food and drink Clare
FOOD AND DRINK CLARE
There are loads of great Irish pubs and restaurants in County Clare, we can include them all we have compiled a list of what we feel are great Irish pubs with nice surroundings, good music and a good food menu. The Irish pub is famous all over the world for music, fun and food. This is “craic” in Ireland, or “having the craic” The pubs are great craic in County Clare, and you can be reassured you will get a good nutritionist meal.
Irish music is alive in County Clare, it’s a great spot for traditional music. Irish musician Christy Moore’s song called Lisdoonvarna, he sings “If its music you want, You should go to Clare” this is very and Clare is full of great Irish music sessions. We included Irish pubs and some restaurants for you to visit while in County Clare.
See our Festivals Clare page for cool Festivals in Clare.
Vaughan’s Anchor Inn Liscannor
Vaughan’s Anchor Inn is a lovely little spot to stop off before or after you visit the Cliffs of Moher. It’s just a few minutes from the cliffs, located in the harbour village of Liscannor.
The restaurant has a lot of seafood options, including seafood chowder, oysters and crab claws. The food is excellent, and the pub in Vaughans is a perfect spot to relax and wind down. Fish and chips are top-class in this great Irish pub. There is plenty of parking on-site, and it’s just 6 minute’s drive from the cliffs.
Joseph Mc Hugh’s Liscannor
Joseph Mc Hughs Irish pub is ideally located in Liscannor being just 5.6 kilometres from the cliffs visitor centre. This retro Irish pub has lots to offer, great food, Irish music and locally produced craft beer from County Clare. The bar has a great menu with some really good seafood dishes.
There is a very nice beer garden out the back of the bar, it’s a nice place to sit out on a nice beer with a cold beer. There is also seating outside the bar. This comfortable old-style bar is perfect for a quick lunch or evening with friends.
Gus O Connor’s Doolin
This Irish Pub is located in Doolin, just 7.5 kilometres from the cliffs. The food here is always good, they serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. It’s a great pub for traditional music sessions, they can cater for large groups.
The pub dates back to 1832. The food menu has something for everyone, bangers and mash, beef and Guinness stew and baked Atlantic salmon. The pub is close to the start of the Doolin to Cliffs of Moher walkway. You will be sure to have some craic in Gus O Connors Doolin.
McDermott’s Pub Doolin
McDermott’s Irish pub Doolin has a large selection of beers, wines and Irish Whiskeys. The pub’s food is wonderful, from starters to the main courses and a kid’s menu. There is a good selection of desserts available too. The beer garden at the rear of the bar is great for groups, or just sitting outside enjoying some fine weather.
McDermott’s has vegetarian options. The Irish music session here is great craic with local fiddle player Tola Crusty from Toonagh in Co. Clare often playing in Mc Dermott’s.
McGann’s Doolin
Mc Gann’s Irish pub is another great spot in County Clare. It’s the kind of bar you won’t want to leave. There are lots of great dishes to choose from, classic Caesar salad, Roast of the day and slow-braised lamb shank.
Good food and a few pints are the way to go at Mc Gann’s Doolin, and then a nice traditional music session in the evening. It’s another great Irish pub in County Clare.
Kenny’s Pub Lahinch
Kennys is located on the main street in Lahinch County Clare. It’s about 11 minute’s drive from the cliffs. This Irish pub is a buzzing music scene in the local area and has seen many big acts play there over the years, Mick Flannery, Luka bloom and Hermitage Green have all played at Kenny’s.
The bar has top-class food, and plenty of drinks to choose from. The food menu has starts, seafood dishes and tasty burgers to choose from. The Irish pub is a few minutes from one of Ireland’s most popular surfing destinations, Lahinch beach.
Flanagan’s Lahinch
This pub is located in the centre of Lahinch. They serve good food including Irish mussels. There is a nice cosy beer garden to the ear, and lots of spirits to choose from including Gun Powder Gin. There are lots of craft beers to choose from at Flanagan’s Irish pub.
The pub is a few minute’s walk from the Lahinch golf course and is surrounded by nice places to stay in Lahinch. The pub has nice fire lighting in the evening time, it’s a cool spot to chill after a long day sightseeing at the cliffs.
O Looney’s Lahinch
O Looney’s Lahinch has one of the best views you will see in Ireland. They have seating areas overlooking Lahinch beach and the Atlantic ocean. This place is stunning, with the views, especially at sunset spectacular. The menu has seafood, burgers, and fish and chips. The bar has plenty to keep you busy.
O Looney’s is warm and cosy inside, you will want to stay there all day. It’s another great food sport close to the cliffs. O Looney’s is around 10 minute’s drive from the Cliffs of Moher.
