The best restaurants in Clifden

13/01/2026: By far our favourite Pub in Clifden. Always great atmosphere and fantastic live music. We love going there off season, also nice for drink or hot whiskey after a walk on colder days. The Staff is fantastic, lovely to talk to especially Bernie very welcoming.

08/12/2025: Loved this bar. Friendly staff. Old world charm with authentic traditional decor. Comfy booths with candles on tables.

11/01/2026: Consistency is at the core of this team's purpose at the Abbeyglen Castle Hotel. Their Management ethos blends perfectly with the standards showcased by each team member. Brian & Ronan Hughes have 'perfected their craft' over the years - positioning them as trusted ambassadors of Irish Hospitality - linked to the Abbeyglen's unique guests' experiences - because of their authenticity of service. This property is positively quirky, genuinely friendly, entertaining and very memorable. 10 minutes walk from Clifden on the Sky Road, and about 65 minutes drive West of Galway City passing through Oughterard and Maam Cross.

27/12/2025: Abbeyglen was hands down the best hotel I've ever stayed at. My family stayed here for 3 days for Christmas, and the staff and owners really made the place homey and welcoming. They are the true gems; every need, every ask was handled. The waiters during breakfast and dinner were smooth and responsive. The moment my coffee was empty at breakfast, it was immediately getting refilled. The food for dinner was delicious every meal (3/3). The meals were all of the classics (pork Wellington, cod, etc), but every dish was 5/5. The crab claws were excellent btw. Furthermore, the Christmas special was really fun. The area has a nice balance of peace and quiet, but also have a sense of being filled and like you're not alone. There was a child and his mom playing on the steps, an older couple reading by the fire, and folks playing cards in the bar. It was a very special Christmas vacation, and we are lucky to have been a part of it. Abbeyglen, I'll be back one day. Truly a special place. Thank you Brian, Ronan, and all of the staff. Your staff were all fantastic. Seriously, from Nico to Olive at the front, all were fantastic.

07/01/2026: Great place. I've been going to Clifden since I was a child and never been in before. We had a really great meal.

03/01/2026: It is conveniently placed in front of the bus stop, so it was easy to eat there while waiting for the bus. We had the penne pasta with cream sauce and mushroom and the steak sandwich. Portion size is generous and food is really good.

03/01/2026: Excellent spot in Clifden. We highly recommend the seafood. Avoid the burgers and pizzas, which are good but only available during your stay or as a last resort. We also really liked the selection of good beers. Great location, good atmosphere. Very good with teenagers.

02/01/2026: We were in the area and stopped in at this restaurant recommended by friends. The welcome was friendly and attentive. The meat and fish dishes were delicious and beautifully presented (the oysters and mussels were exceptional), and we also really enjoyed the desserts. Highly recommended.

31/10/2025: Had dinner here recently, I would be a semi regular at this spot. Not sure if it’s been leased out since the last time I was there, as I didn’t see any of the old familiar faces working on the night I was there. What has changed is the introduction of a 10% service charge, which is extremely disappointing to see, none of my other usual spots in Clifden or its surrounding areas have this, so not sure why it’s been introduced here. I wasn’t aware of this until I was paying the bill, it might be on the menu, I’m not sure, but it definitely didn’t apply last time I visited. Probably going to give it a miss for a while, might pop back when the VAT rate gets reduced, see if the service charge still applies. If it does, I’ll be trying somewhere else up the street!

10/10/2025: Lovely calamari, fish and chips. Friendly service. A bit pricey but it was good.

26/09/2025: Really really fab restaurant. Staff, food and ambience were all ten out of ten. Came here with a group and Sandra and all her staff looked after us to no end. The food was just perfect. Very much hope to be back. Thank you so much :) <3

26/09/2025: After one too many toasties I treated myself to a proper dinner and had the chicken dish. It was so delicious. I couldn’t get enough of the sauce that was with it. Amazing.

15/12/2025: Went out for dinner with family. Everyone enjoyed what they ordered.

16/09/2025: Located in the middle of Clifden, this is a pleasant and cozy restaurant with very friendly, polite, and professional staff. The food was delicious and reasonably priced. We were very well taken care of. After dinner, you can go to the hotel pub without going outside, which has a great atmosphere.

07/09/2025: A place to relax and have snacks

04/09/2025: Thanks for the really lovely lentil dahl soup with excellent bread! And of course a great pot of tea.

02/01/2026: Wall of warmth hits you as you walk in the door from the turf stove fire which matches the warm welcome from the staff! We had lunch here the two days we were staying in Clifden ! Lovely cheese toasties and Guinness ! Nice seat for two by the window! Highly recommend 👍

25/12/2025: Great food music most evenings ,full pub outdoor seating too at the front and back ,i had fish curry and i love it

29/11/2025: Execellent service, We’ve been here twice now and will return in the future. The staff are extremely down to earth, friendly and accommodating. Food is excellent and reasonably priced. Lovely atmosphere with live music being a regular.

18/10/2025: Simply fantastic. Amazing atmosphere. The live music alone makes this wonderful bar a must.

13/01/2026: Great food and friendly reception. Server was very friendly and quick. Food was delicious.

10/01/2026: A magnificent experience! The staff was incredibly friendly. They served us at 8:30 pm, which is late for them, and brought our food out in no time. We ordered fish and chips and salmon. It was spectacular. You could tell the fish was fresh. And the bar is very cozy. 100% recommended. The service from the waiter and the bartender was also fantastic.

24/11/2025: We had lunch at this restaurant in Clifden. As soon as we walked in, we felt a strange atmosphere. We weren't exactly welcome. The waiter wasn't very friendly. We had grilled oysters, which were very good. The salmon was also good. We ordered fish and chips. The chips were fresh. However, I think the fish was frozen. A bit of a shame for a restaurant specializing in fish. A mixed experience.

06/11/2025: Scampi and chips with side salad it was good. Wine delicious atmosphere was a little dull

09/08/2025: Best BLT in the west of Ireland possibly?

03/08/2025: Very comfortable relaxed atmosphere. Quality staff. Wholesome home made food. Would highly recommend this restaurant/coffee shop

19/01/2026: A very pleasant experience throughout despite renovations taking place. Friendly and helpful staff made my stay enjoyable. Highly recommended.

07/01/2026: Food was very mediocre for the price

28/10/2025: This restaurant was recommended to us by someone we met in the streets of Clifden. The daily lunch specials are homemade. We had a very good meal, for example, sea bass, squid, and even a steak for around €17. The chef is clearly skilled, and everything is homemade. The service was pleasant and professional. It just lacked a smile.

23/10/2025: We had the duck, the carbonara, and the roast beef. The duck was good, the carbonara better, and the roast beef bland and uninspired. The vegetables with the roast beef were a disappointment, and some of the potatoes were still raw. The service didn't seem to have much enthusiasm for their work; in my opinion, criticism of the food was merely tolerated rather than understood constructively. I wouldn't really recommend returning.