Shimna Diner in Down

Had a fry here and it was tasty. I pre-judged it and thought that it didn't look nice - but I was very wrong. Nice waiting staff and the decor is old-fashioned but charming.

One waiter in this cafe talks a lot instead of serving customers, too slow went to Docs instead and got excellent service

Have been here several times over the past few years when visiting Newcastle and am never disappointed. It’s a lovely spot to sit outside with your dogs for a fabulous coffee and cake. The staff are very welcoming and the facilities are spotless. I saw several people eating a cooked breakfast and it looked lovely.

Visited here on a family outing one Sunday afternoon. Reasonably busy but staff were wholly disorganised. Finally given a seat after waiting 15 minutes. Waited another 15 minutes and no staff took our order so left promptly. Went back a month later to see if it was just a one off. Service was a bit better. Ordered two coffees and two tray bakes. Quality was fine. Waitress pleasant. When we went to pay, ALL four items were a much higher price at the till than on the menu. When we asked the waitress she simple replied that the menus weren’t yet updated. Won’t be back. Avoid.

We were staying at The Donard Hotel across the street & due to their renovations taking place they didn't have the restaurant open but they gave us a 10% discount card for the Shimna Cafe. We ordered the "Ulster Fry" & coffees with glasses of orange juice & the service was very good. The staff are friendly & very helpful with local knowledge for the many visitors who come to visit. The food was really nice with good portions & the coffee was great. It's a really popular place to eat & they also sell baked goods which looked great. I would recommend the Shimna Cafe for a good breakfast & Lunch whenever you are visiting Newcastle.

Breakfast is the best in Co Down if not Northern Ireland. Staff are ultra friendly and efficient. Can’t fault the place. Worth a visit.

Really Lovely cafe and food was fantastic, staff also excellent service would definitely recommend for lunch and would return

Excellent light lunch place. Food value for money, the chicken wrap was tasty and filling. The tea was OK. There is also a selection of cakes. Nice peaceful atmosphere, clean decor.

Always visit shimna cafe when in Newcastle...the food is always excellent, good value for money, tasty home made food, always a busy place, staff are all great especially Joanne...she is exceptional...always a smile to welcome us and a bit of friendly banter....I've eaten in shimna now about 7 times in the last year and I can't fault it at all...thank you and I wish you every future success in business

I called into this cafe, I was sitting down at the table and waiting for service, 20 minutes. During this time other customers came in after I did and were served quicker before a waiter called to take my order. She came with the drink and left an empty glass upside down and an opened bottle on the table which was not wiped or clean in front of me, so I have no idea if the table have been hygiene clean. I was unimpressed by the glass placed on the table upside down. Hot food came but served on a cold plate which spoiled the meal. I wouldn't come back to this cafe unless they have improve on hygiene and table service.

Service friendly and couldn't do more for us. Food was delicious! That nice visited it 2 days in a row when up staying nearby.

Called in early afternoon when busy. Waitress welcomed us and showed us to a clean table, then took order. Service was good for a busy period. Cake portions varied from adequate to generous. One upstairs loo.

Great spot for a traditional breakfast after a few miles walking on the beach. Good food, freshly cooked, pleasant staff.

We stayed in adjoining apartments and our package included breakfast in the Shimna. A very warm welcome as soon as we entered the place and I noticed it was the same for every customer which gives the place a lovely atmosphere. The food is really good too, cant fault it in any way. We tried a range of breakfasts and lite bites and enjoyed everything. The staff were so engaging with customers which makes this family run cafe a place I'd definitely return to

My mother and I entered this place, after giving it a rest for a year as the service was so slow, we were seated there was a couple came in 5 minutes after us and their food came down before ours. When our food eventually came it was cold, I sent it back with the waiter to be heated. Disgusting is all I can say he came back and said “it’s very hot now, probably to hot to eat” just done for badness when they had made the mistake of forgetting to bring us out our food. In this day and age an establishment like this who have forgotten customer service do not deserve to be in business. I will not set foot in this place again

My fiancé and I we are regularly coming in for a breakfast and is just amazing. Waitress, her name Leanne C always welcome us with a mega smile and warm. She's absolutely amazing. We love coming in for a breakfast time. Thank you Leanne for your amazing looking after us at everytime, absolutely fab.

