Shimna Café in Down

Everything about this place is positive. The only issue is there toilet in upstairs and not suitable for those who may suffer with mobility problems. They even accommodate my dietary requirements, dairy free milk available, and gluten-free bread. Soup of the day depends on the soup........

Idea of a brunch menu as standard is good but execution not perfect. The poached eggs should be runny (unless the customer requests hard) and crushed avocado should have a tomato bottom layer but ketchup with a bit of chilli is not the answer. The Hollandaise sauce in the egg Benedict shouldn’t be drowning the eggs and bacon (less is more). The sauce shouldn’t taste like mayonnaise but should be made with wine vinegar and the bacon substituted with Parma ham. But the real problem is those hard poached eggs.

Evaluation underway The place is very crowded and the taste is average Sufficient and excellent service

Great place!! Lovely staff, great vibes & THOSE BREAKFAST WRAPS!

Lovely wee place, and the food was delicious

I'd not been in this cafe before and thought it might be closing as it was almost 5pm but we were welcomed in and served lovely fresh food that was well presented. Nice accompanying salads. Pleasant and well kept premises too. Will definitely go again when in the area.

Just overall lovely 🤍 Pancake stack and a breakfast wrap 🤍 yummm!

We adore the Shimna Café, the scones are the best I've ever had. However, the staff seem to be spread very thin, and there's almost an air of panic. Being the fantastic café it is its always very busy and rammed to capacity, but it's absolutely worth waiting for a table.

Lovely spot to grab a coffee and get out of the rain

Great we place. We walk in got a table within 5mins menu was on the table food was delicious staff very helpful. 10/10.

Really good food service and prices. Walked away well fed both me and my Mrs for 15 quid

At the top end of Newcastle's Main Street near the Bus Depot, this cafe is in an ideal location. A reflection of its popularity can be judged by the fact that it is packed on occasions and rather than wait for a table hungry customer's have walked out and dined elsewhere. Staff are polite under trying circumstances and generally the atmosphere has a friendly buzz. Persons with mobility issues should be aware the toilet is up a flight of stairs (no lift). Prices a bit steep, check your bill for errors!

Very good food and service, prices are fair and comfortable interior

Our first time at shimna café, lovely interior, staff were extremely helpful as we'd arrived around 4.30, but staff were more than happy to serve us a meal. Food 😋 yummy. All in all good food and very friendly staff. We will definitely be back . Highly recommend 👌

I was back here recently. Food great and the staff just as polite and helpful as ever. Great place to grab something to eat. Always busy which is a good sign.

Great wee breakfast and great value

Food & service always 10/10. Such a great, family friendly place 😊

Very nice fry up and cuppa. Attentive staff. Recommended.

The staff in this cafe were really lovely, very friendly and very helpful. The lady who served us even offered my father her glasses to see the menu. ☺️ The food was really good and was served very quickly.

First time there and will definitely be back

Really enjoyed the full breakfast. Didn't have long to wait and food was hot and tasty fairly reasonable price for 2. Great pics of old Newcastle. Like this place.

Lovely big cherrie scone and a lovely cup off tea for a nice afternoon out fabulous. Staff lovely people also.

Lovely café, good food with good friendly service. Always come here when on holiday. Wish I albe to come more often. Very value for money.

Nice little cafe with lovely staff. If I haven't given it. 5 star rating that's because it has limited healthy options (although the soup and wheaten bread is always very good). Very good selection of traybakes and scones, and the chips are lovely and dry and crispy. Fair prices too.

I have been going to the Shimna all my life when it was a restaurant. Since it was taken over and became a cafe there is poor customer service. I called in Friday afternoon for a small soda fry. When I went to leave I said good evening and thank you to the guy brushing the floor. He falsely accused me of not paying without any evidence saying you have to pay for that. When I said I had already paid he said he would have to check the till like I owed him something and then offered a non-apology when proven wrong. This morning I telephoned to speak to the woman who served me and who I paid even before I got the food who was not in: I asked to explain the situation to the manager of the cafe who would not listen and I had to phone again and again he wouldn't listen. I expressed my dissatisfaction with how the staff member handled it; how the false accusation was repeated with both himself and the staff member saying they didn't have the cash (I paid by card). It was embarrassing and upsetting, and the lack of a genuine apology made the situation even worse. When I asked for an apology they could not comprehend that and he said "what did you say ?" and then came back with "well that's what I mean by I had to check you paid by checking the balance" His response was "I apologize that you feel that way". Again that is not an apology and he was adding further insult accusation. Very poor customer service.

Lovely breakfast, friendly staff!

O ne of the best Coffee Shops in Newcastle.Very friendly waitress and staff.Cappochino is the best I have ever tasted and nice touch to give you a biscuit with your coffee.Will certainly be back again.Well done.

Gorgeous food. Compliments to the chef for the homemade soup, it was absolutely amazing. Partner is a chef himself and got a full fry which he said the produce was fresh and good quality. Service from staff was superb. Very reasonable prices. Will definitely be back.

Great food, amazing ulster fry tea 🍵 staff, very pleasant and service great

Great food quick and friendly service

Great friendly wee cafe for breakfast lunch or dinner nice food x

Great food and service in a nicely decorated space. Reasonably priced and good variety on the menu.

Very pleasant cafe with good service. I just dropped in for tea and scones. PM and couldn't find scones elsewhere in Newcastle.

Great food, helpful friendly staff, reasonably priced

Had lovely soda can't complain everything was great

Had lovely coffee and smoothy with family here warm welcome cozy atmosphere great place to relax have some nice food and drinks

A great wee place with friendly staff excellent food and drinks. Can recommend the fry as good eating at a sensible price.

Got the full fry, at a reasonable price.

