The Bay Tree in North Down

For me, did not live up to that rave reviews however was still nice. The seats were pretty uncomfortable and it was quite cold inside. Toilets are up steep stairs also. I went to try out the world changing scone and was very disappointed to be given what to me was a cinnamon roll with butter on top?? Was totally confused….call me old fashioned but I like to cut open a scone and fill with jam and cream?? Maybe it’s just be! I will say though, the coffee was very good.

This is a place I went to for many years growing up and am keen to take my young family in turn when we visit the area. The food remains a very high standard and the cinnamon scones are as good as ever. Sadly we were disappointed to find no menu or options specifically for kids. Equally, the menu had a range of options for breakfast/brunch and lunch but it did not specify which were available. The waiter had to list the items that I could choose and which were only available for lunch (we went at 1030). I would visit again but perhaps not with young children.

This is an excellent place to eat,a great choice of food and very fast service. Well done to everyone and Many thanks.

Love this place for lunch with friends. The menu is always interesting & the food consistently good.

Gorgeous food and service. Definitely worth the hype, highly recommend! We always come here :)

We had the chowder and the spicy peanut eggs and the food was so delicious. The cafe is cute and cozy.

Best brunch ever on a sun shiney day. Thank you Bay Tree 😀😎

Great choice of vegetarian dishes. Delicious food and friendly service.

Perfect place for lunch although I think they open some evenings too but you'd need to check. My favourite lunch is the chicken liver pate which comes with 2 chunky pieces of wheaten bread and a nice salad.

I love this place. Great food and coffee. The staff are very pleasant and welcoming as well. Totally recommend The Bay Tree

If we could leave 10 stars we would. The food and atmosphere were lovely. The team facilitated my dietary restrictions and made me a lovely meal. All the staff were amazing especially Jonny who very kindly gave us a lift to the station when our taxi failed to show up and we were rushing for a flight! Thank you so much

Whilst the food on offer was good, there's no choices for kids, eg. burgers etc. Either they starve or pay up to £12 for a meal quite unsuitable for a youngster. 2 adults 2 kids £57, for a Saturday lunch.

Fabulous food and service, relaxed atmosphere, great wine. The Bay Tree never disappoints. William and his team on top form. Thank you for a delightful dinner!

Another one of my haunts when in Belfast, very creative menus which are truly scrumptious. Staff friendly and attentive, and of course the cinnamon scones lush!!!!

Lovely place for a brunch coffee and cinnamon buns. The cinnamon buns are absolutely delicious, and they melt in one's mouth. Highly recommend this place

I always try to be fair in my reviews and I accept The Bay Tree is very popular but I probably wouldn't return. We were there for lunch and were sitting quite close to the door. I found it quite cold and kept my coat on. The staff were very pleasant but they seemed quite distracted and kept forgetting things. Consequently the service could have been better. I chose a red pepper tart which was served with salad. The tart was nice but the salad consisted primarily of salad leaves with a little tomato - I felt it could have been more varied. I think I would hesitate before returning for lunch.

Lovely place to come. The breakfasts are amazing. Staff very polite. Lovely an clean place. Wheelchair access.

Friday morning. Recommendations for the cinnamon scone are well justified. Delicious. Coffee very good. First time visit. Can't understand how we have not been here before this. Will definitely be back for lunch. The menu is very appetising. Informative staff.

A bit too crowded, one less table would make it more comfortable for other customers. Toilet seat not secure and was unstable. No hook on wall for handbag

I challenge you to find a better cinnamon scone in Ireland - potentially the world. Cozy vibes & good coffee. Highly highly recommend

I wish I'd taken a photograph to show the appalling lack of food on my plate today in The Bay Tree. Two poached eggs (with added bonus of egg shell) and two miserly pieces of sourdough toast which were cold and slightly burnt so that the butter wouldn't spread. It's a busy, popular place but unfortunately I don't see the attraction. I won't be back.

Don't miss the cinnamon scones!! Always busy so you may have to wait for a seat but the food is worth it!

