2 Best Restaurants in Connemara and County Mayo, Ireland

A town-center shop has been cleverly converted into a stylish, two-story eatery. Beyond the plate-glass windows, there's a welcoming open fire, and you can eat at the bar or at one of the polished wood tables. Exposed stone walls and wooden floors are alluring accents on the quieter second level. The all-day menu also features lighter options like homemade spicy fish cakes and fresh crab salad. There are several meat options, including traditional Irish stew of Connemara lamb and fresh vegetables.

The emphasis is firmly on seafood and fresh local produce at this traditional family-run tavern in the village of Murrisk beneath Croagh Patrick. Hearty portions of Clew Bay seafood, Connemara lamb, and local farmhouse cheeses are served all day, and children can get half portions or order from their own menu. Fishermen arrive regularly with freshly landed langoustines (Norwegian lobster), which are then poached and served in garlic butter. Upstairs a more elaborate à la carte menu ($$$) is served in the evenings in the separate restaurant, with a quieter, candlelit atmosphere.