Connemara and County Mayo Restaurants

Pubs and informal hotel restaurants are the main places to eat in this sparsely populated rural area, though there are also some fine-dining options. The only places with a choice of stand-alone restaurants are Clifden, the "capital" of Connemara (in fact a small village), and Westport, the chief resort in County Mayo. From Easter into the summer months, many menus feature Connemara lamb: the sheep graze on wild herbs on the mountain slopes, which gives the meat a distinctive flavor. The other star is local seafood, including crab and lobster in summer, and superb Atlantic salmon all year round, fresh or smoked. For seafood try the Tavern Bar and Restaurant near Westport, or Mitchell's in Clifden; for country house–style elegance go to Rosleague Manor in Letterfrack, or Mount Falcon near Ballina.

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  • 1. An Port Mór Restaurant

    $$$

    Nestled down a narrow laneway just off Bridge Street, this charming and intimate restaurant harbors the finest of local produce, exquisitely crafted into one of the best menus in Mayo by owner-chef Frankie Mallon. Daily specials include anything from warm pork-cheek salad and black pudding served with apple and vanilla or pan-seared Clew Bay scallops. Shabby chic decor and a leafy courtyard make it one of the most romantic places in town. Mains priced from €25 to €28.

    Westport, Co. Mayo, F28 KP70, Ireland
    098-26730

    Known For

    • Reservations recommended
    • Vibrant dishes made from local produce
    • Gluten-free and vegetarian options
  • 2. Iniswallah

    $

    If the sight of a red double-decker bus parked outside a cottage in the desolately beautiful small island of Inisbofin comes as a surprise, then the delicious offerings at Austin and Kartika's gourmet outpost will floor you completely, in a good way. The bus has retired and functions as the couple's kitchen, dining area, and food counter, serving up pollock, crab, and mackerel sourced from local islander fishermen. Mutton and lamb come straight from the farm, along with root vegetables, while everything else is island grown.

    Letterfrack, Co. Galway, Ireland
    87-287--4139

    Known For

    • Gourmet street food
    • Organic produce
    • Quirky setting

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed early Oct.--Easter
  • 3. Misunderstood Heron

    $

    Gaining a steady following from locals and visitors, Misunderstood Heron is serving some of the finest local produce from unlikely quarters---from the back of a food truck. It's usually parked in Killary Loop Trail---and offers guests far more than the standard truck fare like a humble kebab or burger. Instead, expect fresh salmon with pickles, sourdough roast chicken wrap with harissa mayo and red onion, or mussels and lamb to be served with a dollop of good value. And you get to drink in the view overlooking the staggeringly beautiful setting of Killary Fjord. Follow the Misunderstood Heron on social media to keep track of location and hours.

    Leenane, Co. Galway, Ireland
    087-991--5179

    Known For

    • Fresh produce
    • Killary Fjord views
    • Cult following

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Nov.--Mar. Hrs vary seasonally, so call ahead to confirm
  • 4. O'Dowds Seafood Bar and Restaurant

    $

    This fourth-generation establishment sits in the heart of Roundstone overlooking the harbor. It attracts year-round guests with its fresh-from-the-boats lobster, mussels, prawns, and crab, or other local produce such as Connemara lamb, and homey, open-fire setting. Vegans can order seafood crops like dillisk rice, served with locally sourced vegetables from Galway's farmlands. Take a seat outside the pub on a fine day to enjoy the bay views and local flavors.

    Main St., Co. Galway, Ireland
    095-35809

    Known For

    • Seafood chowder
    • Harbor views
    • Dillisk rice
  • 5. Café Rua

    $

    This friendly, boho-chic café with its traditional red shop front (rua is Irish for red) is a showcase for fresh, locally produced foods, simply served. There's an imaginative children's menu, and at lunch there are three daily specials—roast meat, fish, and vegetarian—while many opt for the homemade soup and sandwich (served in a traditional soft roll known as a blaa), or a salad. Choose a platter of local farmhouse cheeses, perhaps, or a salad of Achill Island smokehouse salmon with local greens, the house cucumber relish, and a selection of fresh breads.

    New Antrim St., Castlebar, Co. Mayo, Ireland
    094-928--6072

    Known For

    • Fresh, simply prepared dishes
    • Local produce
    • Home baking

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun. No dinner Mon.–Wed.
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  • 6. Connemara Hamper

    $

    Whether you're stocking up on local supplies for your Airbnb, stocking up on snacks for a Wild Atlantic Way drive, looking for picnic supplies or hamper gifts, or just stopping for a decent coffee and quick bite, this cute little artisanal food shop offers a wide variety of Irish farmhouse cheeses, meats, Connemara salmon, jams, pâtés, wines, and coffees, as well as a small nook to sit awhile.

