Mary Ann's

Mary Ann's Review

Writer Edna O'Brien calls this her favorite pub in the world. Low-beamed, and one of Ireland's oldest, Mary Ann's attracts wealthy visitors from the United Kingdom and from other parts of Ireland, who mingle happily with the few locals left in the village in the front barroom, the quieter back room, or the large garden beyond. Energetic owner-manager Fergus O'Mahony is a brilliant host, and is always on the spot, supervising operations and contributing to the craic (lively conversation). The bar-food menu ($) is served all day in the main bar area. Upstairs, the 32-seat restaurant nearly always buzzes, so reservations are a good idea. Try the trademark baked avocado stuffed with crabmeat, the massively generous platter of Castlehaven Bay shellfish and seafood, or the succulent T-bone steak. This is a good place to sample a platter of the local farmhouse cheeses, such as Durrus, Milleens, Gabriel, and Gubbeen.