We dined here twice while staying in Ballyvaughan County Clare and there isn't a day that goes by…read morethat I don't miss it. Atmosphere: They have a nice small parking lot in back that they share with the hotel that this restaurant is connected to. The inside has ample booth and table seating and it is so cozy. The lighting is super fun and the place is just spotless and has a nice little host/waiting area. Service: Friendly and just truly wonderful staff, such a warm and inviting group of people. They made the experience just a treat. Food: Best seafood chowder we had the entire time in Ireland, so fresh and balanced, it really celebrated the ingredients and the bread was just phenomenal. The fish and chips here were just fantastic, the veg was cooked perfectly. I can't think of a single flaw about the food here, it was exceptional. I could gush about this place for ages, and when people asked me about the food in Ireland, I ALWAYS mention this place. My husband and I are planning on visiting Ireland for our 5 year wedding anniversary, and this place is at the top of my list to come back to, until then Wildflower!

My husband had the chief's chicken with black pudding stuffing and he loved it! I had the Caesar…read moresalad with chicken and bacon. The chicken was great, but the salad had too much dressing for me. Service was good! Loved the music-modern, not Irish. Then had the brownie for desert. Was warm with vanilla ice cream. Good old fashion US brownie! Yum!

Great food. Great service. Great vibe. We stopped here based on the recommendation from a shop…read moreworker after visiting the Cliffs of Moher. While there were some Americans in here, you can tell it's more of a local haunt. The food was absolutely delicious. We had the pil pil prawns as a starter. The garlic butter was so good we asked for more bread. We both had fish and chips which were phenomenal. To finish it out, I ordered the apple crumble. Not a single negative thing to say. So happy we stopped here on our drive back to Galway.

Went to Monks with a tour group. I'm allergic to seafood, so can't comment on the main food except…read moreto say the folks on the trip loved what they got! I uploaded photos of some of their dishes. For my part, I had a steak, which was delicious -- with a side of potatoes that were cooked perfectly. So even if you're not a seafood person, you'll be able to find something at Monks.

I created a Yelp account specifically to give this place a 1 star review. They have a bar attached…read moreto a restaurant. They have bar food at the bar and dinner food in the restaurant. They are literally connected via an open doorway, but you can't order bar food in the restaurant or vice-versa. This makes it two completely separate restaurants with a tiny (~10 item) menu in each, e.g. you can't order a burger if you're in the dining room or the chicken if you're in the bar; I asked and they explicitly said no. Since my companion wanted the chicken, we got ourselves seated in the restaurant; it was 630pm. There was one other party on the whole place and they'd already gotten their food. We got menus as we were seated and then it was 10 minutes before they showed up to take a drink order or any employee passed through the dining room at all. Since I couldn't order bar food, I ordered the soup: leek and potato. Supposedly. I didn't see a single piece of potato of any size in the entire bowl and less than a cubic centimeter of leek. The rest was hot water colored white with no flavor. My companion liked her chicken, but the mashed potatoes that came with it were bland enough to possibly be from a box. The only thing I enjoyed was the bread. I honestly wish we'd just gotten protein bars from the grocery. They would have tasted better, been healthier, and cost less.

I am a bit surprised by the low reviews. I thought that this place was comfortable, friendly, and…read morehad good service, and the bar food that we ordered was very good too. I would stop in again and recommend to others. We stopped in twice, once just for a few pints, and another time for lunch.

This is a great stop for drinks and a top quality meal. The service was also very excellent. I had…read morea special lunch sandwich with peppered steak. The beef stew was also a hit.

Made an overnight stop in Lisdoonvarna, and this lovely pub was right around the corner. It's…read moreeverything you could ask for in an Irish pub and grill. Live music, fresh pints, and good food!

The Bottom Line: A very cute, out of the way tea and garden room with unique dishes and a home-y…read moreatmosphere. I'd love to recommend what you should try, but it is all based on seasonality and availability. Regardless, you'll enjoy their fresh, creative dishes. I highly recommend it.

Absolutely wonderful pretty and charming Tea Rooms in the village of Ballyvaughan, Co Clare, just…read moreopposite the main pier on the road to Fanore - in fact just before you come to the famous Monk's Pub. What a beautiful setting, looking out on Galway Bay, but you can also eat at the back of the restaurant which overflows into a conservatory style eating area looking out on a gorgeous cottage style garden, packed with herbs, flowers and plants of all descriptions. The food is absolutely delicious, from the array of open sandwiches to the huge selection of mouth-watering cakes, scones and cheesecakes on display - all freshly made and so hard to resist - biggest difficulty is trying to decide which slice of cake to choose. The crockery is all old style and mostly Victorian vintage which adds to the charm of the place. Downside is it can be very busy if you arrive midday/lunchtime and we had to wait about 20 minutes for a table, plus I feel it is a little bit pricey but the quality of the food is probably worth it.