Myself and my daughter ate here yesterday for lunch. I've eaten here several times over the last 20yrs and can honestly say I absolutely love it. I find the staff very pleasant and efficient and the food very tasty. Yesterday, we both had the beef with champ, it was absolutely delicious, the beef just melted in your mouth. Fantastic lunch, really enjoyed it and great value for money. Cinnamon scones are always a must here too as they really are the best I've ever tasted. There are lots of places to eat in Holywood but I have to say this is my favourite 😊

The food and the service in the Bay Tree were of the very highest quality. We were a party of 6 and every person was delighted with their food. Thank you

Friendly Restaurant with good selection of food for breakfast and lunch, nice place to sit, but often very busy

Thought the whole place needed a coat of paint and a good clean

I visited The Bay Tree today after travelling quite a long distance I don't live locally, it's is one of my favourite spots to eat it has great food, a relaxed atmosphere and good friendly service. Unfortunately today was a solo diners nightmare, I arrived right behind a group of four people who were seated immediately and offered menus immediately. I was left to stand a while and then I asked if it was alright to be seated. After waiting around ten minutes I popped up the main counter and asked if I could take a menu. There was my mistake "politeness" and being a solo female diner, the guy looked at me and asked if someone was joining me then asked if he could move me to another table to accommodate the next diners that arrived in. I wasn't greeted I certainly did not feel welcome and walked out feeling quite angry and annoyed. I've eaten solo at the Bay Tree over the years many times and sat at practically all the different tables which no bother always felt welcome and nothing was a problem. This has only happened to me once before in all of the years that I've ate out, it was a male server who did the exact same thing when I was younger. I should have stood my ground and kept my table! If this happens again please contact management and stand your ground. Keep your table! I won't be back after my experience I walked down the main Holywood street to their competitor was warmly welcomed and had a lovely lunch there instead.

The bay tree is a grdat spot for some coffee, tray bakes and lunch. Enjoyed the food and value for money.

Nice and quirky breakfast alternatives. I can highly recommend the Korean omelette. The famous cinnamon bun was quite doughy and claggy.

Really excellent food and service in a cosy cafe down a hidden alley in Holywood. We were so impressed by the depth of flavour of our dishes, and the fact that they had such an excellent and creative set of vegetarian options (rare in NI!). Will definitely be back.

We have been to this place a few times for tea and scones and the likes. It was good. It is always packed, with a good energy. Today we went for something to eat and the experience was less rewarding. The food was not hot, it was oily, not pleasant to look at or eat.

Good wee cafe. Like most there are not a lot of soft furnishings to dampen the noise and echo. It would be great to see some decent sound dampers to award this place 5 stars.

We haven’t been to the Baytree for dinner in years. It didn’t disappoint. There was plenty of room between tables so you didn’t feel squished. The choice of small and large plates was fantastic. We struggled to choose so selected a different one each and then swapped. The flavours were amazing. William and staff were attentive but not so much that we felt uncomfortable. I’ll be back again soon with friends to try all the small plates.

What a disappointment to say the least!!! The venue was very chilly ( as was our previous time). When asked for carrot cake, it was unavailable. Because I showed my disappointment, I was told did I get out of bed the wrong side!!! How dare he.! When I asked for a replacement, he told me it was not delivered yet! His(the server) attitude was SO condescending, as it was on our last visit too, that we walked out. We will NOT be back, and I would advise all to stay away, and NOT support this venue. A much more warm and welcoming just down the road.

goats cheese salad with puy lentils - wow! delicious

Haven't visited for quite a while due to slow service, preferring the Coffee Yard next door. However, it was shut so I thought I'd give the Bay Tree a try again for a coffee. Things haven't changed - I sat for 15 minutes and was neither offered a menu nor asked my order, whilst 3 waiting staff and the manager flustered around trying to free up tables etc. After 15 minutes I left - I'm sure the staff were delighted there was now another spare table for two

Went for lunch with two friends - I fear I perhaps chose the wrong thing - for me. William was superb in how he dealt with my comments . My friends loved their meals . It’s not for nothing this restaurant has such been here for so long . When everything is grand most establishments are fine - what separates the good from the excellent is how they deal with “ issues” . It’s nice to be respected - Baytree is excellent !

