A worthy successor to the former French Rooms on the main street of this popular North Coast destination, Bushmills Townhouse was opened in 2024 by Marcus Roulston of the Browns Bonds Hill Collection - so a glamorous little sister to some of the region's best-loved hospitality hotspots including Browns Bonds Hill and Browns in Town in Derry city, Eighteen Ninety Four at Portstewart Golf Club and the wonderful old country house Ardtara, in Upperlands. No pressure so, for the well-trained young staff at this atmospheric venue - but no worries either, as keenly warm hospitality is as much a USP here as the good food and stylish accommodation.
First impressions are sure to please. The exterior is neat and smartly understated, with hours chalked up on a sandwich board at the door to entice hungry passers-by. Once inside, the restaurant is quite large, but - a bit like garden rooms - the warmly atmospheric space is divided into comfortably atmospheric areas of varying sizes, some with the cosiness of an open fire and each with its own character and plenty to please the eye. Smiling staff are quick to greet and seat new arrivals, offering menus and water and explaining the dishes of the day - a simple enough beginning, perhaps, but so nicely done. The food style leans towards Italy, but with a lovely local flavour - they're members of the Taste Causeway association, with a commitment to showcasing local produce sourced within 30 miles. Menus are appealingly modern and the lunch menu, in particular, is cleverly devised - flexible, light and tasty, it offers plenty of choice (including a Build your own sandwich section, based on focaccia, piadina flatbread or ciabatta with a delicious range of fillings), keenly priced light lunches (sandiwch and soup or side about £13, for example) and a tempting collection of Small Plates at about £6. Tempting sweets too of course (try the Amalfi lemon tart, perhaps, or one of the Townhouse gelato collection), and these are also available with tea or coffee in the afternoon, and on the evening menu.
Dinner menus up the ante very nicely, offering a choice of à la carte - about seven equally tempting starter and mains options, still with a distinctive local tone to the Italian theme (Irish peat smoked bresoala, for example) and a very fairly priced six-course Tasting Menu, both with matching wines available. The wine list also favours Italy of course - offering plenty of choice without being dauntingly long, it matches the menu well, starting off with a dozen house wines - all available by the glass (175ml), carafe or bottle - and is rounded off with a page of Connoisseur Wines (£120-£250 range) to mark those big occasions. In an area well served with good eating places, this is a great find for visitors and also favourite place for locals to enjoy a special evening out - and no wonder. With its delightful surroundings, delicious food and warmly engaged service it's making a lovely addition to the area.
Accommodation: Like the restaurant, the spacious rooms are stylishly 'different' and - as well as important basics like seriously comfortable superking sized beds - all rooms have generous sitting areas and private patios. And - unusually for a restaurant with rooms, where the breakfast offering can often be somewhat minimalist - a full hot breakast menu is served, with plenty of delicious local products to ensure a tasty start to a day's golfing or exploring this beautuful area.
