Fast Food - Serenity 22 Barend

Breakfast outside on a picnic bench overlooking a wild landscape

Top 10 places to eat near the lodge

16 November 202311 July 202422 Barend

This list reflects our tastes and preferences, but we hope you’ll also enjoy going to eat at all of these places!

They’re listed in order of distance from the lodge, and there’s a short summary and a link to our review where applicable so that you can find out more.

Lunch at Abbey Cottage Tearoom by Sweetheart Abbey

28 October 20235 July 202422 Barend

12 miles NE ~20 min drive DG2 8BY

These small but pleasant tea rooms are right next to the Abbey ruins but are run independently and open at times when the Abbey is closed. There’s indoor and outdoor seating and also a small gift shop too.

Dalbeattie Garden Centre, Shop, Tea Room

27 October 202323 November 202322 Barend

Afternoon Tea at The Olive Tree Tearoom, Dalbeattie

6 miles NW ~12 min drive DG5 4DS

Dalbeattie Garden Centre is reasonably priced and has a good selection of plants. The shop is surprisingly big and has necessary gardening items as well as toys and gifts.

Great Lunch at Designs Café Castle Douglas

23 March 202323 November 202322 Barend

13 miles WNW ~20 min drive DG7 1DZ

Designs Gallery & Cafe in King Street, Castle Douglas – established for over 25 years – serves coffees, cakes and lunches (see a picture of the menu below).

We’d been in shop before but didn’t notice the entrance to the café (it’s to the right of the steps in the middle of the shop)!

Go down the stairs through some doors to the ‘basement’ and then the café counter is on your left. Tables then extend on your right all the way to the back of the building. At the end of the room, through some double doors, there’s also a light and airy (but still warm in colder weather) conservatory that leads out into the garden.

Lunch at Street Lights Cafe in Castle Douglas

4 October 202223 November 202322 Barend

Frontage of Street Lights Cafe Castle Douglas

13 miles NW ~20 min drive DG7 1DZ

Street Lights is a small family run café in the town centre, which serves a wide variety of soups, sandwiches, toasties, paninis, etc. There are good veggie, vegan and gluten free options, as well as delicious home baked cakes. They also do take away.

It was quite busy when we visited, but they found us a table for five.

Shezan Indian Takeaway in Dalbeattie

9 September 202223 November 202322 Barend

This one split opinion in the family! Two of us like spicy food and the rest can’t take the heat!

We sometimes order a few dishes and share them out rather than just having one each. This time we ordered:

Rose Garden / Ship Inn Restaurant and Chinese Takeaway

30 August 202223 November 202322 Barend

Distance from the lodge: 5 miles NW ~11 min drive DG5 4DJ

We chose between the two Chinese takeaways in Dalbeattie. This time we decided to order from Rose Garden Chinese Restaurant and Takeaway, because we could order online and pay by Card.