The puddings were ludicrously small and cost nearly £5. The coffee was lukewarm and the tables were very cramped. Pretentious and overated. Not the best placed for afternoon snack

The Baytree cinnamon scones really are second to none. Absolutely delicious. I love their pottery too. Well worth a trip.

Had breakfast this morning in the Bay Tree Holywood food was average but very disappointed in the condition of this restaurant, very dirty really needs a deep clean and decorated, sticky floors, tables etc recommend sanitising on the way out ! Definitely won’t be back 😞

Over the last few months I have eaten at this restaurant, mostly for lunch but also for Friday night dinners trying out a variety of items from the menus. The results have invariably been pleasing and I have come to enjoy this place very much. Not only is the food good but the staff are friendly. Because of the floor plan it is difficult for a few staff members to keep track of everything that is going on, but to my delight they always managed it and we never had any problems getting their attention when we needed them, even at busy times. There is a relaxed atmosphere in this restaurant and I’ve had no issues with getting to like it very much.

Very nice staff and the pancakes with syrup i ordern were delicius. Atmosfären was 5 star.

First time tried this shop's 'traybakes'. We bought some 'cinnamon scones/buns' today, it WAS ROCK HARD, like ''stale bread', but worse. Not even the microwave can soften it (tried it), SO BAD, seriously! The bay tree? Never again, waste of money. All the cinnamon scones ended up in the BIN! Really disappointed bakes, the bay tree!!

Absolute joke. No Vegan options on menu. Chef offered courgette soup. Total joke. No vegan options in 2022. Seriously?

Website says " the best fry in County Down" There's no fry on the menu. Nice food but wasn't filling.

Lovely fresh food, imaginatively prepared 🙂

Great to visit again after the covid restrictions were eased. There seems to be less staff and the service was somewhat slower. Poor weather and low temperatures seem to discourage all but the hardiest. I had no problem finding a table and the meal was pleasant.

Seafood chowder should be renamed to sweetcorn chowder, consisted of mainly sweetcorn. Coffee lacked depth of flavour, was quite watery. We had to ask for water 3 times. I had been eager to try this place for a while and I was disappointed.

We had a really super meal this evening. The garlic prawn starter was excellent and the trout with capers was better than what we’ve had in most restaurants. The chocolate and walnut mousse was a real treat to finish our meal. An excellent night of...

This is a delightful cafe down a courtyard - a little hard to find from the road, but well worth tracking down. It was sunny enough to be able to sit outside and enjoy our coffees. My friend used to remember the days when the...

We enjoyed our visit to the restaurant. We ordered soup of the day and cinnamon scones. The soup was fantastic (fresh and has a modern twist). Would definitely visit again.

Coffee would have been nice if it hadnt been cold asked for small jug hot milk even colder. Table sticky the staff member lifted the previuos stuff off but never wiped it. "MEALS" were tiny. Couldnt wait to go to this place wont rush back £28.30 defo not worth it wont be rushing back unfortunately. Disappointed

A little cafe with a nice quiet sunny garden at the back away from the High Street. Good service but sadly they’d run out of cakes after the bank holiday weekend so not many treats to be had.

I very relaxing aera for a coffee or meal.

Always enjoyed your food. Especially the cinnamon scones 😀

Had a fantastic carryout Lebanese meal on 15th January. Really easy to follow instructions for reheating, delivered to our door and TOTALLY DELICIOUS food. Would definitely do again.!!

On monday the 21st December, myself and a friend came to have coffee and lunch, it was her first time going and I wish id never bothered. Upon arrival we walked through the old front door and got barked at and told to read the...

This is a restaurant. Why? They serve proper food on the edge of risqué for NI. Cooked fresh, to order and the ingredients even though we only had flan and soup were evidently great quality. The bread was a super fresh treat too. Finally staff....

Absolutely lovely food and staff are really pleasant and accommodating.