Wish we could go back for more. In the middle of a full day tour we were dropped off for lunch. It…read morewas chaotic at first but we were prepared. Grabbed a table first then went right to the bar to order. Two ciders, a seafood chowder, and fish and chips. Plenty of food for two people for lunch. The batter on the fish was perfect, no sog at all. The chowder was so creamy and loaded with seafood.

Let's start with the food. The seafood chowder, oysters, fresh bread, and the fish and chips were…read moreal absolutely phenomenal! The ambiance is that of a quintessential Irish pub in one of the most beautiful places we've ever visited. Great times with even better people. Every local had a story to tell, especially after the drinks start flowing. The staff is where this place exceeds all expectations. The owner helped us feel at home, the bartender was awesome, and the wait staff were top-notch. We will always make it a point to visit Fanore whenever we're in Ireland just to see these lovely people. 5 stars isn't enough!

Look at that, I'm the first to review O'Loclainns's and it's likely been around forever. You know…read morewhy I'm likely the first review? It's definitely a locals pub. So much so that everyone seemed to pause their conversation when we came in before resuming their conversations. My guess is the locals aren't all that interested in Yelp reviews The Guinness and Bulmer's Cider were cold. The locals didn't really care to socialize with the five Wisconsinites in their pub, but everyone was polite. O'Loclainn's is cozy and lightly lit. A truly Irish pub experience in Ballyvaughan.

My wife and I stayed in an Irish Cottage in Ballyvaughan, Ireland for a week from June 14, 2025 to…read moreJune 21, 2025. We had been in this Pub nine years ago and visited it three times during this visit. It is a local place that doesn't open until 8:00 PM each evening. There is no TV, no radio and no food service; it is just a place to relax and enjoy a Guinness or a great Irish Coffee. We did just that and watched Margaret, the delightful owner make our Irish Coffee. If you want to experience a rel Irish Pub, this is the place.

If you're looking for a true Irish pub experience in Doolin, this is it…read more It's a typical, unassuming pub that fills up quickly with both locals and tourists, creating that perfect lively Irish atmosphere. The service was incredibly attentive and welcoming. The fish and chips? Hands down the BEST I've ever had -- perfectly crisp on the outside, flaky and tender inside. And the seafood chowder was beyond words. Rich, flavorful, and packed with seafood. Of course, the beer was fresh and delicious, just as it should be. An awesome, cozy spot that delivers on everything you hope for in a great Irish pub. We'll be back.

A true Irish Pub experience, bravo!…read more Our tour guide/ bus driver chose this location for us and gloated on how they have the best fish and chips in all Ireland here, as you can expect I was pretty eager to get on and try them. The fish and chips did not disappoint and the portion size was very generous. If I had to pick a flaw I suppose I would mention the size of the container of the tartar sauce that comes with the meal is very small, about three smears worth. Also, omg, look at the chips! Those are some unique shaped chips, at first I thought they were potato chips that were fried but no, they were French fries that looked like a potato chip. We stopped here after visiting the cliffs of Moher, the restaurant is located in Doolin County, which I believe has a cave you can visit if you want to get some more adventures in after a great meal at a terrific authentic Irish Pub. As always people SYOY!!!

Tig Coili is everything you expect of an Irish pub. Bartenders are friendly & so are the patrons…read more Drinks are reasonably priced and the selection is good. First things first, no food here, just drinks. Second, live trad music at 6pm & 10pm when I went in early October. Seating is tight so get there early & grab a few beers and find yourself a spot. This was a fun pub and the beers and music were just what I wanted. I plan to come back the next time I'm in Galway.

We stopped in to enjoy the live music session and it didn't disappoint. We wound up getting some…read morespots upfront to see the musicians. What a treat! Classic Irish pub experience! When you walk in, the smell of fresh ground coffee hit me. I should have ordered an Irish coffee, as I'm sure it would have been top tier, if they cared enough to grind the beans. I ordered and Jameson and ginger, my go to for this trip. The service was quick and friendly and the atmosphere was exactly what you want for an Irish pub.