Regularly come here for a full breakfast. Having been to everywhere in Newcastle, I reckon Shimna Cafe does the best Ulster Fry. Waitress Leanne C, is always so helpful and friendly.

Went into this lovely coffee shop after a long long Sunday walk. Carrot cake was amazing. As was the hot chocolate and milkshakes. Staff were so lovely and friendly, even with it being so close to their closing time on a Sunday. They even handed out left over scones to their customers. Highly recommended!

Came here for lunch twice inside a week. Food very tasty, excellent service and staff very helpful and friendly. Sat outside on the 2nd visit with our two dogs and one of the staff brought them out a dish of water. Would definitely visit again.

Woke late with no electric as we forgot it was being cut off for the day .so we headed to Newcastle and walked in here without a bother.. We ordered two Irish Breakfasts cappichino and a tea all was served promptly and we both said even tho we have been before it was really nice ... No grease to be seen the flavours were all good job not forgetting the coffee was lovely too .. the staff can't do enough for ya. We do be back

They now have a Food Hygiene Rating of 2. This score means that improvements are necessary. A 2 is given to businesses that score between 35 and 40. For example, if there are some causes for concern in their handling practices and facilities that warrant a prompt change.I sent back a milkshake which later they admitted had the flavoring syrup omitted as they "forgot". It was literally frothy milk. Worst i ever had. I asked for a hot chocolate which was watered down. All they had to do was use more mix. If they can't get simple drinks like these right and have a low hygiene rating, you can imagine how bad things are here.

We still frequent the Shimna Diner. Standards are high. Staff are obliging. Meals are consistent over time. Value is good. I have eaten in most of the cafes in Newcastle and Shimna is amongst the best.

Went in and got a fry for my son and a chicken burger for myself only when it came out it was an egg washed bap which I told the wee girl I could eat them kinda baps and could she ask in the kitchen if they had a floury bap to which she came bk and told me the chef said that's the way the chicken burger comes and bap. I got 2 bits of brown toast with jam and when we went to the till to pay the wee girl just looked at me and told me I'd to pay for the burger which I couldn't eat let alone touch. The chef started saying u will pay for it to which I told him I would definitely not so he was so cheeky raised his voice in front of others in the place which I was so embarrassed and he told me to get out I was barred... And that is management lol God love the young staff

This Diner is the best value eating establishment we have ate in, in a long time, the prices and selection of choice was excellent!! And portion sizes are huge which is good news of course, it is so handy to car parking facilities and the main shopping area of Newcastle, certainly will return and recommend a try! Very pleasantly surprised upon receipt of bill for 5x people. Staff pretty friendly too and speed of service very good as well.!!

This small cafe is worth a visit to enjoy a selection of freshly baked scones with tea or coffee. It also serves meals.

We took the grandchildren for a day out in Newcastle and decided to try this restaurant for lunch. The place was perfect for them and indeed a week later they wanted a return visit. It is cheap and straightforward and the menu is clearly designed for a quick non-nonsense lunch. Favourite with our lot was sausage and chips with a milk shake. Hardly the most healthy diet but once in a blue moon it can't hurt!

Visited this lovely cafe twice while on a short walking trip to Newcastle Lovely food and amazing value for money

Although space is tight, there is always room for my Mothers wheelchair, All day breakfast (with chips) is worth the trip. Staff great too. Has become our "go to" place in Newcastle.

Called in for morning coffee and scones on three mornings. Small place which has a great buzz, staff are very friendly. Lots of locals having breakfast. Coffee very good and reasonable. It was so good I bought two bags of Bewleys coffee beans to take home.

Friend and I went here. I had a fry and she had a scone. The fry was delish. and not a bit greasy She said her scone was lovely.