Had another lovely lunch at The Bay Tree, even under the new restrictions I felt welcomed, well fed and well cared for. The chowder is awesome with lovely warm wheaten bread. Coffee is not complete without a cinnamon scone. So glad William is carrying on...

Can be a bit crowded, but well worth a visit! Great soups, vegetarian, chowder, etc. But... Be very careful if you use the carpark, the entrance is very narrow and you may lose a wing mirror or scratch the side, as I did today!

Service both friendly and professional, food excellent, real pity this cafe does not understand ambience essential for good meal experience, not first time we have eaten in here with winter coats on or covering legs, others around us had similar issues

We called here before our long walk from Holywood to Crawfordsburn. My cousin has been here before and recommended the cinnamon scones which were to die for. Washed down with a lovely cappuccino, it set us up well for a walk when Storm Ciara was...

Stopped in for a quick bite. Had their famous cinnamon scone which was exactly what I came for. The lunch menu has a lot of salads which is great if you are a fan. Staff are great and I love their dishes

Service was fine (nothing special) but the cinnamond scone was a reheated day or two old item ........disappointed that the standard appears to have slipped since my last visit

Cinnamon Scone I always come here for a cinnamon scone If you are not quick they are soon gone The staff are friendly and welcoming That is why The Bay Tree is my favourite thing

An occasional treat to have brunch in town. We hadn’t tried the Baytree so gave it a go. A good call. Good coffee and a wide selection to chose from. We both when with poached eggs on wheaten toast with bacon and mushrooms on the...

It had been a while since I had visited the Baytree for Friday night dinner. The revamped interior is warm and inviting. We arrived at 6:30pm and already the was a buzz about the place. The restaurant quickly filled up and it was good to...

Beautiful famous scones and fabulous coffee. Worth a visit just for the scones. Building doesn't look like it would be as good as it was, bit squished.

Found this quaint little gem by chance today, and decided to pop in, we weren’t disappointed. We were served quickly by a very friendly gentleman, and whilst my four year old son was quite awkward with his breakfast order (wanted pate off the lunch menu with his toast) he got what he asked for. The food we got was delicious. I also tried the chicken liver pate and can say it’s the nicest I’ve ever had! Free coffee top up was also offered, very few places offer this! I can say we will definitely be back for lunch and dinner! Plus the vintage shop beside the bay tree (although closed) just topped it off for me

Sunny day 😎 Sitting outside soaking up the beautiful sun This is the place to be. to relax and have fun 🌞

Great place. Excellent food and very reasonable prices. Good friendly service. Best to check on when they open for what meals.

A very nice meal on our first night in Holywood, after a long day travelling. Service very friendly and helpful. Good food, although the langoustine were a bit dry and thin. Everything else very good (between us we had a cheese/asparagus tart, the grilled langoustine, cod, goats cheese salad, beetroot fritters, fruit crumble). Very good quality at a good price. I understand it's more of a daytime café than an evening dinner venue, but we were very happy.

Simply put this place is excellent. If it’s just a coffee and tray bake/scone or a full meal, the Bay Tree hits the spot every time. Great staff, fantastic creativity and unique surroundings.

Lovely place for lunch. Been on a couple of tasting nights. Great fun!

Had lunch here and was impressed by the choice. We had the open sandwich which was very tasty, with an excellent hummus and Harrisa chicken. It was very filling and we thoroughly enjoyed it. Last month we had dinner here and felt the choice was a bit more average, especially the desserts. The food was fine but just not as interesting as our lunch and the desserts were a bit boring. Will certainly return for lunch and would recommend it for this.

Couldn't resist the delicious honey & ginger glazed, homemade sausage, in a steamed bao bun. This yummy concoction took the humble sausage to a new level, with adventurous flavours and lovely presentation. It was accompanied by crispy onions and cucumber that was lightly pickled to perfection. Add in toasted peanuts and alfalfa for taste and texture, and you have something flawless.

Everything about this place is excellent The fresh food is heaven sent And the coffees are money well spent

Have been going to The Bay Tree for many years now and I still love it. I went recently, with a couple of friends, for brunch and it was faultless. I always ask for some cinnamon scones to take home with me as i just Can't find better anywhere.

