At Nancy’s Barn, we’re all about honest, local flavours and that warm Donegal welcome that makes you feel you’ve been here before.

Nancys Barn, a stone building with red window shutters, surrounded by green foliage, during sunset.

Nancy's cozy restaurant interior with a large wooden table set with utensils and napkins, a vase with white flowers as a centerpiece, warm lighting, and a visible kitchen in the background.

A quirky seaside café serving fresh local dishes and World Award-Winning chowder on the Wild Atlantic Way.

Nancy’s Barn is a quirky, rustic seaside café rooted in the heart of Ballyliffin. What started as a small local spot has become a food lovers’ destination. This is thanks to our award-winning seafood chowder, fresh homemade dishes, and the lively, friendly spirit that fills the barn every day. We do things the old-fashioned way; fresh seafood, local produce, and food made with pride and personality.

No fuss. No frills. Just proper flavour and a warm smile.

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What We’re Known For

Good food, great people, and a genuine coastal experience.

A bowl of award winning seafood chowder garnished with a basil leaf, served with homemade bread.

Legendary

Our World Famous Seafood Chowder

Creamy and packed with local catch. It’s the reason people drive out of their way to us!

Close-up of a chicken burger with, lettuce, tomato, and a seeded bun, served with chips in a white container, on a blue plate.

Local

Fresh Local Seafood & Homemade Dishes

Whether its grilled, baked, on a platter or in a bowl - it’s always honest.

Man clapping at a social gathering in a warmly lit room with other people in the background.

Warmth

Time with Family & Friends

Whether you need five minutes or five hours, our coffee is strong and our welcome is genuine.

Pollan beach with tall grass in the foreground, rolling ocean waves in the middle ground, and distant hills under a blue sky.

Coastal

Hearty Food that Refuels

After a walk on Pollan Beach or a drive along the coast, come in hungry. Leave satisfied.

Close-up of a ceramic pot with the embossed label 'Nancy's Barn'.

Connection

A relaxed Donegal vibe with a friendly team who treat you like family

At Nancy’s Barn, people don’t just come in to eat - they come in to connect. And that’s something we always serve in generous helpings.

Make a Boooking

Loved by Locals & Visitors Alike

“The best chowder I’ve ever tasted”

“The best chowder I’ve ever tasted - rich, fresh, and full of flavour. Every visit to Ballyliffin includes a stop at Nancy’s Barn.” - Siobhan, Donegal
“Delicious food and a friendly atmosphere”

“Delicious food and a friendly atmosphere. The perfect place to unwind after a coastal walk.” - Liam, Dublin
“A slice of genuine Donegal hospitality”

“Nancy’s Barn feels like a slice of genuine Donegal hospitality. We come back every year.” - Claire & Paul, UK Regulars

The person who built Nancy’s with their own hands…

Kieran Doherty “Duey”

Tall grass growing on a sandy beach with sea oats and other dune vegetation.

Kieran Doherty dressed in a white uniform and black striped apron holding a bowl of seafood chowder outdoors near the ocean with grassy dunes and rocks in the background.

Nancy’s Barn exists because someone had a dream and believed that good food and genuine warmth mattered.

Introducing local man and award winning chef, Kieran Doherty (Duey). You’ll find Kieran about the barn most days - chatting to customers, tasting in the kitchen, adjusting details, making sure every bowl and plate reflects his standards.

Find out more about Kieran

From The Barn

Stories, cooking tips, and flavours from Ballyliffin

Featured

Coastal Walks in Ballyliffin and Where Hunger Always Leads You

I’ve done most of my thinking on a walk. Not the neat, mindful Instagram kind - REAL walks, with wind in your face and thoughts you can’t escape. Ballyliffin has a way of stripping life back to basics. You walk. You breathe. You get hungry. And eventually, you find your way back to food.