The Stormy Cup — Restaurant in Northern Ireland

It’s been a couple months since I last visited The Stormy Cup, but I wanted to come back and write this review on behalf of my family.

Interesting art, delicious food, great coffee, cozy furnishings, beautiful views — these are all noted in the other reviews here. All very true things about The Stormy Cup.

I live in California, however, where we are lucky that one throw a rock in any direction and hit a cafe with many of the aforementioned qualities. What made a lasting impression on us about this place is that it had all of these qualities and more.

We were planning to be in Northern Ireland for about a week for vacation. An unexpected loss of a family member with us during that trip prolonged that visit into a month of unimaginable grief.

As more friends and family flew in from around the world (U.S., France, Italy) to join us, The Stormy Cup was our daily morning headquarters. We could always reliably find at least one person in our group sitting there. Some of us called it La Stormy Tasse. Sometimes we ate in, sometimes we had a quick takeaway. Our breakfasts always were delicious and gave us fortitude to face the rest of each day.

The staff was incredible to us. I can’t recall a single time they mixed up or delayed our order, even when we descended upon the restaurant as a large group. They served with kindness, patience, and warmth.

The kids in our group adored their breakfasts there. The littlest one came to be affectionately nicknamed “Mr. Eggs Benedict”. The staff knew our regular orders because the big group of us came so often.

After everyone else had gone home following several long weeks of hospital visits and funeral preparation and grieving, my partner and I went again for breakfast — just the two of us. The sudden quiet overwhelmed me; but I didn’t think anyone saw me crying into a napkin at the table. A staff member brought over a dessert on the house and simply said, “It looked like you were having a hard day.”

The Stormy Cup is no ordinary cafe. It’s a place that will welcome your family and treat you as if you were their family too. Places like this are so rare. The people of Donaghadee are lucky to have it.

Big kisses to all on the staff at this amazing cafe. Thanks for supporting us through a stormy time. This place will be our family’s first stop whenever we can visit again. We’ll try to give you a heads up next time so you can stock up...

*Update from my review 2 weeks ago

Please see attached photograph. Upon leaving a review of our experience in the stormy cup; the owner has looked up my place of work and sent an email for the attention of my CEO. He has fabricated his own narrative that I see is consistent with some of the other responses he has left to negative reviews- we were rude to staff and he has CCTV proof of this. This is now harassment and defamation. This could have jeopardised my job and affected my livelihood which was his clear intention. Extremely embarrassing and unprofessional behaviour and I will be pursuing this further.

Stopped this morning for a coffee at the first place we seen. Said "award-winning" on the window. Ordered 2 coffees, pot of tea and 3 scones. This arrived 15-20 mins later...coffee was luke-warm you could have downed it in 1 gulp. they also forgot the scones and didn't provide milk or a spoon for the tea? Reminded the waitress we ordered 3 scones and she then advised us the variety we ordered were now out of stock and offered us alternative which arrived another few minutes later for us to enjoy with our cold coffees. Upon writing this review I have scrolled down to see that the owner or management actually reply to negative comments in the most unprofessional tone. People pay for and expect a standard of service. It's not a given that they chose your coffee shop, it's a choice they make and when they make that choice and you haven't delivered then as a business you should always be looking at ways to improve. Certainly in a cost of living crisis where you are choosing to eat out less frequently; if your service is below par or the food doesn't meet expectations and they have paid for that then as a customer they will voice their frustrations. It's extremely embarrassing reading through the owners replies to reviews and maybe their own attitude and inability to take criticism trickles down...

🌊 The Stormy Cup – A Dreamy Café with a Sea View and a Generous Heart ☕

The Stormy Cup is hands down one of the most charming cafés I’ve ever visited. Not only does it offer a direct and peaceful view of the sea, but it also serves coffee that’s clearly made with love and expertise.

What truly sets this place apart is the owner—a kind, generous, and passionate coffee enthusiast who has even developed his own roast level called “Stormy.” It’s a unique, rich blend you simply can’t miss—smooth, deep, and comforting.

When I expressed interest in the beans, the owner didn’t just talk about them—he generously gave me a large cup of freshly roasted coffee beans to take home. That level of hospitality is rare and unforgettable.

If you’re visiting alone, you’ll enjoy a great chat with him—he has so many fascinating stories to share, and you’ll feel right at home. If you’re with family or friends, it’s also the perfect place to relax over a delicious breakfast (don’t miss the Ulster Fry or Eggs Royale) and beautifully made coffee with latte art.

This café truly feels like my dream coffee shop—a warm atmosphere, soulfully crafted drinks, kind-hearted people, and an unbeatable view. If you’re ever nearby, do yourself a favour...