The perfect spot for a food-focused break …
VIBE: Bucket list destination for a food-focused mini break. Owner and chef Neven Maguire and his wife Amelda are known for their congenial hospitality.
NEED TO KNOW: The unassuming townhouse was Neven’s former family home and guesthouse. After renovation and expansion it now houses a perennially booked-out restaurant, with a cosy bar and terrace, and Cookery School.
MacNean restaurant.
DINING: Dinner and breakfast are served in the restaurant, with its well-spaced tables, twinkling lights, pristine tableware – and impeccable service. The guest to staff ratio is impressive – 63 staff to 60 guests – as is the upbeat celebratory ambiance. I counted three milestone birthdays and an anniversary on my visit – a last minute cancellation. The Prestige Menu (€125 or €190 with wine pairings) is served from Tuesday to Saturday from 6pm (there is no second sitting). This comprises seven beautifully balanced courses with additional canapés, sorbets and petits fours, exquisitely presented and garnished with flowers and herbs from the MacNean Garden (ask for a tour with resident gardener Kevin Ashley). Neven takes time to chat to guests, explain the menu, and discuss producers (his multiple awards for championing local produce line the walls). For a more intimate celebration, dine at the Chef ’s Table in the Cookery School, where Neven and his team (led by head chef Carmel McGirr) serve dinner.
The lounge in MacNean House.
DO: Book a cookery course, from €340: Cooking For Friends and Family (November 14 and 15) and Christmas Made Easy (December 11 and 12).
Neven and Amelda Maguire.
VERDICT: Unpretentious yet utterly charming, MacNean House has a special energy reflecting Neven’s passion for food, people and entertaining. Watch Neven’s Ulster Food Tour on RTÉ One.
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