Do a lot of walking in the Mournes. This is my favourite spot to stop off for breakfast. Great staff lovely food and reasonably priced. Can't beat it.

We always stop here for a good fry whenever we are in the area. The service is always good and you can select from a variety of options. Good coffee also.

Good wholesome food, honest prices, excellent service and friendly and helpful staff. Unpretentious.

In Newcastle for a day trip and called in here for lunch. Service was friendly and efficient. Food freshly cooked and very tasty. Just what we wanted. Will definitely be back.

El Shimna es un gran lugar. Desayunamos allí en nuestra llegada. Fue un desayuno irlandés completo y me encantó. Es un lugar auténtico con personas reales y nos hicimos allí el día después. Realmente nos llenó de café comida y té. Las camareras eran muy amables. Incluso nos dieron un bollo en la casa, y fue realmente bueno regresamos después de más. Me encantó.

Se detuvo a un almuerzo con los niños a este lugar encantador wee. Menús donde enseñó nuestro dada y asientos. Tuve el club sándwich y lo disfrutamos junto con posiblemente el mejor capuchino de la ciudad. Los niños tenían el pancake stack que estaba muy sabroso, muy bien presentado y muy razonable. Recomiendo encarecidamente una visita a este café.

When we sat down at the table we were told someone would be there shortly to clear the table, the table was cleared of the cups and plates but not cleaned, our two meals came out and mine was missing a part of the order, I was told they would bring it and the knives and forks down, I had to go and get the knives and forks as no one came, by this time our meals were luke warm, my missing part of my meal arrived which was undercooked, we decided to just quickly eat what we could and go, when I went to pay for the meal not one person gave me eye contact, she was talking to someone else whilst telling me how much my bill was and when she handed me my change she still never looked at me, unfortunately I will not be back

La comida era muy sabrosa y saludable, y también era una buena relación calidad-precio y el personal era muy amable y servicial.

Called in for breakfast with friends,,the staff were very friendly & polite..the food was very tasty & very reasonably priced,,will certainly be back ☺

Lovely breakfast, can't beat it. Always make sure to visit when in Newcastle.(Milkshakes are good,too!)

always good food and friendly staff, only gripe is that the toilets are up a steep flight of stairs so annoying if you are disabled in any way.

we often go hear after a night out when we need a hearty breakfast freshly cooked in a clean friendly diner and this is it to a tee

Visited with my wife and elderly mother mainly to escape the stormy weather as it was the nearest restaurant to car parkDespite being very busy we found a table and were immediately served by a friendly young lady who took our drinks order. The coffee was of a good quality and served in generous cups. My wife and I both ordered fish and chips while my mother opted for vegetable soup and crusty bread. The fish and chips arrived promptly, were piping hot and served with a crisp dressed salad. The standard of the meal was excellent and at £6.95 represented very good value. My mother, who has a limited appetite these days, enjoyed her soup which she said was hot and full of flavour. Our coffee cups were refilled free of charge which was a nice touch, and we will make a point of calling in again on our next visit to Northern Ireland.

We came along to this after a walk along the high street. A very nice welcome and great service ordered tea and soft drinks together with homemade vegetable soup and toasties X 2. Lovely food at a great price. It's a friendly place which is busy definitely a place to eat

My partner and i wanted a early lunch/brunch so decided to call in here again as we have done quiet a while ago. everything from the service to the food was A* we went for the Brunch with was a feed to keep you going all day. everything was fresh cooked and no grease whatsoever the way it should be the coffee was great too. service was fantastic.

4 of us had a late breakfast here on Friday - we all had the 'mini-frys' - really good and great value for money. Good service too - we will be back.

A family of 6 were very well feed at this diner! Service was prompt and the menu provided a broad range of options. I enjoyed the all-day breakfast 11 piece fry which was great value at £5.50 (including coffee/tea) whilst other folks enjoyed burgers and sausage rolls etc. Our bill totalled less than £35 which was impressive given sides and drinks ordered.I would definitely recommend!

