The Garden Room

A warm, family-run café at Annett’s Garden Centre near Warrenpoint, serving breakfast, lunch, speciality coffee, homemade treats, takeaway and afternoon tea in a relaxed countryside setting close to Carlingford Lough.

The Garden Room is a modern independent café located within Annett’s Garden Centre on Rath Road, just outside Warrenpoint in County Down. Opened in September 2023, the business was created as a welcoming place for breakfast, lunch, coffee and catch-ups, with a strong emphasis on friendly service, accessible surroundings and freshly prepared food.

The setting is one of its biggest strengths. Although only a short drive from Warrenpoint and around 15 minutes from Newry, the café has the feel of a countryside stop rather than a town-centre coffee shop. It sits within the wider Carlingford Lough area and works particularly well as part of a day out along the south Down coast, whether visitors are travelling between Newry, Warrenpoint, Rostrevor or farther along the Mournes.

The Garden Room serves breakfast and lunch throughout the week, alongside speciality coffee, tea and a changing selection of homemade cakes, scones and sweet treats. The menus are designed to suit a broad mix of customers, from quick coffee stops and relaxed breakfasts to family lunches and longer catch-ups.

Takeaway is also available across the main offer, including breakfast, lunch, coffee and homemade treats. This gives visitors the option to stop briefly while travelling through the area or

 take food away as part of a wider day out.

Afternoon tea is a particularly distinctive part of the business. Served between 12pm and 2pm on six days of the week, it is prepared in advance and must be booked. The current afternoon tea includes sandwiches, freshly baked mini scones, homemade sweet treats, soup and a choice of tea, making it a popular option for birthdays, catch-ups and small celebrations.

The café also makes an effort to cater for different dietary requirements. Vegetarian choices are available, dishes can be adapted for vegan customers, alternative milks are offered for tea and coffee, and the kitchen can cater for a range of gluten and dairy intolerances while advising customers to discuss specific allergies with staff.

Accessibility is another strength. The Garden Room provides wheelchair and pram access to both upstairs and downstairs areas via lift, accessible toilets, baby-changing facilities, highchairs and wide access throughout. There are more than 20 free parking spaces, including dedicated disabled parking.

Outdoor seating adds another dimension in good weather. Around 20 seats are available outside for coffee, desserts and al-fresco dining. Dogs are not permitted inside the café except registered guide dogs, but the outdoor seating area is dog friendly, making it a useful stop for visitors travelling with pets.

For small groups, breakfast and lunch are generally available on a walk-in basis, although busy periods may involve a queue. Larger groups are advised to contact the café in advance, while afternoon tea must be pre-booked because the food is prepared specifically for each booking.

The Garden Room is family-run, and that independent character is central to the experience. The business began when the opportunity arose to take over the café premises at Annett’s Garden Centre in June 2023. Just three months later, the team opened the doors, creating a new café destination with a strong local following.

Its location also makes it useful for visitors exploring the wider area. Warrenpoint is only a couple of minutes away, Newry is around 15 minutes by car, and the café sits conveniently on a route that can form part of a Carlingford Lough, Rostrevor or Mourne Mountains day trip.

Why W.ie chose The Garden Room: The Garden Room is a good example of the kind of local independent café W.ie should surface — not because it is trying to be a destination restaurant, but because it combines quality food, genuine hospitality and a useful location in a way that makes a day out better. Its garden-centre setting, family-run story, accessible facilities, strong afternoon tea offer and proximity to Warrenpoint and Carlingford Lough make it a reliable recommendation for breakfast, lunch or a relaxed coffee stop in south County Down.