, loved rhubarb souffle crumble.

We had dinner at Ardtara on Friday night and it never fails to disappoint. The food is consistently amazing. The staff are absolutely delightful, I can’t wait to return already!

Fabulous Afternoon tea, best sandwiches ever!! Potato bread fries so tasty! Scones were delicious & the pastries were devine. A delightful treat

Fantastic evening attending a demonstration by Ian detailing each course of our meal and picking up tips to try out at home. The meal was delicious and enjoyed by everyone. We were certainly were made to feel welcome and well looked after by Ian and...

Fantastic service and delicious food. A great place for a special occasion combining Dinner and an overnight stay with a fantastic breakfast.

Love the service and excellent food at Ardtara, lovely relaxing setting and the staff are so attentive and kind. I can't wait to go back!!

Beautiful Sunday lunch. Each course served with superb presentation. All the food had wonderful flavours ....no salt or pepper needed for sure! Breads are such a lovely addition to the starter. Desserts delicious. A lovely experience, service excellent without being intrusive.

Slightly disappointed as we were seated almost in the hallway & very close to a fire. My starter plate was cracked as well which was slightly off putting. Over all the food was very good although my Husband’s Sirloin was tough in parts & not...

This country house is one of the best we have stayed in. Perfect place for a getaway to recharge the batteries. It is so quiet and peaceful, the grounds and surrounding area are lovely for a walk before dinner. The location is wonderful for exploring...

Ardtara provides an exceptional experience. Food , staff , rooms and location all make for a great weekend retreat . 8 visits later we can’t wait to go back again

Amazing food as always and impeccable service. Really enjoyed the whole atmosphere and the new improvements around the building are lovely.

Firstly, I want to start with a positive the staff here are absolutely lovely. The bread was amazing, as was the butter. Unfortunately, the atmosphere was terrible, felt like we had whisper as the music was so low. My personal experience of my main felt...

Beautiful setting with a sense of luxury, and heavenly food! Coffee by the fireplace, delicious sweet and savoury treats! Staff were extremely pleasant, genuine and helpful Highly recommend! Best afternoon tea we’ve had

We enjoyed the tasting menu ( with accompanying wine ) for Valentines. Each course was beautifully presented and a taste sensation. The staff were friendly and took time to explain each course. First time here and would 100% recommend! Thanks for a lovely evening!

1st class. The staff are all very professional and tentative. Been here a few times now from a nights stay, afternoon tea, and dinner on different occasions. Always leave wanting to come back.

Fabulous food, service, accommodation and location. We booked an overnight stay with 6 course tasting menu and breakfast and it was stunning. Not my first stay here and definitely not the last. Roll on summer and cocktails on the lawn!

Have been here a number of times now, the whole experience is of extremely high standard. The staff and management are amazing there to help with anything needed. The food is wonderful. The room we stayed in was spectacular and very large. The whole set...

Amazing food and great service. Great atmosphere Have dined here before and will certainly be back. Not just ordinary Sunday Lunch something a bit different.

Beautiful food , excellent attentive staff, great character to stay over . Our favourite was the fire in the bedroom which was so cosy to complete our much needed chill time away .

We had an absolutely superb Sunday lunch 07/01/24. The quality of food was of the highest possible standard - so flavoursome and a joy to eat. Staff were highly professional, helpful and courteous. Ardtara House is a wonderfully comfortable and relaxed setting. Not to be...

Beautiful house, immaculately maintained. Warm and friendly staff, anticipating our needs promptly and reliably. Food really gorgeous and reasonably priced.

Just excellent food, starter, main course and dessert just lovely. Sean the restaurant host was top class. David and Fiona.

Great food; excellent menu & wine pairings. The dining room was a lovely setting & the service was very good. My one criticism would be of the brioche including with the crab starter which I didn’t think was a good match.

Overnight stay at Ardtara. Fabulous food, friendly staff, cosy accommodation. I would highly recommend an overnight stay with dinner.

Great food, Great Service, Beautiful Setting -bizzarely your now annoying me a LOT-by insisting this is a minimum of 100 characters-I think you need to remove this requirement as I for one find it very insulting & off putting

We received a very personal welcome - particularly appreciated since we were a party of two, rather than the four that we had booked for (two ended up having to cancel) for an early booking with no one else in the dining room when we...

