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Slate flooring, rich timber fixtures, a large bay window, and whitewashed walls hark back to an earlier time of midmorning scones and cakes with afternoon tea---both of which are available at this gorgeous former town hall, a local landmark right on the southern corner of O'Connell Street. Lunch and evening meals are special too, making use of the rich County Clare produce like artisanal cheese or sea catch. Try grilled halibut with crab meat or a ravioli made from mushroom, courgette, spinach, and basil.
Station Rd., Ennis, Co. Clare, Ireland
Known For
- Child-friendly atmosphere
- Delicious lamb shank
- Great desserts
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Casual
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Set in a peninsula on Galway Bay's Flaggy Shore, the enterprising Brid Fahy opened this farm-to-wafer parlor experience back in 2006. Made with milk from the Friesian and Shorthorn herd from her five-generation farm, the ice cream here is fantastic, and for good reason: the cows cross between the mainland and a small island to graze and this gives the cow's milk a unique and varied flavor. This delicious cow's milk is combined with locally sourced ingredients such as hazelnuts, wild berries, rhubarb, and apples that are spiced with the taste of the ocean to create unique flavors that alternate with the changing of seasons. All to say, it makes for great ice creams.
New Quay, Oughtmama, Co. Clare, Ireland
Known For
- Decadent sundaes with homemade brownies
- Lovely Galway Bay views
- Fruit smoothies
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed weekdays Nov.--Mar.
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Tapping into Galway's past as a major trading post for Spain, chef--owners JP McMahon and Drigin Gaffey bring all the favorite aspects of authentic Spanish cuisine and wine while also serving excellent local produce in this vibrant and warm Galway hot spot. More than 50 regional tapas served family-style at large, wooden communal tables are the heart of this restaurant filled with Spanish flavors and Irish produce and heart. There is an impressive craft beer and wine menu to accompany the food choices. For groups of eight or more, there's a tasting menu (€29 per person) that includes a sweeping selection of tapas.
Middle Street Mews, Galway City, Co. Galway, Ireland
Known For
- Offers tasty traditional and vegetarian paellas
- Superb desserts
- Carefully sourced Spanish wines and sherries
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch weekdays
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For anyone seeking an authentic tea-drinking experience, à la the Irish grandma who serves tea as an art form, the Cupán Tae ("the cup of tea" in Irish) serves it up with fussy crockery and much nostalgia. Breakfast is top-notch, and the popular afternoon tea comes complete with fresh-baked pastries served on a tiered china stand (of course). Add prosecco if you're feeling celebratory.
8 Quay La., Galway City, Co. Galway, Ireland
Known For
- Afternoon tea
- Breakfast
- Nostalgic setting
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For soup lovers, this modest, brightly painted café on a square in the heart of Ennis will hit all the right notes. With daily changing specials and a range of paninis and sandwiches, it's the perfect pit stop for a quality snack or budget lunch.
Ennis, Co. Clare, Ireland
Known For
- Daily soup specials
- Full Irish breakfast
- French onion soup
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. No dinner
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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This lakeside restaurant, convenient for a bite before or after a River Shannon cruise, serves international fare with a breezy service. Locally produced standard fare like beef-and-Guinness pie as well as its reputable hamburgers, are favorites, but the restaurant also offers a good selection of vegetarian and gluten-free options. Its location on the Ballina side of the Killaloe Bridge puts it right across from the Shannon Cruise docking point.
Ballina Quay, Killaloe, Co. Clare, Ireland
Known For
- Occasionally hosts whiskey-tasting tours
- Summer barbecues
- Lakeside setting
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A chilled-out café in the middle of town, Gallery Cafe has heaps of character with local artist exhibitions and the occasional live performance providing an ever-changing setting. The seasonal menu often features local catch, stews, and braised venison as well as pizza and sandwiches.
The Square, Gort, Co. Galway, Ireland
Known For
- Hearty and healthy breakfast menu
- Fantastic coffee
- Town-square setting
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues.
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One of the most famous landmarks in town, complete with thatched roof, turf fire, and stone flooring, this classic Irish pub is a cozy retreat from the lake in winter and a popular spot for alfresco dining in summer. Goosers is directly across the lake from St. Flannan's Cathedral and close to the town bridge that links County Tipperary to County Clare (Goosers is technically on the Tipperary side, but just barely), and serves traditional fare like Irish stew, seafood chowder, and bacon and cabbage.
Ballina Rd., Killaloe, Co. Clare, Ireland
Known For
- Lakeside setting
- Traditional Irish fare
- Lively weekend trade
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues. and Wed.
