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Mary and Martha’s Vintage Tea Room in Ahoghill is situated in rural Northern Ireland and just one mile from the UNESCO World Heritage Moravian Settlement of Gracehill on the outskirts of Ballymena. Just a mile or so down the road, you can enjoy golfing at Galgorm Castle, home to the NI Legends Open part of the 2025 European Legends Tour (28-31 Aug). A little up the road you’ll find the luxurious Galgorm Estate and Spa.
Yes. The teapots and gateaux really are that fabulous!
The name, Mary and Martha’s Vintage Tea Room, is taken from a Biblical story about the gifts of faith and hospitality. In the Biblical account by doctor Luke, Jesus has just appointed 72 apostles to preach the gospel. Jesus and his inner circle, known as “the disciples”, visit with a woman called Martha. Her sister Mary lived with her. Mary was enamoured and attentive to the itinerant preacher that everyone had been talking about. Meanwhile. Martha busied herself with getting food ready and expressed irritation at having to do it alone. Jesus gently consoled her, telling her Mary had chosen “the better part” – a gentle lesson, perhaps, that genuine hospitality is weighed more toward the welcome than the actual food.
In this blog post, I provide an unsolicited and impartial Mary and Martha’s Tea Room Ahoghill foodie review.
Reopening in July
Editor’s Note July 2026: I’m delighted to report that Mary and Martha’s Vintage Tea Room is reopening on Thursday, 9th July! It had been closed for a few months following a family bereavement.
The Vibe at Mary and Martha’s Tea Room
The entrance to Mary and Martha’s is via a small, flower-strewn garage entryway on Main Street in Ahoghill – just enough space for outdoor dining in the warmer months.
Inside, the subtly vintage table cloths, painted wooden chairs, wall-mounted teacups, and mini art-deco mirrors mingle to create a relaxing pastel backdrop for lovingly crafted homemade food. An old-time fireplace and dresser are laden with delicate vintage crockery, the dinkiest cake and cupcake stands, and scattered frames housing inspirational wisdom. While this is no hipster joint, best reserved for the likes of Holywood or Hillsborough, Mary and Martha’s pays the same attention to detail with locally sourced ingredients and suppliers. The loo is sparkling – my fail-safe test for whether a cafe is hygienic or not – and therefore worthy of recommending.
A Warm, Fun & Friendly Welcome
Mary and Martha’s seems to be run by a local business woman and a friendly bunch of female staff. Her team was super friendly, welcoming, and amusing. They had great fun winding up my dining companion about his modifications to their menu, including splicing two breakfasts together!
What About the Food?
Mary and Martha’s Tea Room is so much more than a vintage tea room, though they do offer a fancy afternoon tea. My favourites so far are:
- A beetroot and feta salad with a moreish spicy dressing
- A professionally crafted iced latte presented in an aesthetically pleasing and perfectly chilled, tall, bobbly glass (I’m *all* about the presentation!)
This is a taster of what else is on offer – a curious melange of styles that manages to offer something for everyone:
- A great selection of breakfasts, including freshly-made, thick pancakes, topped with bacon and a shot glass of maple syrup
- Hearty, homemade soups and artisan breads
- Hipster salads with crunchy ingredients and zingy dressings
- A mouth-watering selection of cakes and deserts beautifully presented on elegant cake stands and encased in homely glass domes (helpings are generous)
- Afternoon tea that can be booked in advance
- A large pot of tea and coffee with top-ups
I think the owner told us one of their breads comes from Drogheda. It’s reassuring to know that they use local suppliers.
What Else is There to Do in Ahoghill?
If you’re the type that appreciates a well executed vintage tea in a cosy, local cafe, then you may be interested in combining it with a visit to some of the other places of interest in the area afterwards.
- Gracehill is a still inhabited, pretty C18 Moravian settlement about a mile down the road from Ahoghill toward Ballymena. You can view the church and schoolhouse, part of which has been converted into Millside Restaurant and business centre. There are a total of sixteen listed Georgian-style buildings in the village, along with more modern homes. And, there is a beautiful walkway and village green for relaxing.
- Check out the golfing at Galgorm Castle, host to the NI Legends Open.
- If you’re a local with green fingers, you might want to make a day of it and head in the direction of Portglenone, for a visit to the hilltop Ben Vista Garden Centre, with super views and sturdy, on-site nursery grown shrubs, trees and flowers.
- Try some nearby foodie spots for dinner later. Be sure to try Galgorm’s other nearby Castle Kitchen, also part of the Galgorm collection (see Castle Kitchen Foodie Review, which also contains a list of what to do in the nearby Ballymena area). Only a few minutes away, you can enjoy the Victorian delights of Oranmore House in nearby Ballymena for a very welcoming combo of a cute, little bar and a very fancy dining room, offering some of the best meals out I’ve had recently. Alternatively, try the Steak Nights at Hillstown Farm in Randalstown.
- Finally, if you need some exercise after breakfast or lunch, there are stunning scenic walking routes through the Causeway Coast & Glens, well within driving distance of Ahoghill.
Information on Mary and Martha’s Vintage Tea Room Ahoghill
The opening hours are:
- Monday CLOSED
- Tuesday CLOSED
- Wednesday – Saturday 09:30 – 16:30
- Sunday CLOSED
Find out more about Mary and Martha’s Vintage Tea Room. Contact them on 028 2587 1932 to book afternoon tea.
Though there is no dedicated parking directly outside front of Mary and Martha’s, there is free parking just behind it on Cullybackey Link Road. Take a 2 minute shortcut through the alleyway with basket blooms to The Diamond, then turn left onto Main Street.
And, if you’d like me to review your cafe or restaurant, contact Aletheia Travel.
Images credit: all images supplied with permission by Mary and Martha’s Vintage Tea Room, unless otherwise stated
