Now that I’m retired, I’ve set myself the mission of finding the best Brunch in Lisburn. Well that’s probably subjective, so My Favourite Brunch Spot is a better title. Here’s the first contenders.
Crema
Well located in the main shopping area of Lisburn, so a handy spot if you are visiting the major charity shops up town. Nice breakfast selection, with a few veggie options, though I actually went for the smashed avocado which came with feta and chorizo. But I just left the bits of meat to one side. (I’m not a strict veggie at all, I just don’t like meat). This was very nice, with a perfectly cooked poached egg, though I could have done with a bit more avocado. Trendy garnish of watercress and pomegranate seeds. My coffee of choice was a cortado, a short and strong white coffee. It was busy when I arrived, and the only available seat was beside the loos, which is always a noisy location. And the low ish ceilings would make conversation a bit of a strain. They do have some tables outside if the weather permits “al fresco” dining. Their tray bake selection is amazing, and if you sign up for the “too good to go” app you can sometimes grab a bargain box of treats. Cost was £10.30, a bit pricey for brunch.



Verdict – handy for shoppers, try the traybakes!
Ground
Free parking by TK Maxx, close to the health centre and library. Very tempting array of croissants, toasties and traybakes, but remarkably few veggie breakfast options. I had a halloumi sourdough sandwich which was delightfully spicy and messy. With a cappuccino this came to £8.40. There are a variety of seating options, from bench tables, to low comfy armchairs, as well as some tables and chairs outside. The glass walls give an airy feel, though the view of the car park isn’t going to make the top ten of “Best Coffee Shop Views”.



Verdict – handy if you’re at the library or health centre and need a pick me up.
Dobbies
Very close to me, this is probably my nearest option. They actually have quite a few interesting veggie options, and I will be back to try the flat mushroom breakfast stack and the smashed avocado. But today I opted for scrambled egg on toast. The eggs were freshly cooked, for which I was happy to wait, and were deliciously fluffy. The 2 slices of malty toast were also freshly made, and butter was unlimited. Staff are really friendly and chatty. The ambience is a bit “school canteen”, but if you get there early and can nab a window seat it’s very pleasant and relaxing. As I have a Dobbies card my coffee was free, so the total bill was a bargain £5.50.

Verdict – surprisingly tempting choice of options, calorie counts given, and if you have a Dobbies card it’s good value
Any Lisburn folks, hit me with your recommendations!
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