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Food lovers rejoice, for here is a list of the best Connemara restaurants for foodies! From fine dining restaurants to food trucks that pack a punch, food tourism is very much alive and kicking in this beautifully rugged region of Ireland. Discover where to eat in Connemara in this post.
There has been an explosion in the Irish food scene in the past decade or so and Connemara has by no means been left behind.
Connemara is a region that is interwoven with rivers and surrounded by water on all four sides – the sea on three and Killary Harbour on the fourth – so it’s always had a reputation as a purveyor of superior seafood and shellfish.
Connemara lamb, too, is another strong suit along with the plentiful beef and wild game that is to be had.
But where previously, dishes would have been limited to more traditional takes using these ingredients.
Today there is much greater variety, with creative twists on old classics and food available from a whole host of different establishments, ranging from fine dining restaurants to pubs, cafes to food trucks, making dining in Connemara a varied and exciting experience for those who love their grub.
I’ve noticed that there is a real energy in the food scene in Connemara. Newer kids on the block bring creativity and enthusiasm, and the successful, long-serving institutions bring quality-assured dining experiences.
But amongst all is an underlying passion and desire to show off the best of Connemara provenance and deliver it with a warmhearted dollop of hospitality on the side.
In this post, discover where to find some of the best Connemara food experiences and learn just where it is that you should go to have the best dining experiences in Connemara.
The best Connemara restaurants
Best eateries and restaurants in Clifden Connemara
The Lamplight Wine Bar
Market Street, Clifden
I hate to use the term ‘hidden gem’, but The Lamplight Winebar is just that, hidden as it is down a cute alleyway that runs along the side of the wine shop out front.
In terms of the wine, you’re in very good hands here – owner Anke Hartmann is an award-winning sommelier. Out front, you’ll find a store that’s an oenophile’s delight while out back, are a range of organic wines available on tap.
The food shouldn’t be underestimated either, offering tasty plates and snacks that are slow cooked using a smoker, as well as delicious meat and cheese boards.
The atmosphere here is cosy and romantic and I found it to be a welcome reprieve amongst some of the more traditional Irish establishments, if you’re looking for places to eat in Clifden Ireland that offer something different.
12 Pins Coffee
Main Street, Clifden
If you fancy yourself as a bit of a coffee connoisseur, then 12 Pins is where you need to go. Offering some tasty home blends that are roasted in house, 12 Pins select their beans from sustainable producers and roasts its coffee in small batches.
12 Pins also goes a little further than just coffee too, offering a number of loose leaf teas (so fussy Irish tea drinkers will surely find the perfect blend) and a range of artisanal chocolates to accompany your brew of choice. Definitely the place to head to if you’re on the hunt for an oat flat white fix!
Mitchell’s Restaurant
Market Street, Clifden
Anyone who knows anything about Connemara will have heard of Mitchell’s, which has established itself as a bit of an institution in Clifden town.
The restaurant is set over two floors in one of Clifden’s attractive period buildings and also offers a generous amount of outdoor seating to patrons.
Seafood is the name of the game here and it’s done extremely well. Whether you’re popping in for lunch or languishing a little longer over dinner, you name it and they’ve pretty much got it.
Killary mussels, oysters, crab, mackerel, scallops, salmon, calamari, prawns, cod, hake…I could go on, but I’m sure you’ve gotten the gist. This quality seafood restaurant in Clifden is extremely consistent and also caters to meat eaters and vegetarians – it’s well worth a visit while in Clifden.
Connemara Hamper
Lower Market Street, Clifden
This wonderfully wholesome delicatessen in Clifden supplies a great variety of local artisan foods. An Aladdin’s cave for foodies that’s been on the go for 25 years, some of the joys you’ll discover inside include freshly baked bread and pastries, organic wines, farmhouse cheeses and homemade cakes and desserts.
Connemara Hamper also offers wraps and sandwiches to go, making it a perfect spot to both grab a quick bite from, or gather supplies for an evening in.
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Fadó Pizza
Clifden Camping & Caravan Park, Shanaheever, Clifden / Fernwood Farm – check Instagram for their current location
This hand built food truck dishes out woodfired pizzas for both vegans and meat eaters alike and all at a reasonable price too – with €12.50 being the most expensive pizza at time of writing.
And on their pizzas, how does the ‘Confit Garlic‘ sound – creamy cheese base, confit garlic, spicy nduja, oregano and chilli – I’ll take one of those, please.
A note re Baidin: Baidin ran as a very successful pop-up restaurant in Clifden Boat Club throughout the 2021 season, and those familiar with the name may wonder why it’s been left off this list – it is now permanently closed, with its proprietors moving on to other projects.