Absolutely best food and service! Got us into the mood for Christmas. Food, decor and service excellent!

Enjoyed a delicious meal with friendly service in warm and elegant surroundings. Highly recommended.

The staff were friendly and the service was excellent. The food was top quality and served promptly after ordering. The waiting staff were polite and attentive without being overbearing. I liked the fact that the layout of the dining room was not squashed with plenty...

Very pleasant stay with very friendly staff, good food and great service. Lots of open fires were a bonus.

Top Class. Christmas cookery demonstration was both interesting and entertaining followed by the most amazing 5-course meal.

The best Sunday dinner I have ever had, only negative thing was the roast beef was a little fatty. Very flavoursome

After enjoying a superb Sunday lunch earlier in the year we decided to further indulge with a two night stay at Ardtara. Fantastic. Beautiful room. Food is to die for. Staff are professional and friendly. All set in beautiful surroundings. This hotel deserves all the...

Highly recommend this lovely hotel. The service was excellent with everyone going out of their way to serve and help us. The bedroom was full of character, clean and warm. The food was absolutely delicious. Would love to return.

Sunday Lunch 3 courses - service excellent, seated promptly, staff very attentive even though the dining room was v busy. Food excellent. Preferred to have coffee in the bar rather than the dinning room & thought there may be a service delay - not the...

Celebrated Mum's big birthday with afternoon tea for the family - just fabulous! Gorgeous and relaxed surroundings, very attentive and friendly staff, a real treat and worth every penny. Have done afternoon tea in various places (third time at Ardtara), this is simply a cut...

Romantic atmosphere, lovely, candle lit dining room, excellent staff, quick service, food was incredible. Beautiful presentation on the plate. I literally could have eaten each course all over again, so delicious my mouth is actually watering typing this review. I especially recommend the salmon starter...

My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed our overnight stay in the Ardtara. We were warmly welcomed by the Manager who quickly provided tea and scones and treats in the lounge. The room was delightful, and very comfortable. The dinner was exceptional both in the quality...

We had a wonderful stay at this charming country hotel. We were made to feel so welcome and at home. Cosy fires candlelight and delicious food and wine! All contributed to a memorable evening. Thanks to all the staff and compliments to the chefs. Truly...

Outstanding This was a brilliant and a wonderful experience. Thanks so much for making a special occasion even more special. Everything was perfect from the drinks and nibbles in the lounge pre dinner to the service to the meal. It’s was wonderful and we hope...

Very disappointed with the service and food. They forgot one of our main courses but didn’t tell us for 5 minutes by which time the other people’s main course was cold the sides didn’t come till 15 mins after the main course was received by...

The best place to eat in North Ireland. We enjoyed the dinner and the Irish Breakfast as well. I recommend

Locally sourced finest ingredients make for an indulgent and tasty experience. Every mouthful was savoured. This was fine dining in a relaxed and beautiful setting. Drinks in the drawing room to start is highly recommended. The staff were attentive and welcoming. A hidden gem in...

Very expensive for an average quick dinner. We were in a hurry, but weren't offered bar menu. Vegan starter was same as non-vegan but minus cheese. Potatoes with pasta odd. We've eaten here before and it was great, but not sure I'd go back.

We had dinner here - their food is excellent. Everything is well prepared, high quality, tastefully flavoured and beautifully presented with lots of “nice” little touches. All staff were so warm and friendly. Their food is not too be missed.

A few family members and I had a wonderful dinner here during an overnight stay for my mother's 95t birthday. The staff were so welcoming and made the whole experience very special .

this has to be one of the best meals i have had in a long time . staff are friendly , food was excellent ..............we had a ribeye to share and it was cooked to perfection . wine list was good and the whole experience was brilliant . i cant wait to try their sunday lunch offering

Ordered the bake at home due to lockdown. Food was superb. Beautifully packaged with clear instructions. A real treat at home. Would definitely recommend.

Quite possibly the best food I've eaten in a long time. At first when I saw the steak being brought out to a family member I regretted my decision to get the venison. However, my plate followed within seconds and my disappointment at my decision immediately dispersed. The food was melt in the mouth perfection and the whole ambience of the meal was delightful. The menu was varied and offered something for all tastes. Would recommend to anyone.

