Nancy's
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Hours
Sun
12:00 - 21:00
Mon
12:00 - 21:00
Tue
12:00 - 21:00
Wed
12:00 - 21:00
Thu
12:00 - 21:00
Fri
12:00 - 21:00
Sat
12:00 - 21:00
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Details
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CUISINES
Irish, Bar, Seafood, Pub, Soups
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
Meals
Lunch, Dinner, Brunch, After-hours, Drinks
features
Does this restaurant have live music
Details
CUISINES
Irish, Bar, Seafood, Pub, Soups
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
Meals
Lunch, Dinner, Brunch, After-hours, Drinks
FEATURES
Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Highchairs Available, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Free Wifi, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service, Live Music
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4.5
679 reviews
Excellent
392
Very good
171
Average
63
Poor
34
Terrible
19
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Andrea C C
Bovisio Masciago375 contributions
Aug 2023 • friends
Authentic pub restaurant. Courteous staff. Excellent food. Recommended to us by the owner of our B&B, we had dinner with oysters, smoked mackerel and dish of the day: crab with vegetables. There was only one dessert, apple pie, but delicious. Irish Coffee. All good. Honest account

Written 22 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Linda PK
Banbridge411 contributions
Aug 2024 • family
Historic McHughs’ known as Nancy’s this 8th generation bar is like walking into an old Irish home.
Complete with uneven character floors, quaint little rooms to dine in and an atmospheric front bar, this place is like eating and drinking in an old Irish home. The staff are very welcoming, helpful and efficient hosts! The food is local, of high quality and so delicious that we ate there 2 nights in a row.
Written 18 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
redxdress
Edinburgh339 contributions
Jul 2022 • none
We spent one night in Ardara, and for months I was looking forward to having dinner at Nancy's. You can only book a table if you are in a large group, but I got in touch and was given the helpful advice that if we got to the restaurant by a certain time, we should have no problem getting a table. If anything, the food exceeded my expectations - seafood in particular was prepared perfectly, and the menu reveals creativity, not at all just standard pub fare. The quirky atmosphere makes for a cheerful evening, and we also really enjoyed chatting to a couple of the family members whose business has been Nancy's for generations. If you are going to be in Ardara, I would absolutely recommend a meal here!
Written 3 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
signpostk
162 contributions
Aug 2024 • couples
We had been looking forward to returning to Nancy's but were so disappointed. We have been coming here for decades, though haven't been since before Covid. We visited here to have lunch and a couple of drinks; however, the experience was lacklustre at best. First the positives, it is still an intriguing building, worth a quick visit, and the staff are very friendly. However, the food was just ok, I sent my fish back as it was undercooked, close to being raw. Secondly, the Guinness was appalling. I confess to having many lovely pints here over the years but couldn't during it. This happened on two occasions. I noticed a couple of other people struggling with theirs also, and they agreed the Guinness was awful It was served in the same time as a lager, some of the pints were concave rather than convex and were full of bubbles - a sign of badly stored/served Guinness. This was a pub known for its Good Guinness, sadly no more. It's a shame how the standards have slipped so badly, I hope to visit again next year and that things will have improved.
Written 2 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ciaran Gallagher
3 contributions
Aug 2023 • friends
Favourite bar anywhere good atmosphere and great pint of Guinness.
However forget the food. My chowder looked like a broth and you'd find more seafood in a public swimming pool!
The prawn cocktail sandwich was a 70s effort all frozen prawns covered in a sauce of dubious origins. So in short stick to the pints and maybe a bag of crisps!
Written 7 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kathleenalbany
Albany68 contributions
Jun 2023 • family
food was average but service was poor. waited 50 minutes for our food, the longest of anywhere on our trip. doesn’t live up to the hype. on a limited menu at 6:30 on tuesday they were already out of burgers and fish and chips. indifferent servers. just not the warm irish welcome we are used to
Written 29 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
shinysimo
Cluj-Napoca121 contributions
Jul 2023 • couples
We got here based on the recommendation from our B&B, however is was one of the few places opened during the evening in Ardara. They had quite a few options, great seafood. Serving was also prompt, even though they announced due to the fact they're busy it might take longer. Prices were decent, tables sticky and food was delicious.
