I came across Hive during one of my explorations of the walled city in late autumn 2025. It looked worth a try but I had already had my lunch in one coffee shop that day, plus a coffee and croissant in another. Hive would be for another day.
Later, probably on the train home, I looked up Hive and saw their menu and food photos. That made it a must-do.
My visits to Derry dwindled over November to January but I finally got to Hive on Saturday 31st January. It was already quite late into the lunch period when I arrived (close to 2pm) but there were still people queuing for tables. There are some chairs for those who are waiting but if your joints are catching up with your age, beware as those chairs are very low down.
I liked the look of the Goodness Bowl in the photos that I had seen but it seemed a bit late in the day for that. I hope to try that on a much earlier future visit.
I ordered the Steak and Eggs. This was served with chimichurri and a hash of sweet potato, chorizo and spinach. The steak was really tender, the poached eggs runny and everything delicious. I would definitely recommend it and would hope to order it again sometime while still hoping to explore the menu.
Drinks wise, I had an Americano but I'm much more enthusiastic about the food than the coffee here and would probably look at alternative drink options next time. read more