Walked in sat down,told to scan QR code on table, wasn't offered a menu no big deal as we knew what we wanted. Whilst waiting for our order another couple came in straight away they were offered a menu. We had asked for large coffee but only got standard size ,asked for drink of water then after she served couple of others I had to ask again,I got tepid tap water in a glass just out of the dishwasher. As for the price we certainly won't be back. Only thing going for it was clean toilet.

Good food, very nice service, cozy and friendly atmosphere. Recommended.

Ordered full fry. All good but could do with more soda potato bread. Good service.

Great service. We had to wait for a table as it was crowded. The server came over and took our order while we were waiting so as to make it less time consuming when we finally got a table. Very kind of her.

Very pleasant lunch and great price ! Friendly service as well (photo shows goujons already eaten so it is a bigger portion than that!)

First class place to visit and the food was excellent and the service was very good and friendly

Great wee seaside cafe. Lovely staff and good food, what's not to love.

Great food and brilliant staff. Very friendly and helpful

Lovely breakfast, poached eggs and toast.

Very disappointing always call when we are in Newcastle but unfortunately the breakfast was not up to usual standards,,

Friendly staff, and a cute cafe.

Love sitting outside with our dog after a beach walk having breakfast. Good food, good service, and good value.

Really delicious food service fabulous I will definitely be back 😊😊😊

A busy wee café with first class service. Best in Newcastle in my opinion.

The staff in the Shimna Cafe were friendly and the food was tasty they have a breakfast menu and a lunch menu. Some of the most popular food is a fry for breakfast and a burger for lunch.

Chicken burger and chicken goujons both tasty. Kids enjoyed their meal and staff were friendly

I absolutely love it and I got to see my auntie who works there

Great food and tea is lovely Great staff first port of call when we go to Newcastle 👍

Friendly and efficient service, pleasant atmosphere. Staff tend to recognise and remember guest,s, even after a few visits...perhaps even remember their typical orders!

Breakfast cafe. Reasonable food at good prices, with free filter coffee refil

Old established business with many original features.Clean, friendly atmosphere.

Nice wee cafe food was OK Got Coke only thing wrong was the coke and glasses where warm

Food always beautiful, service excellent!

We go to the Shimna for a reason, we enjoy the food, the friendly staff. We were not disappointed.

Really nice place, delicious food !

A place to visit for simple good food Alot of locals seem to be here as the staff knew folks by name, the staff took time to chat with older customers which was lovely to see Food was good Staff pleasant Clean table Our first visit and will definitely return next time we are in the area

Lovely place for a nice relaxing breakfast. The staff are real friendly and accommodating. Don't forget to try their scones. Or take some home with you

Efficient staff, fry was delightful, nicely cooked along with the Scrambled eggs. Poached eggs should have been a little lighter,always hard to call😜. All other plates were perfect.🤗

Nice place, friendly staff. Only had cuppa so can't comment on the food.

Good breakfast and reasonably priced.

What a fantastic irish breakfast One of the best I've had perfect size

Great place to eat. Be it breakfast, lunch, dinner or just a cuppa. Staff all lovely.

Warm, welcoming staff. Excellent food

The food is always great, thr staff are very friendly and helpful and its a good atmosphere.

Always excellent friendly service . When we visit we usually have the Ulster fry . Good quality food always

Handy for a quick snack or coffee for all ages. Service quick and with a smile.

There were 4 of us visiting Newcastle yesterday( Saturday) and when we walked in, not one person said a word!! There were 3 people behind the counter, one man and 2 woman . We sat there for at least 7 to 8 minutes. No one came near us, no one offered us a menu, it was appaling , ! We got up and left. Never again, so disappointing.

Picked this place out of a hat as me and my mum were travelling down from Antrim for a day out. Wow it's fantastic, first of all the £10-£20 is drastically wrong, a small fry with sausage, bacon, egg, beans, 2 slices of toast and a tea or coffee was £5.95 absolute bargain and was absolutely cooked to perfection. Very highly recommended

Great wee cafe lovely food ,friendly staff and great price too

Full Irish breakfast, delicious!

Was visiting for the day. Food fine.

This has now become our weekly treat. The staff are always willing to help and serve with a smile which is rare these days. Food is good. Great place.

Lovely cafe,just wud have loved an menu to read rather than having to use my phone

Perfect cosy spot for a refuel! Lovely atmosphere, delicious food, very reasonable prices.

Very nice staff ..Good coffee and scones ..cooked food looked good too

Lovely food Lovely staff great place

Food was nice but the quantity was very poor a large fry was just one sausage bacon one egg and half potato bread and half soda a small fry was the same just without the bread but you did get toast

Impromptu lunch for granddaughters. Excellent service ice and food. Also food was piping hot. Girls loved it!

Lovely fry extremely friendly service..small portion was the only down side

Fantastic Breakfast at a excellent price. Staff were very helpful and polite.

The staff were fantastic, really friendly, helpful and pleasant. The food was perfect for a family of 4 and very reasonably priced. Very unassuming from the exterior but inside it proves it's worth, which is why it has lasted soo long in Newcastle

Food was excellent service was fast and friendly staff 👍☺️

Really lovely food, friendly staff. Fully recommend.

Best place for a fry . The staff are brilliant so friendly great service

Fantastic place that does an excellent morning fry!

fantastic food at a great price

Had a small fry and tea. Very good. Toast was fresh and hot. Butter was nice n soft to spread. Staff good.

Have always had a good experience in here..

Lovely food friendly service, an all round lovely experience 😁

Lovely place to get food and lovely people running it with tasty food too

Been visiting Shimna for 20 years, always good food and good value.

Fabulous. Service like it used to be. Smiling staff. Great tasty tucker.