Written 25 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wayne H
4 contributions
Aug 2021 • couples
The pub had an old rustic feel, which we had no problem with as it adds character. But THE FOOD was very very poor.
For starters we had the cheesy garlic bread it was presented on a regular plate with no garnish. Resembled something I would have thrown together at college, just regular grated cheese from a bag on top of some bland piece of bread.
Our main course meals were the burger and the days special which was cod. The cod came with frozen peas (zero taste) and the homemade burger was comical. No brioche bun or fries just a burger on a plate with a bowl of baby potatoes accompanied by two sachets of ketchup and mayonnaise.
We ate in Mickalenes the night before and there is no comparison between the two. At Mickalenes the food is presented well and homemade from fresh resources.
Just a heads up.
Written 20 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Treasin
30 contributions
Aug 2024 • couples
Fish and chips was absolutely class. I am not a big fan of tartar sauce so ordered chipotle instead but ended up getting both. The tartar sauce was unreal. The batter on the fish did not look great BUT it had such a lovely flavour. Mushy pea’s looked wet but again were class. I would definitely go back! The mixed bean chilli was really really flavoured not overly spicy but lovely flavours. Definitely recommend this place for food. Staff are warm friendly relaxed and attentive. I noticed a sign on the door on the way out - toilets are for everyone please come in all welcome. Such a nice touch, never seen that before - a measure of the place !
Written 11 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mjarema
Lowell174 contributions
Mar 2024 • couples
We ate at Nancy's twice during a two-night stay in Ardara. We've been to Ireland multiple times but this was our first to Donegal and our first since 2014. The country has changed a lot since then. These pubs/restaurants are fewer and farther between (many of those still open are now corporate-owned); if you are lucky enough to visit Nancy's, you're indeed lucky. Trad Irish fare and a surprisingly delicious jackfruit BBQ.
Written 11 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ehartman
Moorpark17 contributions
May 2024 • family
We were recommended this place as a seafood restaurant. The only fresh seafood on the menu was fish & chips, which was good with generous portions, and fresh oysters, which were ok, but served without any sauce. The other 2 fish items were a smoked salmon sandwich and smoked mackerel pate, which was a puréed smoked mackerel with little seasoning. There were no other fresh grilled or baked fish dishes. The food was very ordinary. Other menu items were typical pub burgers and sandwiches.
The service was average and not very personable.
One reason for the limited menu might be we visited in early May, sort of “off season”., but it was a Friday night. There were several locals while we were there. I wouldn’t expect a fancy menu in a small town, but would have liked more than just average bar food in a proclaimed seafood restaurant.
Written 10 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Billy F
Dublin19 contributions
Sept 2020 • couples
We visited this well established & renowned restaurant last evening.
We were underwhelmed by both the menu & fare.
As a fish restaurant it was disappointing With little evidence that product was sourced from anywhere but Aldi.
On the credit side the Chowder was excellent .
Written 8 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Derval M
2 contributions
Jul 2022 • family
Very disappointing. Quaint bar and staff were friendly. That’s where the good ends. Tables and menu were sticky. Very poor value for what we got. Charged for 3 extra bags of crisps we never ordered. Batter on fish was raw inside. No toppings what so ever on burger. Letting down the wonderful tourist welcome in Donegal. Riding on their long standing good reputation but not putting in the work.
Written 23 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Annie514
County Donegal40 contributions
Jan 2020 • family
This place OK as a pub, quirky, quaint and what many would see as a typical Irish pub.
However, when I ordered a ham sandwich I didn't expect cheap, white, shop bought loaf bread and packet ham. The brown bread served with soup and chowder was also from a packet...not good. Would never go back and would never recommend to others.
Good humour and friendliness wasn't overflowing amongst the staff either.
I feel that they've got the name now so they don't need to try.
Written 26 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ClaraS
1 contribution
Aug 2021 • couples
One of the nicest bars in Donegal. It feels like you're stepping back in time and eating in someone's actual home! Spotlessly clean, great service with friendly staff & lovely food. Definitely worth a visit if you are anywhere near Ardara.
Written 25 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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