3 Best Restaurants in Bunratty Castle, County Clare, Galway, and the Aran Islands

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.

Adjoining the village's only thatched cottage that isn't in the folk park, gastropub JP Clarke's has an airy, mountain-lodge style interior with a brightly painted, vernacular exterior. On a sunny day, diners eat in the front garden space or can request seating under a glass roof. The menu is reasonably priced and straightforward---and the highlights are the daily specials listed on chalkboards throughout the premises. It's popular with locals so reservations are recommended.

This fine little eatery packs a punch in the local dining scene, harvesting the best of local produce from the sea and land. Operated by the Wallace family in a modern, stone-and-plaster inn on the western perimeter of the village, the style and presentation of the food comes with five-star finesse. The interior has a horse-themed decor, reflecting a strong segment of the restaurant's clientele. Menu samples include pan-seared scallops, honey-glazed duck, or wild mushroom--and-spinach pappardelle pasta.