Roadside Tavern Lisdoonvarna
This Irish pub is a legendary spot for Irish music, it’s a lovely place to spend an evening soaking up the atmosphere. The Roadside Tavern Lisdoonvarna features smoked fish dished from the Burren smokehouse which is located right next door. The food here is excellent.
This bar won best a best Gastropub in County Clare award in 2016 and best Gastropub in Munster in 2012. The pub also offers craft beers and ales and stouts which are produced on-site, the pub has its own microbrewery called the Burren Brewery. The craft beers were listed by Lonely Planet, in May 2017 as one of three beers they recognised.
The Wild Honey Inn Lisdoonvarna
The Wild Honey Inn County Clare is a restaurant will Michelin-star standard food, and its menu is very interesting. The menu features Smoked Eel with fennel, beetroot and Chive Crème Fraiche. Wild Turbot dish and Prawn and Lobster Persse (seafood salad) are on offer too.
It’s a really contemporary food menu. You can also stay overnight at the Wild Honey Inn, the Inn dates back to 1841, and was refurbished in 2009. It won an award in 2017 from Mc Kenna’s Guides. There is a fine wine list to choose from and some beers and spirits, what more do you need!!!
O Donaghue’s Pub Fanore
This Irish pub is in a great location in the Burren with the Atlantic Ocean in full view. It’s a great spot to stop if you exploring the Burren or heading for the Cliffs of Moher. The Irish pub has really good oysters and Guinness on offer. It’s in the heart of the Burren region, and Fanore beach is a short walk from the O Donaghue’s.
There is plenty of nice seats out the front of the pub to sit down and relax, it’s located in an area of Ireland that you see on postcards. The bright blue and yellow coloured paint on the outside of this retro Irish pub is super cool. It is located about 28 minutes drive from the cliffs visitor centre.
The Monks Ballyvaughan
The Monks in Ballyvaughan is a classic example of a great food spot in a superb location. The food menu is savage, oysters and Guinness, Irish stew and Fish and chips. If you’re into Sirloin Steak, this place has great Irish beef. You can seat outside or inside, the seating outside has views of Ballyvaughan harbour which is such a beautiful part of Ireland.
The landscape is littered with Thatched cottages, the Burren lunar landscape and the Atlantic ocean. The bar has a full range of drinks to choose from. It is just a great little place for food and a few drinks. The Monks is about 45 minutes from the cliffs, depending on the time of year with traffic being heavier in peak season.
L Arco Restaurant Ballyvaughan
This is an authentic Italian restaurant in the heart of the Burren region. The menu is full of great Italian dishes. They have Focaccia, seafood chowder, and delicious Italian salads. Pizza, lots of great pasta dishes like Spaghetti Alla Carbonara. The restaurant is in the main area of Ballyvaughan and is surrounded by a few Irish pubs.
They have an existing list of drinks, cold beers and hot drinks also. If you like good pasta or a pizza this is your spot. It is located close to Poulnaborne Dolmen and Aillwee Caves. The restaurant is around 45 minutes from the Cliffs of Moher visitor centre.
Linnane’s Lobster Bar New Quay County Clare
This Irish pub is in a magical location, being in the Burren is good, but when you have a fantastic view of the sea, this is even better. The bar here has locally sourced seafood from the Atlantic. The building dates back 300 years and is a focal point for the local community. The menu is full of great options, Deep-fried Calamari, garlic crab claws, and a dozen oysters.
Some of the main dishes offer a full lobster, seafood pie and vegetarian dish of the day. There have some seafood salads, and creamy pints of the black stuff to wash it all down. This a great little spot, you can’t go wrong at Linnane’s Lobster Bar.
Eugene’s Pub Ennistymon
This Irish pub doesn’t serve food, but it has to be one of Ireland’s best little watering holes!! Its design and character are just fabulous. It is located in the colourful town of Ennistymon. The décor of the bar is something you will find very interesting, you won’t want to leave the pub at all. It’s truly special with a warm and colourful interior.
This Irish pub has Irish Coffee on offer and an impressive range of spirits and whiskies. The interior has a few Father mentions are the bar!! This drinking emporium is one of Ireland’s funkiest-looking pubs. Eugene’s Ennistymon is about 20 minute’s drive from the Cliffs.
Knox’s Pub Ennis
Knox’s bar Ennis County Clare is located in the centre of Ennis Town, Ennis is like the capital of County Clare. The Storehouse restaurant is inside the pub, they offer a lovely menu of Irish foods. They have an A La Carte menu, Group menu and Kids menu.