Best Letterfrack restaurants and places to eat
Veldons Seafarer Bar & Restaurant
Main Street, Letterfrack
If the interiors alone don’t make you want to enter this cosy, nautically themed bar and restaurant in Letterfrack, then the food most definitely should.
When I mentioned long-standing institutions in the introduction above, Veldon’s finds itself very much in this illustrious club, offering an exceptional selection of fresh seafood sourced locally that is prepared with care and expertise.
Nothing here is over hashed – the focus is on the quality of the ingredients and you’ll find a whole host of Irish seafood classics, including steaming bowls of chowder, Killary Fjord mussels served with slabs of soda bread to go on the side and Cleggan crab claws with garlic and herb butter.
You’ll also find crowd-pleasers like steak, burgers and chicken done well here too.
Connemara Woodfire
Connemara Loop Road, Letterfrack
Open seasonally, Connemara Woodfire is the place to go if you’re looking for woodfire pizza in Letterfrack (or the surrounding area for that matter, too).
Pizzas are cooked on an open woodfire pizza oven and there is a large outdoor dining area with a friendly atmosphere that is perfect for dining outdoors in during the summer months. Check in with them on Facebook or via telephone to see if they are open if you’re visiting in shoulder seasons.
Dooncastle Oysters Food Truck
Outside Kylemore House on the N59 from Letterfrack to Leenane (Google Map coordinates here)
You’ll likely spot Dooncastle oysters extensively on menus throughout Connemara (as well as the rest of the country), provided to establishments by oyster farmer John Ward.
Ward has now done one better and set up the Dooncastle Oysters Food Truck on the shores of Kylemore Lough, to the side of the large car park at Kylemore House (not to be confused with the nearby Kylemore Abbey).
The star attraction, of course, goes without saying (hint: it’s the oysters) but there is more fantastic, locally-sourced seafood to be had from the truck.
I tucked into a delicious lobster roll, while my partner inhaled the same plus an entire portion of scampi and chips – both were fingerlicking-ly good and we sat in complete, satisfied silence until we’d polished off the lot!
Rosleague Connemara Restaurant
Rosleague Manor Hotel, Letterfrack
Rosleague Manor is gentile Georgian house that boasts a family-run restaurant, serving fine dining plates prepared using locally sourced food and ingredients in the relaxed elegance of the house’s dining room.
Specialties include local Leenane mountain lamb, along with a whole host of seafood dishes, including the ever popular Cleggan crab.
The menu changes daily at this hotel restaurant, depending on what ingredients have been sourced. There is a generous choice of dishes across all courses and you’ll also receive soup or sorbet in between your starter and main course.
A dining room in truly lovely surroundings, from which guests benefit from gorgeous views of Ballynakill Bay and Rosleague Manor’s own gardens, this wonderful restaurant has to sit the top of places to eat in Letterfrack, particularly for a romantic meal.
Best Cleggan restaurants and places to eat
The Sea Hare
The Pier, Cleggan
This fabulous pop-up arrived on the Cleggan food scene a couple of years ago and is hopefully there to stay. Its stand out feature is its ethos, serving to patrons dishes prepared with hyper-local and home grown produce.
Everything has been produced nearby – fish from local waters, seaweed foraged from the nearby coast and even ingredients from the proprietors’ own garden.
Keep an eye on the website for up to date info from this cheery cafe with water views – they run several different events, including a Lobster and Pints/Wine event on Saturday, Mussels and Pints/Wine on Sunday, as well as a long-table dinner event on Thursdays (for a look at what’s in store for you.
Take a look at this post). All must be booked in advance.
Best eateries and restaurants in Roundstone Connemara
Vaughan’s Restaurant
Roundstone House Hotel, Roundstone H91 X0K5
This friendly restaurant in Roundstone does the basics extremely well. Set a tiny bit up the road from Roundstone Harbour, the interior is comfortable and inviting while there are ample benches outside for whiling away bright, summer evenings from.
There’s something to please everyone on the menu at Vaughan’s, with local suppliers providing the lion’s share of dish ingredients.
Seafood is fished from nearby waters, with items like chowder and fresh seafood salads and platters on the menu. You’ll also find locally sourced rack of lamb, along with steak, duck and chicken dishes.
Good Stuff
Michael Killeen Park, Roundstone H91WK97
This wood-clad food truck occupies a picturesque little spot in front of the bell tower in Michael Killeen Park in Roundstone. Run by an extremely friendly bunch, I’m going to put it out there and say that I just might have had the best toastie I’ve had in Ireland to date here.
Two great chunks of buttered sourdough were toasted to a golden perfection and dusted with chunky pieces of sea salt, stuffed full of delicious ham and were oozing with melted local cheese.
You’ll also be able to treat yourself to a great coffee here, colourful salads and tasty bakes goods. Once you’ve picked up your food, you can sit across the road under a green canopy of trees at the public seating area outside Roundstone Musical Instruments & Crafts and watch the world go by.