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This surprising find in a cottage on the northern ridge of the Burren is not only a refreshing place for a soup-and-sandwich break, it's also home to the boutique Hazel Mountain Chocolate Factory, which produces chocolate using the same techniques employed by the monks who once occupied nearby Corcomroe Abbey. Vegetables are grown on-site and the cakes baked star in their own cookbook.
Oughtmama, Co. Clare, H91 VCF1, Ireland
Known For
- Offers chocolate tours and tastings
- Hearty soup with homegrown vegetables
- Cottage farmhouse setting
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Factory tours available Mar.--Sept.
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Located in a courtyard outside of Bunratty Mills and spread out over a number of food trucks and kiosks, Jilly and Joe's was created to satisfy the demand for alfresco dining and has since become a local staple in the dining scene. Outside, guests huddle close to flames of heaters on a chilly day---beneath an awning or canopy---and order pizza, sandwiches, daily special, or a burger. Inside, the sprawling loft of Blarney Woollen Mills is the best place for good value lunchtime dishes like breaded fish, stews, and pasta along with custom-made sandwiches---the humble French fries are delicious. A fine selection of confectionery and ice-cream booth keep the sweet tooth brigade satisfied. If the car park is filled with tour buses, move along, or expect a long wait.
Bunratty, Co. Clare, Ireland
Known For
- Carvery restaurant upstairs
- Excellent coffee spot
- Fun for families
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The humble fish-and-chip is king at this stalwart restaurant, serving deep-fried cod, whiting, haddock, and hake for decades. The reasonably priced fish is served with a heap of fabulous, freshly cooked chips (which have won a nationwide competition for the best in Ireland) and eaten at communal tables—a great way to meet the locals.
22 Quay St., Galway City, Co. Galway, Ireland
Known For
- Fast and friendly service
- Amazing fish soup
- Local oysters
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This landmark dining pub a stone's throw from Ballyvaughan Pier has changed hands and fortunes over the past few years, but all you need to know is that it is back on its game with a freshly renovated interior and menu. The welcoming fire and friendly service remain, as does the signature seafood chowder that lures locals and visitors from miles around. Galway oysters feature prominently on the menu along with Hereford steak and salmon. The addition of new luxury bedrooms (from €115) means that you can now stay overnight.
Ballyvaughan, Co. Clare, Ireland
Known For
- Live music during the summer months
- Decadent desserts
- Excellent fish-and-chips
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Oct.–May. No food Mon.–Thurs.
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Set on a bend in the river a short drive north of Loop Head Peninsula, this unpretentious town house has gained a national reputation. The key to its success is simplicity, with a menu that keeps in season whether it's a heartwarming casserole in winter or fruit crumbles in late summer. The interior is smart and bright, with decking that leads out by the river.
Main St., Doonbeg, Co. Clare, Ireland
Known For
- Homemade scampi and chips
- Crab claws with garlic and herb butter
- Simple, seasonal dishes
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Jan.--Mar. Closed Mon.
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Michael and Alissa Donoghue do not have to travel far to get the ingredients for their little cottage café that overlooks the pier. Their flock of chickens provide eggs, and the vegetable and herb garden—nurtured with seaweed throughout the year—furnishes their salads. Alissa met Michael while visiting the island from America. She uses her home recipes along with generations-old Donoghue recipes on her eclectic, made-from-scratch menu.
Aran Islands, Co. Galway, Ireland
Known For
- Lemon poppy-seed cake
- Pretty cottage setting
- Free Wi-Fi
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Carrigaholt Village, with its crumbling medieval tower house perched on the coast, is home to this 200-year-old pub and restaurant, one of County Clare's great culinary finds. Seafood is sourced from the local pier as ingredients for the famous chowder, as are oysters, mussels, and lobsters---all served in the warm glow of an open-hearth fireplace and Liscannor stone flooring. Non-seafood options are available.
West St., Carrigaholt, Co. Clare, Ireland
Known For
- Ice cream in courtyard out back
- Historical paraphernalia
- Helpful and informative staff
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.--Wed. from Nov.--Mar.
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Travelers come here to get up close and personal with the surf from behind a bowl of steaming Atlantic seafood chowder. Floor-to-ceiling windows capture the breath of the bay from a cozy distance, except in storm season when it can be a little too close for comfort. Images of the property's defiant stand against giant ocean waves have gone global. The menu is concise but covers ground and sea with oysters, mussels, sea bass, pork skewers, and steak. Expect a wait in high season. Next door the sister property, Spooney's, offers standard beach desserts like sundaes and ice cream---and good old fish-and-chips.
Promenade, Lahinch, Co. Clare, Ireland
Known For
- Top-notch fish-and-chips
- Warm and friendly staff
- Delicious local oysters
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Nov.--May