You can try the chicken wings as a starter, an Irish Beef Steak for the main course and warm chocolate brownies for dessert. The menu will not disappoint, it’s really good. The bar has music sessions, cold beers and an endless supply of Guinness which is needed in most Irish pubs!! It’s also a very popular pub with the locals.
Cruises Bar and Restaurant Ennis
Cruise’s bar and restaurant date back to 1658, and they have seen many good music sessions! The restaurant on-site serves, breakfast, brunch and dinner. Garlic and Tomato Prawns, Soups and salads are on offer. Burgers, Fish dishes and Chicken curry is on the menu.
The food is very tasty and the surroundings are welcoming, comfortable and warm. This spot is great for music sessions also. The location is within walking distance of lots of shops, and clothing boutiques in Ennis Town. The bar is full of nice drinks, and in the evening time, the nice fire will warm you up. It’s about 50 minutes from the Cliffs of Moher.
YOLO Bar and Restaurant Ennis
Yolo Bar and Restaurant is a modern bar featuring lots of cocktails to choose from. The food menu offers garlic mushrooms, spaghetti bolognese and steak and eggs. You can get a soup and sandwich or there are nice salads available too. The bar has an extensive cocktail menu on offer. The bar has cool lighting and a modern feel to it, and they have live music in the evening times.
It’s in a perfect location in the centre of Ennis town, surrounded by a great shopping experience and Irish pubs. The bar is within walking distance of Ennis Friary, a 13th-century Franciscan Friary visitor centre.
Gallagher’s of Bunratty Seafood Restaurant
This Restaurant has an Irish thatched roof and a really cool Irish pub called JP Clarke’s on site. The restaurant offers an A La Carte menu, a Set dinner menu and Sunday menus. The food here is spoken about all over. You can choose from House Smoked Mackerel, scallops, and roast fillet of monkfish. Confit of Duck leg with Red Onion Marmalade, Garlic Spinach and lentils.
The bar has a modern touch with plenty of nice drinks to choose from, the wine menu is really good. This Irish pub and restaurant are located within walking distance of the Famous Bunratty Castle and Visitor Centre. The thatched roof at Gallaghers of Bunratty is a fabulous touch and great for nice photos. It’s another place you won’t want to leave.
Durty Nellys Pub Bunratty
Durty Nellys Bunratty is as good as it gets for Irish pubs. Durty Nelly’s Bunratty is steeped in history and dates back to 1620. The bar has a rich history and is located right next to an old medieval castle named Bunratty Castle, the area dates back to the 10th century. This bar is a great spot for some nice photos. The bar has lovely seating outside and you can eat your meal and have a nice pint of the black stuff looking up at Bunratty Castle. It’s a truly unique Irish pub and has had many famous visitors down through the years.
There are a few restaurants inside Durty Nelly’s Bunratty offering loads of different dishes, seafood, Irish stew, an A La Carte menu, full wine list Durty Nellys has it all. You could easily spend a day at Bunratty Castle and folk park, with the woollen mill shopping area across from Durty Nellys. This bar is around a one-hour drive from the Cliffs of Moher.
Crotty’s Pub and B&B Kilrush
This is an award-winning bar and Bed and Breakfast. It is located in the coastal town of Kilrush. Kilrush is one of the listed heritage towns in Ireland. Crotty’s Irish Pub has accommodation also offering B&B rooms. The bar is full of character, and history. It’s a well-known spot for good traditional Irish music sessions. It is located in the heart of a beautiful Irish heritage town.
The food menu offers breakfast, lunch and dinner. Wraps and sandwiches are available. The main course includes stuffed breasts of chicken, fish and chips, and Pasta Carbonara. It is about one hours drive from the cliffs.
We hope you enjoy some of these watering holes, fine food establishments and most of all the great Cliffs of Moher visitor experience!!!
We hope you enjoy some of these watering holes, fine food establishments and most of all the great Cliffs of Moher visitor experience!!!
FAO – Frequently Asked Questions
What is the pub in County Clare?
Answer – Personally I really like Durty Nelly’s in Bunratty, it’s in such a nice location right next to Bunratty Castle and Folk Park. The bar itself is a really nice retro pub with cool decor and a great pint of Guinness. The food is very tasty and the outdoor area is perfect for nice sunny days when you want to chill out outdoors with a pint.
What is the best seafood restaurant in County Clare?
Answer – Linnane’s Lobster Bar and New Quay Clare Clare has the best seafood ,the seafood is so fresh, it unreal. Boats pull in behind the pub at the pier each day with fresh seafood. There’s lobster, mussels, oysters and some amazing dishes on the menu, it’s the best in Clare!!!