My partner and I recently dropped into this little place for a bite... It was lovely!! The place is quite quirky... The staff are lovely and the waitress that served us was very attentive which added to the whole experience. The food was ready in good time and was just beautiful. It is quite a busy little place but nothing was too much trouble and the food was well presented.Well done guys keep up the good work!!!

Called in for tea and scones which were delicious. Best ever. People were enjoying meals in the restaurent and it was obious they were locals as so many knew each other. With so many other cafes around it showed how popular it was

Nice wee spot for a fry. Cheap and cheerful and always busy which is a good sign. I definitely recommend it

Came here a couple of weeks back with my dad and his partner. Wow didn't realise it was so big, I had a scone and a cup of tea. Both were equally tasty. Would def recommend here to people!

Popped in for a coffee yesterday afternoon. Great coffee. Latte could have been hotter though. The displayed cakes and pastries looked delicious.

Self & husband called in for coffee and cake. The choice of "sweet stuff" seemed rather limited, but we chose a chocolate muffin and a chocolate iced ring doughnut. To accompany this we ordered a hot chocolate and a cappuccino. total cost £7.98 (from memory). The hot chocolate was served in a jam jar with a handle, around the top of which was tied a ribbon - the drink also had a straw in it. Never had a hot drnk with a straw before! Asked the waitress to change it to a "proper" cup - which she did. Unfortunately by the time it was returned to my husband it was so cool that he downed it in one. To me, the clue is in the word "hot". My chocolate muffin appeared to me to be a bit stale, so I didn't eat it all There are so many other coffee shops in the same street, that we won't be back.

It is a very clean looking and well decorated restaurant. The young girl that took the order was very friendly and we were only having some coffee and soup. My wife can't have a lot of diary so asked the waitress to ask for a sample of soup to establish if the cream of vegetable soup was really creamy.... the waitress came back to say its only described as that and there is no cream in it. We ordered it anyway and tea and coffee arrived, 20 mins later no soup, bread or glasses of water came. We were then pushed for time so went up to pay the bill and the same girl apologised when we told her and we left. Just check they have the right order, the place did look nice however.

Great cafe for breakfast, lunch or just for tea/coffee and a scone. We go here every time we visit Newcastle. The food is always freshly cooked and the staff couldn't be nicer.

Best breakfast in South Down. The cafe was busy but all the breakfast tasted as if freshly cooked just for us. The staff behaved as if they enjoyed their jobs and nothing too much trouble.

Nice food, nice service. Only negative is that Shimna is a 'cash only' establishment and does not provide a facility to pay your bill by card and we only found this out when we went to pay our bill. Locals might be informed about this but out-of-town visitors wont be and there are no signs anywhere indicating they are 'cash only'. This is odd but strangely common in towns in Northern Ireland that are frequented by tourists - many tourists like to carry debit/credit cards instead of cash for various reasons...I think it is penny-pinching of the owners to not offer card facilities to customers. Make sure you have enough cash on you before you order!

We were delighted to find this buzzing, large coffee shop in the centre of town. We enjoyed delicious fries with proper tea and coffee, and really friendly staff. Prices were incredible! We paid only £9.95 for breakfast with drinks. Highly recommended.

My wife and i have Been coming to this restaurant for many years this time with our two young grandchildren . We all had breakfast and once again it didn't disappoint great service as always

I visited the Shimna in July for afternoon coffee and I was very impressed by how clean everything was. I really liked the retro style and the flowers on the tables. The staff were very friendly and efficient. My mocha and scone was delicious so the next time I am in Newcastle I will visit the Shimna.

I had the All Day Breakfast and a tea. All the items had flavour and were well presented. Great value for money.

The Shimna is very clean with little vases of fresh flowers on each table. The all day breakfast is fine . I have eaten it a few times. The staff are very pleasant. I usually call in for a take away coffee. it is grand and sets me up for a few hours by the sea.