    Market St., Clifden, Co. Galway, Ireland
    095-21054

    Known For

    • Excellent cheese counter
    • Freshly baked goods
    • Smoked local meats and salmon
  • 7. Cronin's Sheebeen

    $

    Overlooking Clew Bay on the outskirts of Westport, this whitewashed, thatched cottage--pub is the stuff of dreams, and so is the food offered by the father-and-son team who own it. The fresh salmon, hake, turbot, or mussels from nearby Rossaveal or the Corrib give the menu a sea-hopping freshness, providing balance to the bolder, more colorful choices, like prawn Laksa. A carefully crafted beer menu is also available.

    Westport, Westport, Co. Mayo, Ireland
    98-26528

    Known For

    • Warm ginger and banana cake
    • Fresh Newport langoustine with wild garlic and lovage butter
    • Clew Bay seafood chowder

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No food Mon.--Thurs. Nov.--Mar.
  • 8. Dining Room

    $

    A modern intimate dining room with rustic brickwork makes a fitting setting for chef Kevin Stirzaker’s seasonal menu that offers the best of local produce, simply prepared to let the quality produce speak for itself. Menu highlights include Killary Fjord mussels and duck breast with beetroot and red onion jam.

    Castlebar, Co. Mayo, Ireland
    094-902--1861

    Known For

    • Local produce
    • Early-bird special
    • Excellent service

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues.
  • 9. House of Plates

    $

    Think tapas, without the micro portions, where guests can order a number of plates each to share. And you'll want to order multiple plates with options like pig cheek, black pudding, scallops, goat's cheese, haddock fish fingers, and sliders. The interior is industrial-country style with recycled pallets serving as furniture and wine storage units.

    Upper Chapel St., Castlebar, Co. Mayo, Ireland
    94-925--0742

    Known For

    • Sharing plates
    • Hearty brunch menu on the weekend
    • Good vegan selection

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues.
  • 10. McCormack's

    $

    Downstairs is a traditional butcher shop, but climb one flight up to find the Andrew Stone gallery, with work by local artists for sale and a café serving homemade recipes, including home-baked cakes, quiches, soups, and pâtés.

    Bridge St., Westport, Co. Mayo, Ireland
    098-25619

    Known For

    • Soup and brown bread
    • Delicious cakes and scones
    • Good teas and coffees
  • 11. Mitchell's Seafood

    $

    A town-center shop has been cleverly converted into a stylish, two-story eatery. Beyond the plate-glass windows, there's a welcoming open fire, and you can eat at the bar or at one of the polished wood tables. Exposed stone walls and wooden floors are alluring accents on the quieter second level. The all-day menu also features lighter options like homemade spicy fish cakes and fresh crab salad. There are several meat options, including traditional Irish stew of Connemara lamb and fresh vegetables.

    Clifden, Co. Galway, Ireland
    095-21867

    Known For

    • Cozy ambience with an open fire
    • Fresh seafood
    • Braised whole sea bass with fennel butter

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Nov.–Feb.
  • 12. The Tavern Bar and Restaurant

    $

    The emphasis is firmly on seafood and fresh local produce at this traditional family-run tavern in the village of Murrisk beneath Croagh Patrick. Hearty portions of Clew Bay seafood, Connemara lamb, and local farmhouse cheeses are served all day, and children can get half portions or order from their own menu. Fishermen arrive regularly with freshly landed langoustines (Norwegian lobster), which are then poached and served in garlic butter. Upstairs a more elaborate à la carte menu ($$$) is served in the evenings in the separate restaurant, with a quieter, candlelit atmosphere.

    Westport, Co. Mayo, Ireland
    098-64060

    Known For

    • Seafood chowder with homemade brown bread
    • Lobsters in summer
    • Fresh oysters

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Bar food daily. Restaurant upstairs closed Nov.–mid-Mar., and some weeknights mid-Mar.–Oct.; call to confirm
  • 13. Veldon's Seafarer

    $

    Ship's wheels, fishing nets, and sculpted stone sharks leave little doubt that the Atlantic's catch takes center stage in this small, whitewashed cottage inn right in the heart of Letterfrack. Stuffed with timber nooks and crannies, and with an open fire, it's the place to warm up after a Connemara coastline hike. While Cleggan crab and Clew Bay oysters are the stars of the menu, steak, chicken, and vegan options such as a wild mushroom linguine with sun-dried tomatoes and pesto make a welcome appearance.

    Letterfrack, Co. Galway, Ireland
    095-41046

    Known For

    • Seafood chowder
    • Local catch
    • Posthike spot
  • 14. Walsh's Bakery

    $

    Coffee slices, cheesecake, apple pie, lemon drizzle, and a host of other delectable sweetness have greeted visitors for more than 65 years at this charming, second-generation bakery in the heart of Clifden. For those up early, a fine Irish breakfast will set the pace for a good day's sightseeing or hiking.

    Market St., Clifden, Co. Galway, Ireland
    95-21283

    Known For

    • Fresh pastry and scones
    • Good coffee
    • Hearty breakfast

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