5 Best Restaurants in Connemara and County Mayo, Ireland

Background Illustration for 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.

Iniswallah

$ Fodor's Choice

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.

Modern Irish Fodor's Choice $ Brunch Quick Bite
Letterfrack, Ireland
87-287--4139
Known For
  • Gourmet street food
  • Organic produce
  • Quirky setting
Restaurant Details
Closed early Oct.--Easter

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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.

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.

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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.

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.