I love the Shimna Diner and visit it every time I travel to Newcastle. The all day fry is amazing and coffee is wonderful. Will set you up for the day. The little gem is very clean and staff extremely helpful. Would recommend the Shimna for sure :)

We called in to the Shimna in the hope of getting a bite to eat for lunch which unfortunately didn't happen. I am Allergic to Dairy and Soya and asked the waiter if he could speak to the chef and find out what I could eat off their menu...he came back to tell me they can't guarantee if any of their food would be free from dairy or soya, I asked could they not just check the ingredients on the packets and his reply was "all our food just comes in a big box with no ingredients on them, we don't really know what's in it" - alarm bells rang!! This, along with the fact that it seemed the staff were sniggering and talking about us, prompted us to leave. Very disappointed with the experience, the only reason I haven't rated this as "terrible" is because they agreed to heat up some baby food for me (before the allergy issue arose)Perhaps the owners should make sure the staff (especially the chefs!) are made aware of the LAW regarding Allergens!! "You have a legal responsibility to provide the correct allergen information about the ingredients that is in the food you make or serve, to your customer"Safe to say we will not be returning!

This little diner is perfect for a quick bite when in Newcastle. Myself and my boyfriend called in for breakfast on a Saturday morning, and the diner was quite full, and as it is rather small felt a little cramped. The breakfast fry was delicious but I felt rather underwhelmed by the chicken salad, which didn't contain much salad at all. Nice and cheap though, and the area is convenient.

My partner and I visited the Diner during The Irish Open.The restaurant was packed and under great pressure,their response: Head down, keep smiling,produce good food in a timely polite manner.This restaurant is great.If you are in this delightful seaside town pay a visit.I will be back and given that I have a reputation for being hard to please its worth a visit.

Always stop off here when we visit Newcastle, lovely little Diner and very friendly staff. They are generally quite busy on past visits but have a quick turnaround and promptly clear and wipe down the tables for the next customers. Food is lovely, very generous servings for their fry and very reasonably priced! They also have a few tables outside the front door, if weather permits, nice place to sit with a tea and scone or tray bake and people watch :) Lovely establishment and I recommend you give it a try.

We called into the Shimna on a cold blustery day in November for something warm, I ordered a cheese & tomato toastie and my OH ordered a Bacon & Cheese burger with chips, the food was exactly what we ordered and nice and hot, it didn't take too long to arrive and was cooked fresh, the waitress was very pleasant, friendly and attentive.I have no problem in recommending this diner for a spot of lunch or even a hot coffee and freshly baked scone, it is comfortable, clean and very pleasant staff and the price was very good, just over £11 for our meals with drinks.

Called in on Sunday for a mini-breakfast and coffee. The staff were helpful and the food was very well prepared. There was a warm atmosphere, with music in the background and some happy staff singing along. I would highly recommend this coffee shop/diner. We will certainly return.

I work in the shimna and have done for 12 years I make all my coffee to a high standard if I don't like the look of it I WILL NOT SERVE IT as I would not drink it my self. Soup it the best in the town to made fresh everyday with potatoes celery carrots leeks onions and it has a lovely texture to it so come one come and and try the best place in town and the price of meals r the cheepest in town not just saying that cos I work their have tryed other places in town and not worth the money

Went to the Shimna for breakfast and lunch. The breakfast was a full soda at a cost of £3.50 it was pretty tasty, however lunch was not so good. I ordered cream of vegetable soup which consisted of no vegetables or thickness of broth, it was basically a watery broth that consisted of what seemed like watery bread out of a blender. Mentioned to a MALE member of staff who was quite abrupt and told me it was first complaint they had EVIDENTLY it was not if you read the other comments on here. The female members of staff were lovely and i will go back for that reason.