The Bogbean Cafe
Monastery Road, Roundstone
This cheerful cafe is jauntily plonked in the middle of Roundstone village, offering an excellent menu for both breakfast time and beyond. Morning offerings include porridge, granola and a couple of variations of Irish breakfasts.
Once lunch comes, you’ll find delicious salads (how does warm chorizo and spiced chickpea sound), along with a range of ciabattas. The space outside the cafe is an absolute sun trap, allowing patrons to enjoy their meals in the sun when it decides to show its face.
Best places to eat in Leenane
Misunderstood Heron
Derrynsliggaun, Leenane, Co. Galway
There are a whole lot of superlatives to use when it comes to Misunderstood Heron. Set in the hauntingly beautiful wilderness on the shores of Killary Harbour, this rustic outpost attracts hordes of hungry outdoor diners who make their way in foodie pilgrimage.
At weekends and during busy summer months, you’ll likely queue for quite some time, but the food most definitely justifies the wait. Dishes are innovative and packed with flavour, resulting in a happy marriage between the best of locally sourced ingredients and influences borrowed from international cuisines.
Its open smoked salmon sandwich is a real thing of beauty, with succulent slices of salmon accompanied by an unexpected chilli dressing and pickled vegetables.
You’ll also find a decent range of sweet treats on the board – just make sure to arrive early or run the risk of your first (or second, or third) choice being sold out for the day.
Blackberry Cafe
The Convent, Letterbrickaun, Leenane H91 YRC8
You just have to look at the positively droolworthy pictures of past guests’ meals and you’ll need no further convincing that you need to pay a visit to Blackberry Cafe in Leenane. This absolute gem is situated right in the town of Leenane, with glorious views of Killary Fjord and amazing food to boot.
You’ll find honest, hearty meals here. The kitchen team whips up an array of dishes, serving up everything from a light lunch to a satisfying evening meal.
Think local and think quality when it comes to said dishes – seafood and shellfish comes from as nearby as the adjacent Killary Harbour, quality meat is also sourced locally and the vegetables used are locally grown too.
Best places to eat in Recess
Owenmore Restaurant at Ballynahinch Castle
Ballynahinch Castle Hotel, Recess
This beautifully romantic restaurant located at Ballynahinch Castle serves up carefully crafted fine-dine dishes in a stunning river setting. For the ultimate views, request a table next to one of its floor to ceiling windows and look out across the expanse of treetops and flowing waters of the Owenmore River.
From your window seat, you can expect friendly, professional, attentive service that sets the prelude for the dining experience that is to come. This is a truly excellent restaurant where all ingredients are sourced locally.
We tucked into pork scrumpet with smoked black pudding and pan-fried scallops in a pea puree to start, followed by a rack of succulent Connemara lamb and a melt-in-the-mouth fillet of beef for mains. Dessert was a wonderful selection of artisan Irish cheeses.
Lough Inagh Lodge
R344, Recess
Lough Inagh Lodge is a special kind of place, set in the magnificent surroundings of the Inagh Valley where it’s just across the road from the dark waters of the lough and nestled at the foot of sweeping mountains.
They offer visitors two dining choices; the more formal Finnisglen Restaurant and the more casual, snug surroundings of their neat-sized bar.
While their restaurant proffers an old-school formal dining experience, it is very much a comfortable one that focusses on perfectly prepared country house dishes.
Suppliers are hyper local and we dined on locally caught lobster and salmon, although the restaurant is also known for its game dishes. There is also a fairly extensive wine list, that leans towards French wine producers.
The bar is open for both lunch and dinner and provides a generous selection of meals. Diners can also opt to have their lunches in the serene setting to the front of the lodge.
For lunch, you’ll find a range of sandwiches and seafood dishes, including open crab meat sandwiches, smoked salmon and chowder. Dinner is the bar is a delicious affair – we tucked into meaty crab claws and great, chunky prawns in a creamy sauce.
Travelling to Connemara and the west of Ireland? Some posts to read next
- CONNEMARA GUIDE | The Best Things To Do In Connemara – A Local’s Guide
- CONNEMARA ACCOMMODATION | The Best Accommodation In Connemara, From Castles To Coastal Cottages
- THE SKY ROAD | Driving The Sky Road Clifden – A Short Guide
- CLIMBING CROAGH PATRICK | Essential Tips Before You Climb Croagh Patrick – Conquer The Reek
- THINGS TO DO IN WESTPORT | Things To Do In Westport, Ireland – An Irish Heritage Treasure
- 7 DAY IRELAND ITINERARY | 7 Day Ireland Itinerary – A Local’s Guide To Discovering The REAL Ireland
