Afternoon Tea at Lough Eske Castle

What to Expect

Lough Eske Castle is a restored 19th-century castle a few kilometres outside Donegal Town, on the shore of the lough it takes its name from. Traditional afternoon tea is served daily in the Lobby Lounge or in one of the castle’s drawing rooms, across a wide window from midday to 5pm every day of the week. That five-hour spread is unusually generous for a hotel of this level, and it means the tea can be fitted around a walk of the grounds or a spa appointment rather than pinning you to a single fixed sitting.

The setting carries most of the appeal. Stone walls, tall windows facing the water, and the formal drawing-room atmosphere of a working castle hotel are difficult to replicate in an ordinary hotel lounge. The estate runs down to the lough shore, and the grounds are open to walk before or after a booking.

The hotel’s own afternoon tea menu prices the Traditional sitting at €30 per person, with a Sparkling version at €38, a Champagne version at €47 and a children’s menu at €15. The castle’s Cedars Restaurant operates separately for full dining and hosts occasional wine dinners through the year. The afternoon tea is the more accessible way to see the property without committing to an evening meal or a stay. Because this is a busy working hotel rather than a dedicated tearoom, the public rooms are shared with residents and whatever else is on that day, so booking ahead matters more at weekends than midweek.

Good to Know

• Served daily, Monday to Sunday, midday to 5pm. Next available: Saturday 15 August 2026.
• Venue: Lough Eske Castle Hotel, Lough Eske, Donegal Town, Co. Donegal.
• Traditional Afternoon Tea €30, Sparkling €38, Champagne €47, Children’s €15. Confirm current rates when booking.
• Booking is recommended, particularly at weekends.
• Contact: +353 74 972 5100 or reservations@lougheskecastlehotel.com.
• The estate spa and the lough-shore grounds pair naturally with a tea booking.

Getting There

Lough Eske Castle is about 4km northeast of Donegal Town, signposted off the R250 lough road, with turns marked from the town. The hotel has ample on-site parking. There is no bus service to the castle itself, so a car or a taxi from Donegal Town covers the final stretch. Donegal Town is on the N15 and N56 and is served by Bus Eireann routes from Sligo, Letterkenny and Dublin, so the town is easy to reach even if the last few kilometres are not.