The Lock Keeper's Inn — Restaurant in Northern Ireland

The Lock Keeper's Inn is a charming café situated along the riverbank, offering a relaxing atmosphere with scenic views. It’s a great spot to sit and enjoy a cup of hot chocolate while watching the world go by. The café has a cozy ambiance, making it an ideal place to unwind, especially on a chilly day.

However, I cannot recommend the salads. My daughter ordered one during our visit, and within an hour, she became ill, experiencing nausea and a fever—clear signs of food poisoning. This was deeply concerning, as we had expected fresh and safe food. While the drinks and general setting of the café are enjoyable, food safety should be a top priority.

If you visit, I suggest sticking to beverages or other well-cooked items on the menu. It’s disappointing when an otherwise pleasant experience is overshadowed by concerns about hygiene and food quality. I hope the café takes measures to ensure better food safety standards...

We arrived late yesterday for coffee. It was very hot and the outside area was very busy but we got a bench. A lot of people had their dogs with them at the benches or on the grass but there was a beautiful golden labrador tied up to a sign post at the bottom of the grass. The poor thing barked and barked while it's owners sat a long way from it at the bench. Eventually they sent their young son to try and quieten the dog to no avail. The young boy looked very frustrated and kept looking up at his parents and he actually hit the dog on the back then hugged it. The parents had no concern for that poor animal who by the way had no shade either nor did they care about people having their afternoon disturbed by a barking dog. I found this very upsetting being an animal lover. If dogs are allowed in this area staff should be asking owners to look after their dogs so they are comfortable and not disturbing...

For coffee in Belfast, you can’t go wrong many places. Between the great food, ready access to nature and trails, coffee scene, and unfortunately weather, I found myself comparing Belfast to Seattle. One of the highlights for coffee was Lock keeper’s, housed next to the old Lock Keeper’s residence along the canal locks on the River Lagan.

The area is perfect for recreation and is packed with runners, dog walkers, and stroller strollers. You can even tour the tiny two room lock keeper’s house which until the early 1990s housed the lock keeper’s family without electricity or water. The volunteers on staff are super friendly and spin a great yarn.

The coffee here was excellent and goes perfectly with a sit outside along the water...