Shells Cafe — Restaurant in County Sligo

Shells Cafe is an absolute gem on Strandhill beach, and a visit to Sligo isn't complete without stopping here. The location is second to none, with a stunning ocean view that you can enjoy from their covered outdoor terrace or from the cozy indoor seating. It’s the perfect place to warm up with a hot cup of coffee after a walk on the beach, no matter the weather. Beyond the incredible view, the food and coffee are truly fantastic. We've been back multiple times and have always been impressed with the great selection of breakfast and lunch options. The full Irish breakfast is hearty and delicious, and the Eggs Benedict with salmon is an absolute standout—fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. Their coffee, whether it's a rich black coffee or a perfectly made flatwhite, is a highlight and the ideal accompaniment to any meal. Shells Cafe is also incredibly convenient. You can sit down for a leisurely meal, grab a coffee for takeaway to enjoy on the beach, or pop into their small shop next door. The "Little Shop" is a real bonus, offering everything from artisan deli items to unique local souvenirs and other necessities. This place has a wonderful, relaxed atmosphere that perfectly captures the spirit of Strandhill. The staff are always friendly and efficient, even on the busiest days. Shells is a place we love to come back to again and again. Open daily until 6 PM, it’s a must-visit spot for anyone in the Strandhill area looking for a memorable meal with an...

Disappointed. Hadn’t eaten here for a while and was very excited to visit again today. Not sure what was going on but cleanliness and service was very poor. Ordered threes toasted sandwiches and a coffee. Coffee arrived and spoon was dirty with what looked like chocolate cake from a previous customer aaagghhh! Really! Then received three glasses of water and all three glasses were really grubby with so many finger marks and one had lip marks! More aarrggghhh! I asked for a new spoon and fresh glasses and these were quickly changed. Then waited 30 minutes for the sandwiches while other customers, at three separate tables who arrived after I had ordered were served toasted sandwiches, fish and chips, coffee. When I asked where my order was, I was told there was a delay in the kitchen, but if that was the case the delay didn’t affect other customers. Hmmmm. However, when our sandwiches did eventually arrive, they were delicious. But given the lack of cleanliness, ohhh, I forgot to mention manky tomato sauce bottles…..on every table, so obviously refilled numerous times, so yes, given the lack of cleanliness and poor service, I won’t be back for a long time. The delicious food does not overcome the lack of cleanliness. Miles, someone...

I hadn't been at shells for a couple of years. Decided to give it a go for lunch today. Got seated fairly quickly then we were left 15 minutes waiting to order. I had to stand up to grab the attention of someone to take our order. I had Korean chicken & she had goats cheese salad and kids had cowboy burger and calamari and chips. Everyone else was served at the table and my dish never arrived. Waiting staff forgot about me. Once again had to stand up for a few minutes trying to get someones attention to give me my lunch. Korean chicken dish was like a chicken fillet roll from centra on a plate without the bread. The chicken fillet tasted like it went straight from the freezer into the fryer. Beautiful salad leaves destroyed by swamping them in gallons of mayonnaise. Couldn't finish it and feel sick after it. Goats cheese salad didn't come with pecan nuts or orange segments as described and no bread to accompany felt a bit cheap. The Calamari was burnt and the cowboy burger just meat and bread, no sauce. Kids meals looked incredibly unhealthy, no salads or vegetables. This place is a greasy spoon with burgers and chips thrown in the fryer and no real effort. Zero effort and zero customer service gets a Zero...