We get to the Belfast area once a year or so. Each time, we make sure to eat at least one meal at The Bay Tree in Holywood. We go for the cinnamon scones, but meals are delicious and satisfying. For those who want a simple dish, the seafood chowder is wonderful, made from the catch of the day. A bonus is that the Bay Tree is a short distance from Holywood shopping and a fun beach walk along Belfast Lough.

Cinnamon scone milkshake is great

The place is always busy so you need to go early or be prepared to wait but the food is amazing.

On 3 November a group of 6 of us attended an evening called Off The Beaten Track at £45 per head. One of our party had let the staff know he had a garlic/onion intolerance at least 2 weeks prior to event. The room was very crowded with packed long tables and benches - and very noisy people next to us. Not the problem of the staff of course but if they had reduced their numbers attending it would have been a more pleasant experience. However no doubt they wanted to make as much money as possible! Five of us thought the meal was ok but nothing special as we had hoped for. The smoked mackerel served as a starter was over cooked and tough.

Nice we place .cake stale tho .sadly uneatable .although they did give a refund

Cake was about 3days old stale & hard

Cinnamon scones are to die for and it's worth coming in just for those. On other days I'd score it high for casual lunch with friends especially the salads and healthy options. Today I hoped the the beetroot and apple soup at early lunch time today would combine the best of the butternut and apple soup or the borsch in this cafe's recipe book- both are excellent. Sadly the beetroot and apple soup was inedible. Purple coloured pulp but no earthy beetroot flavour. Monotonous texture and taste of apple purée was far too sweet for soup. Perhaps apples are sweeter this year after the hot summer? "Telling the chef" may have improved seasoning for later diners but when a full bowl goes back to kitchen offering a take-away cup doesn't address the problem. Been coming her for decades, will stick to the scone in future.

Tasty freshly cooked food that’s just a little out of the ordinary, but also lunchtime favourites as well.

Good food and service. Their cinnamon scones are legendary.

Lunch for 3 adults and one child. Wonderful chowder served with wheaten bread also vegetable (carrot and coriander) was very tasty. Haven't had a full meal there but hear its good.

Great food, slightly cramped for space, parking sometimes difficult

Went for late lunch with a friend - place was really busy and just about got a table at 2pm. Very impressed by the menu - not your usual fayre and enjoyed trying something different - had quesadillas with perfect fries. Great place to wile away an afternoon.

Very long wait, to the point I left as lack of service.

Have had lunch here twice this month. First time service was impatient and food special brunch was just OK.

A great spot with lots of local flavour, tasty food, good coffee and a very relaxed vibe, it’s especially good for a weekend chilled out brunch. Only negative is menus and tables tend to be a little bit grubby.

Absolutely stunning little gem of a place!!

My husband and I visited the Bay Tree for a meal and really enjoyed it. I had delicious beetroot falafels with tahini yoghurt, while my husband had a steak. Very nice service from the waiters - friendly and quick. Overall, loved the food and would highly recommend it. Excellent little spot.

Been before and have always enjoyed it. Not disappointed on this occasion. Interesting special lunch menu. Excellent food even if the service was a bit slow. Will be back

Great evening out with a few friends! Food was really delicious and very reasonable. Wine list not pricey either. Staff were attentive and contributed to a very relaxed and enjoyable evening. Birthday celebration for one of us and we will definitely be back for dinner again.

Husband and I went for breakfast. My husband ordered breakfast stack no potatoe bread and they should really call it a filled soda. Burnt sausages and fatty bacon wont be back very disappointed

I have been visiting the Bay Tree for years and always thoroughly enjoy it. Today I had an iced coffee and the usual cinnamon scone which were both absolutely lovely. However, my friend and I were served by an older lady and we were both shocked by how rude she was. Very unfriendly and grumpy towards us, perhaps because we are a bit younger but that is no excuse. As a part-time waitress myself, I would never interact with customers in such a rude way. I cannot usually fault the Bay Tree but today I was not as pleased as usual. However, it won’t stop me going back.