What a superb dining experience.Menu was simple, but had great variety.Super tasty nibble provided while we considered the menu, including fresh baked bread with was welcome but didn't detract from the rest of the meal with unnecessary bulk. The flavours were superb!! Not too much not too little, just right. If goldilocks did fine dining this was it!!

We had a fantastic family meal for 12 adults, 2 three year old's and 3 babies that was hosted in the conservatory.Food was excellent, service on the day was impeccable and delivered the special occasion experience we wanted to give our guests.Sean and his team made us feel very welcome and we greatly appreciated the effort they went to especially considering the booking was only made at a weeks notice.Excellent Irish hospitality.

The best food we’ve eaten in a long long time. Sean was so welcoming and we really appreciated all the social distancing that they’ve worked hard to achieve. Thanks for making our anniversary so special.

One night visit, food was outstanding and service super friendly and helpful. We stayed here on the first night of a visit to Northern Ireland. The hotel had been recommended for its food and didn’t disappoint. whilst Ardtara isn’t super modern and glossy, that isn’t really the purpose of Country house hotels (leave that to the city places). The food is the main reason for visiting and it was worth it. Delicious three courses, gorgeous fresh champagne before dinner and discreet, professional (and Covid secure) service. Def recommended.

Wonderful Sunday lunch. Set in beautiful surroundings Ardara Country House has great reputation for fine dining which sets the scene of anticipation as you arrive. From the moment on entering the hotel and restaurant we were pampered by the staff.However this not a stuffy no kids establishment, families, couples old and young were welcomed here, we felt very much at home and hope to stay over some time.My wife had the roast beef and I had lamb roast with all the vegetables and roast and mash potatoes amazing tasting food. However the little touches like fresh baked wheaten bread made with Guinness was a tasty start to our meal.Best leave the rest for you to come and try the food for yourself, I certainly will be back soon.Thanks Ardara for a lovely lunch and friendly genuine staff.

We stayed here on our wedding anniversary yesterday and had an amazing time. The food was exceptional and sublime and will definitely be returning very soon.

Had food here as part of our stay, the food was excellent, everything from the starter to the dessert Presented neatly and cooked to perfection

Great tasting food that was pretty affordable. Good selection of nice wines. It says online the menu changes every day but this is not the case (apart from the special) so the hotel may need to change this. Overall, a great experience.

We availed of the Lounge menu today and food was first class. It did take 45 mins from our arrival to our food being served so be patient, if you are in a hurry it won’t be enjoyable. When the food arrived we were a little underwhelmed, big plates and the food looked tiny. No salad garish, no lemon with the fish, peas etc but as soon as we took our first bite we were both raving about how good it was. Dessert and tea/coffee was served much quicker and although limited to three choices, one of which was just sorbet, we also enjoyed this course. A great way to spend an afternoon and very enjoyable lunch. We recommend eating in one of the lounges, during our two hour visit there was no one in the main restaurant and we were glad we opted for the cosier setting.

Fresh local produced food prepared to perfection 😋 Perfect setting for a romantic meal or just meeting up with friends.

Had a very nice meal in a relaxing atmosphere. Staff and service were excellent..fires in fire places made the place very cosy and welcoming

My wife and I both had fantastic meals in this restaurant.It is situated in the old games room of the house with really interesting and beautiful decor.Seats are well spaced so you have lots of privacy.Food is really good. We both had the hotels variation on a Christmas dinner with turkey roulades.Starters and dessetrs were great with good attentive service.

Joined friends (who were staying there) for a meal and we feel in love with place. Very tastefully decorated Country House with lots of character. Really friendly staff, made us all feel welcome and at home. And to cap it all the meal was one of the best we have ever had. Everything was high quality and and delicately flavoured.HiHigh quality

Both amazing. Highly recommend the porridge. Though everything was exceptional. Keen to eat there again.

Sunday lunch in a lovely setting- very busy and car park full. Starters of squid, chicken wontons and a fruit salad ( random request). Mains of roast beef, toast ham and roast lamb and vegetarian spinach ravioli were all delicious. Exquisite desserts especially the custard tart and peach soufflé . Calm warm atmosphere , helpful friendly staff and nice ambience.

We visited for a Father’s Day meal, food and service were fantastic. I had phoned ahead to say one of our group was gluten free and they were able to accommodate this at every course including the pre dinner snacks! Food was great quality and very fresh.