As usual we try to get out and visit somewhere once a week, today we headed to Newcastle County Down. The weather was excellent, clear sky's, sunny and tempature of 21 degrees.On arrival at Newcastle our first need was a good up of coffee. The Shimna Diner looked a good choice, right on the main street and a few tables occupied.In we went and our order was taken promptly. Then the wait began, 10 minutes turned into 15when a member of staff came over to tell us there was training going on.After another 5 minutes out coffee and scone arrived, my coffee was nearly cold and I had to ask for it to be heated.The coffee was reserved with a comment that the steamer was not working correctly, the coffee was still on the cool side, I was able to drink it right away, it was not hot like coffee should be.I never made anymore complaints, we just paid and left, the staff had to use their own money to give me my change, there was no change in the till.Once bitten twice shy is my motto, I will not return, there are better coffee stops in Newcastle and I will return to my usual stop at the other end of town.Faulty Towers should be name of this place.I don't usually give a negative report but I could not recommend this place, it would ruin my honest reviews.

2 coffees were cold before toasties arrived. Waited 30mins for them and we got 1 slice of cured ham, thin slice of cheese with "a salad" which consisted of 1 slice of cucumber, 2 slices of pepper half the size of my little finger and 2 "scrunched" up lettuce leaves all for £11.50 !!!!! We will not go back again !!!

Excellent food service and decor. Prices quite good for both food and wine etc. A must eat if staying in newcastle

I often call to the Shimna Diner and find the staff calm pleasant and welcoming, whether I have a meal or just buy a take-away coffee. It makes my day and is more pleasant than the bustle and occasional long waits in a couple of cafes further down the main street.

Shimnas Diner was recommended to me by several people so we decided to have breakfast there. Waiter was very quick on taking r order and serving us tea and coffee, however we waited 25 mins on our order by which time we had finished our beverages and we were hoping to be asked if we would like a top up. My husband ordered the large 11 peice fry which was £5.95, and im on a diet programe so i didnt the whole special I did not want the bread and sausage,so i asked if i could only have scrambled egg mushroom grilled tomato beans and 1 slice of bacon. I was offered bread and i asked if it was included in the price he said yes so i took it and gave the bread to my husband. When i got the bill it was just over £14 i questioned it as the special was £5.95 and that included tea and coffee, and was told u pay more when u make up your own order. The food was lovely but definitely NOT good valuei, I had expected to pay £11.90

The scones here are excellant, The food in plain and simple, no pretensions and always freshly cooked.

Call here most mornings for a coffee. Enjoy great cuppa, great service, and great music! Winter calls for a bowl of their vegetable soup, so very very tasty....makes me almost wish for cold weather again!!!

We had a mini fry here before heading up the mournes for the day. It was delicious and very reasonably priced! Staff were friendly and helpful. I accidentally left my handbag in the restaurant and returned hours later to find they had kept it aside for me. This was MUCH appreciated as it contained my phone, camera and purse.Many thanks to the staff!! Can't wait to go back.

I visited this diner for the first time today and was pleasantly surprised. The diner was really clean and the staff were so helpful and friendly. When you order tea you get a large pot of tea and plenty of milk (which is uncommon). The carrot cake was lush. The diner itself has a wonderful calming feel to it - great to relax in, and I loved the decor. Will certainly go here rather than my usual place from now on.

I agree with the previous reviewer that the Shimna serves the best scones in Newcastle. I have had them every time I visit and they are soft and light and heavenly and reasonably priced compared to the fancy coffee shops in the area.do yourself a favour and call in for a coffee and a scone. You won,t be disappointed. I have tried all the coffee shops in Newcastle so I know what I,m talking about.

We've been calling into this little cafe for a good few years now, for a pitt stop, when shopping. It serves good honest food at reasonable prices. We have , on ossasion had a lovely breakfast fry, for an early treat, but our favourite is the tea and SCONES. Believe me when I say we've been disappointed by scones in other places, and these are fabulous. Big, fresh, and served warm if you wish. Another comforting thing is that they are covered uner a display stand ( unlike some other places), where the scones are out in the open where flies etc can light on them, and worse- people touch them , and cough over them! Ugh! You can have a regular dinner here also, which is of very good quality. The place has had a makeover recently, and is lovely and fresh and clean.The staff are friendly.