Finding the Sweet Spot

My Favorite Sweet Treats in Scotland and Ireland

Daniel Jones

March 29, 2025

6 Minute Read

Some people plan their travels around golf courses. I plan mine around my sweet tooth. If I’m coming to your city, my first search is for the best donut shop, followed by the top bakery, then the must-visit ice cream spot.

My travels with Haversham & Baker are no different—alongside the world’s best courses, I make it a point to seek out the finest sweet treats. If you’ve listened to our podcast, you’ve probably heard me mention my love of donuts, pastries, and just about anything sweet. At this point, it’s no secret... Friends, colleagues, and even our partners overseas regularly send word when a new bakery or dessert spot opens near one of the courses we frequent.

So, if you share my love for golf and the sweeter things in life, here’s a list of my favorite spots to satisfy your craving while exploring Scotland and Ireland.

Scotland

Fisher & Donaldson - St. Andrews

A bakery with serious history, Fisher & Donaldson is home to the legendary fudge donut. If you only try one pastry in Scotland, this should be it. If there's a line, don't be discouraged. It moves fast and is worth the wait, regardless of its length.

Warning: Contents are likely to cause extreme happiness.

Jannetta's Gelato - St. Andrews

Jannetta's is a St. Andrews institution and has been serving up their famous gelato since 1908. A scoop each of Cookies & Cream and Chocolate Brownie is my go-to order. For a perfect pairing, enjoy your gelato while strolling the St. Andrews cathedral and cemetery next door.

The Kilted Donut - Edinburgh

A great little shop in the Grassmarket section of Edinburgh, serving up artisan donuts in the shadow of the famous castle. I went with the chocolate spider web as it was late October, but the flavors frequently change.

Sweet and Spooky.

The Milkman - Edinburgh

The Milkman is best known for its amazing coffee served on the colorful Victoria Street. The street is so busy, and the shop is so popular, there's a location at each end of the relatively short lane. If you're grabbing a coffee, don't sleep on the small display of sweet treats. The chocolate chip and sea salt cookie nearly changed my life.

Alanda's Gelato - North Berwick

After a round at North Berwick or Muirfield, Alanda’s is the perfect stop for a creamy, locally sourced gelato. They have a handful of shops, but the one at the end of the High Street in North Berwick is my usual stop.

True story.

Perk - Inverness

The sign out front of Perk tells the story "Coffee - Doughnuts." I love when a donut shop absolutely nails the basics, and the cinnamon sugar donut at Perk was perfection.

Standard Ice Cream Sundae - Turnberry

Several years ago, I was at Turnberry and the sweet tooth was calling. If you've been to Turnberry, you know that there aren't exactly any neighborhood bakeries or gelato shops to walk to. So I popped into the bar, looked at the dessert menu, but nothing was striking me. I asked the server if one of my favorite staples might be possible: vanilla ice cream and hot fudge. He replies... "Absolutely, our standard serving of ice cream is 4 scoops. Will that be ok?"

Standard.

Ireland

Hugo's - Lahinch

Located about 300 yards from the 1st tee at Lahinch Golf Club, some say that Hugo's is the best bakery in Ireland. Pretty sure the morning bun was the best I've ever had and the cinnamon roll by the fire later that day at Doonbeg was equally impressive. Paul Hollywood would give both a handshake.

Favorite sweet spots in Scotland and Ireland

Can't miss Hugo's.

Courtney's Bakery - Dingle

This little shop is tucked away slightly off the main drag for tourists, and what a great find it was. The cream donut was so light it nearly melted when I picked it up. I'm not sure if the thin spread of jelly is standard for this pastry, but it was an awesome touch... and you'll never find me eating a jelly donut.

Bean in Dingle - Dingle

Visiting the town of Dingle takes some extra effort, but the cinnamon roll at Bean in Dingle is worth the trip. I enjoyed it for the first time 6 years ago, and was thrilled to find it still going strong on another recent visit. I snagged the last one for the day and the barista commented, "You're lucky. These are usually long gone by now."

Lucky, indeed.

Offbeat Donut Co. - Dublin

I generally keep as far from the Temple Bar area of Dublin as possible, but an exception was made for Offbeat Donut Co. They have a handful of locations around the city, serving up a tasty array of mostly filled donuts. The cookies & cream was an excellent choice.

The Rolling Donut - Dublin

Dublin proves that a city can never really have too many specialty donut shops. The Rolling Donut has a few locations scattered in the city center, most just steps from the previously mentioned Offbeat. In my professional opinion, the edge has to go to The Rolling Donut. I won't soon forget their chocolate brownie donut.

Jackpot.

Murphy's Ice Cream - Across Ireland

No examination of sweet treats in Ireland would be complete without a mention of Murphy's Ice Cream. This legendary spot started in Dingle and has since sprouted locations in notable cities across Ireland. My most recent visit was in Killarney, where the combo of Dingle sea salt and chocolate brownie was tough to beat, even on a chilly March evening.

Oh! Donuts - Belfast

While I will never turn down a fancy filled donut like Offbeat or Rolling Donut, I'll choose a good old sour cream glazed or chocolate frosted yeast donut 9 times out of 10. Oh! Donuts in Belfast has the classics mastered. One of the best glazed donuts I've ever enjoyed. When we were "stuck" a few extra days due to a hurricane back home in Florida, I wasn't too disappointed.

Donut with a View.

Bakari - Belfast

If it's a traditional bakery that you're after, Bakari is a can't-miss in Belfast. While I'm working on a small sample size, I'm going to go out on a limb and say it's the best in the city. The morning bun was so good, I inhaled it before the camera ever came out.

Tom Tom's - Portrush

Not all bakeries in Ireland are u-turn worthy, but I can attest that Tom Tom's in Portrush definitely is, having done so myself. The chocolate eclair was out of this world. My only regret is that it took 4 trips to Portrush to discover it.

If you're going to The Open, go here.

So there you have it, my favorite sweet treats across the pond. What's great about this past time is that, like Golf and the Good Life as a whole, there's always something new to discover. I'll keep following my sweet tooth to discover the best donut shops, ice cream joints, and artisan bakeries around Great Britain and Ireland.

If your own favorite didn't make the list, drop me a line at golf@haversham.com and help me find the next sweet treat.