Sometimes the best weekends are the ones where you slow down.
No packed itinerary. No rushing from one attraction to the next. Just good food, beautiful surroundings, interesting places to visit and plenty of time to enjoy each other’s company.
Cavan is the perfect place for a slow food weekend for two, with local producers, independent cafés, restaurants, pubs and hotels offering plenty of opportunities to experience food that is made, grown and enjoyed locally.
Here’s how to spend a couple of days discovering the slower side of Cavan.
Friday Evening: Settle In and Start With Good Food
Start your weekend by checking into somewhere that makes it easy to relax and enjoy a great meal without having to go anywhere afterwards.
Crover House Hotel & Golf Club is a beautiful place to begin. Set on the shores of Lough Sheelin, the Georgian house is surrounded by 41 acres of landscaped grounds and offers a peaceful setting for a weekend away.
When it comes to food, the Lakeview Bistro focuses on locally sourced ingredients, with rustic dishes and homemade treats to enjoy while taking in views across the lake.
For something a little more intimate, Hotel Kilmore offers the award-winning Annalee Restaurant, where local and seasonal ingredients are at the heart of the menu.
Or make your first evening part of the experience at the iconic Cabra Castle, where the menus in The Courtroom Restaurant focus on fresh, seasonal produce, with the hotel proudly supporting local farmers, food producers and suppliers.
Let the weekend begin over a good meal!
Saturday Morning: Start Slowly
Forget the alarm and enjoy a leisurely breakfast before heading out to explore.
For couples who enjoy a good coffee and a relaxed atmosphere, Nomad Coffee in Bailieborough is a great place to start the day and perfectly positioned for some great exploration. Nomad was created around speciality coffee and quality local food.
If you’re exploring Belturbet or Cavan town, Café Nua offers another lovely option with two great locations. Run by sisters Inta and Vita, everything is prepared on site using high-quality local ingredients, with homemade cakes, pastries and sweet treats making it particularly tempting for anyone with a sweet tooth.
And if you want to take some Cavan produce home with you, this is the perfect point in the weekend to start thinking about what you might bring back.
Saturday: Discover Where Cavan Food Comes From
A slow food weekend isn’t just about eating. It’s about understanding where that food comes from.
Take a trip out to SeanNua Farm, a regenerative farm between Bailieborough and Kingscourt. The farm produces pasture-raised eggs, poultry, vegetables and other produce while using no-dig, no-spray methods in its market garden.
Forest Hill Farm in Bailieborough is another fascinating example of regenerative farming. Jane and Derek use chemical-free and sustainable farming practices to produce eggs, lamb, pork and homemade jams.
For something completely different, visit Inis Escargot. One of Ireland’s leading snail farms, it was established by Peter Monaghan after he identified an opportunity to develop a viable and innovative farming enterprise in Cavan.
These are the kinds of experiences that make a food-focused weekend different. You’re not simply eating local food. You’re getting to know the people, farms and ideas behind it.
Saturday Afternoon: Find Something Delicious
After exploring, it’s time for a slower afternoon.
Stop somewhere for coffee and something homemade, browse a local market if one is taking place, or simply find a quiet spot and enjoy the pace of the county.
Experience Mary-Ellen’s Meadow, which offers something particularly distinctive. Rose creates artisan cordials using wild herbs, fruits and flowers foraged from the surrounding landscape, including Elderflower, Stinging Nettle, Hawthorn Flower, Gorse and Willowherb.
It’s a wonderful example of Cavan’s connection to its landscape and the idea that good food doesn’t have to begin with a supermarket shelf. Sometimes it starts in the meadow outside your door.
You could also seek out Corleggy Cheese, whose award-winning farmhouse cheeses are handmade using raw milk sourced from neighbouring farms. Their cheeses are made in small quantities and allowed time to mature, perfectly capturing the philosophy behind slow food.
Saturday Evening: Make Dinner the Main Event
This is where you can really embrace the idea of a slow food weekend.
Take your time over dinner and choose somewhere where the food itself is part of the experience.
Chilli Lounge in Cavan Town combines Indian flavours with locally sourced produce wherever possible, creating dishes that showcase both creativity and quality.
For something more relaxed, The Castle Sports & Gastro Bar in Belturbet takes pride in using local suppliers including McGurren’s Butchers, Corleggy Cheese and local vegetable suppliers.
Or head to Murphs Gastro Pub, where quality food and local produce come together in a relaxed pub setting.
And for couples staying in the west of the county, The Anglers Rest in Ballyconnell offers an authentic local experience. The family-run business has been part of the community for generations and sources as much food locally as possible, while the pub provides the perfect opportunity to sit, chat and hear stories from locals.
That’s the beauty of a slow food evening. There’s no need to rush through three courses and leave. Take your time. Have another drink. Order dessert. Talk and enjoy.
Sunday Morning: Coffee, Breakfast and a Few Treats
Sunday should be even slower.
Enjoy breakfast where you’re staying, then head out for coffee and something sweet before making your way home.
Bedrock Café on the outskirts of Belturbet is a great choice, with homemade food at the heart of its menu and a commitment to using locally sourced produce wherever possible.
Or return to Café Nua for another coffee and one of those homemade cakes you were thinking about all morning.
For something to bring home, keep an eye out for products from Moran’s Mega Jam, whose handmade jams, chutneys and relishes are produced using locally sourced ingredients.
And if you’re putting together your own Sunday breakfast or brunch at home, Drummully Boxty makes an excellent Cavan addition, with traditional Irish boxty made from 100% Irish potatoes.
The beauty of a slow food weekend in Cavan is that there doesn’t need to be a strict schedule.
You can spend the morning visiting a farm, take a long lunch, stop for coffee, discover an artisan producer, enjoy a few drinks and finish the day around a dinner table.
It’s about choosing quality over quantity and taking the time to discover the people behind the food.
From regenerative farms and artisan cheese to independent cafés, country hotels, gastro pubs and innovative producers, Created in Cavan members are helping to create a food culture that is rooted in the county and its communities.
So, for your next weekend away, slow things down.
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