A Cheese Lover’s Pilgrimage: Maegden in Bushmills

There are grilled cheese sandwiches… and then there’s Maegden.

If your adventures on the North Coast take you to Bushmills (as they should), make sure you carve out time — and appetite — for a visit to Maegden, the artisan cheesemonger and grilled cheese heaven nestled right on Main Street. It’s the kind of place that turns a quick snack into a full-blown food memory.

Born in a tiny vintage caravan back in 2017 — think Father Ted vibes, but with more cheese — Maegden has since grown into a buzzing food shop and café that’s become one of our absolute favourite stops. They’re still just as passionate about small-batch Irish producers, only now with 1,000 times more space, a full cheese counter, specialty coffee, sweet bakes, and shelves lined with hard-to-find pantry treasures. (Fly by Jing chili crisp in Bushmills? Absolutely.)

But let’s talk toasties.

Each Maegden sandwich is a love letter to Irish farmhouse cheese. Rich, melty, and perfectly crisped, these grilled cheeses are stacked with flavour and packed with personality — built on Zac’s Bakehouse sourdough, filled with everything from wild Irish cheddar to charcuterie, pickles, and local honey. They’re gooey in the middle, golden on the outside, and totally impossible to eat politely. You’ll get over it fast.

We’ve made the pilgrimage more times than we care to admit, and the order changes every time depending on the mood (and the weather). Pair it with a kombucha from Steeper Culture, grab a traybake or two (you’ll say they’re for later), and find a perch if you can — it’s popular, especially around lunchtime.

And if you hit it just right? Grab one of their bonfire hot chocolates, sit by the window, and watch the world go by as the cheese-laced aroma wraps around you like a cardigan you didn’t know you needed.

Maegden is more than just a place to eat — it’s a celebration of what makes the North Coast food scene so special: passion, craft, community, and a deep love for doing things properly. From the charcuterie to the coffee to the honey in your toastie, it’s all carefully chosen and joyfully served.

Heading to the Bushmills Distillery? Maegden is just a short wander away — and the perfect stop before or after your tour.

Where to find it:

📍 Maegden, Main Street, Bushmills

Just search “Maegden Cheese” on Google Maps — your taste buds will thank you.