Location: Ballyvaughan
Top Restaurants in Ballyvaughan
Where to Eat in Ballyvaughan: The Best Restaurants and Bars
Ballyvaughan or Ballyvaghan (Irish: Baile Uí Bheacháin, meaning "Ó Beachán's townland") is a small harbour village in County Clare, Ireland. It is located on the N67 road on the south shores of Galway Bay, in the northwest corner of The Burren. This position on the coast road and the close proximity to many of the area's sights has turned the village into a local center of tourism activity. At the time of the 2011 Census Ballyvaughan had a population of 258. The area was officially classified as part of the West Clare Gaeltacht, an Irish-speaking community, until 1956.
Things to do in Ballyvaughan
1. Gregans Castle Hotel Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 112 reviews
The elegant formal restaurant at Gregans Castle Hotel has commanding views of Galway Bay and The surrounding Burren landscape. Award winning cooking from acclaimed Chef David Hurley who in both 2014 and 2015 was awarded Best Chef in the Munster Region.
Reviewed By Tonypose
The restaurant here offers wonderful gourmet dining. This is a very fine restaurant with a staff that brings freshly prepared food, extremely well presented, creative, and very tasty to the table. A very good wine selection accompanies the menu. Great cheeses, desserts, and coffee are also part of a wonderful meal here. The wait staff is very knowledgeable and do a great job. Most of the food is all supplied locally. Wonderful!
2. Monks Ballyvaughan
Overall Ratings
4 based on 789 reviews
At Monks we have a special love for the sea and you can taste it in every delicious mouthful of our authentic, traditional food – lovingly prepared with only the freshest and finest, locally-produced ingredients. And it’s all paired with the picture-postcard prettiness, harbour charm and welcoming country comfort that is the beautiful old fishing port of Ballyvaughan – pearl of the Burren.
Reviewed By foodenstein
Visited yesterday, 13th, lovely cup of coffee but more importantly the very best scone in Ireland, crisp, light, buttery and utterly delicious. Outstanding baking, reminds me once again just why scones are a thing.
Pub/Restaurant itself is a lovely, light filled, warm but airy space, beautiful interior that just invited you to stay. I'll be back for dinner but this is a place for scone pilgrimage!
3. Linnane's Lobster Bar
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 539 reviews
Reviewed By PatNor - Dublin, Ireland
Great to find Linnanes open in November when some other places had closed for the season. As always, the food and service was excellent. It was quite busy on a Saturday evening so I'd recommend making a reservation, although you can always wait at the bar for a table to free up.
4. L'Arco Italian Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4 based on 406 reviews
Reviewed By davidor2017 - County Galway, Ireland
We have dined here several times. The service and food can vary. We would have a preference for more consistency. Sometimes excellent service and food, other occasions not as we would have expected. Very important to have the owners on hand to oversee customer service, quality of food. On one dinner night out the wine we requested was not what was served. Simple mistake, shouldn't have happened in a restaurant with a good reputation. Overall nice place to dine out in, but and unfortunately there is a but which I hope can be attended to and rectified.
5. Vasco
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 119 reviews
Reviewed By Claire S - United Kingdom
We were looking for somewhere to have coffee and cake an were so glad we stumbled across this place. Our only regret was that they weren't open for dinner as the cooked food looked and smelled amazing we would have loved to have returned to try it. But back to the cakes - I chose an almond and nectarine slice which was served warm with cream and it was simply superb! My partner opted for apple and cinnamon cake which he said was great too. Coffee was great. If only we'd had another day in the area I'm sure we would have gone back to enjoy a tasty lunch. It's in a great location too overlooking coastal and country views.
6. Tea and Garden Rooms
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 412 reviews
Reviewed By SFWOxford - County Galway, Ireland
I had driven past on a number of occasions but never stopped. On Sunday I popped in for lunch. Very nice surroundings - cosy 'living' area with a fire and then a very bright and comfortable conservatory looking out over a lovely garden. Friendly service. Selection of soups (tomato and basil was amazing!) and sandwiches as well as a few more substantial meals. Wine available. The cakes looked fabulous but we didn't indulge. All in all a very pleasant experience and I will be back. They will, however, apparently be closed over the winter for refurbishment.
7. Burren Fine Wine and Food
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 58 reviews
We are open May 1st through Mid-September from 11am-5pm Daily. Our Dishes follow the rhythm of the season drawing on the best of what the Burren has to offer and enlivening them with sweet and savoury touches. Serving them with our delicious home made scones, breads, pickled vegetables and condiments. Enjoy our Beilini Plates (Irish Tapas), Smoked Fish, Chicken and Regional Cheeses, Stone Baked Pizzas, Seasonal Soups, Weekly Specials and a range of mouth-watering Homemade Desserts. Lunches are a delicious blend of local and regional produce, the culinary know-how of our Chef and Cathleen's baking and gardening skills.
Reviewed By CailinDublin_Ireland - Dublin, Ireland
We had lunch here and enjoyed authentic Irish cooking in a lovely cottage environment. Served warmly and with beautiful crockery in delightful surroundings it was a complete pleasure.
8. O'Donohue's Pub
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 154 reviews
An absolutely incredible pub on the Coastal Road in Fanore, Ireland. The food is out of this world for pub food. Beautiful, artistic, inexpensive and of the highest quality. We had better food there than we did at several high end restaurants in Dingle. Please rate this place. It it totally worth a visit.
Reviewed By JonG371 - Ickleton, United Kingdom
Took the family here on a recent stay. A truly great experience. Traditional Iris atmosphere. The menu was not as traditional as I would have expected, but good nonetheless. I have a couple of fussy teenagers and they found something to eat easily. The oysters which I started with were delicious, the chowder that my wife had even better! The main course was superb (Irish stew). I can't tell you what the dessert was like as I was too full to have one!
9. Hyland's Burren Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4 based on 157 reviews
Dinning at Hylands Burren Hotel is located in picturesque village of Ballyvaughan, Co. Clare which is the mid point of the Wild Atlantic Way and is surrounded by the wonderful Burren district of Co. Clare. The hotel is family owned and managed by the Quinn family and is a member of the Burren Food Trail. We are committed to offering our guests good quality food using local ingredients as much as possible. You will be assured of a great welcome and a willinginess to serve you great food.
Reviewed By GuyRopeTrip - Cheltenham
We stopped here for a family birthday meal whilst staying nearby on holiday. The food was excellent and reasonably priced for the area (Ireland is expensive in general). Lovely presentation of dishes. Friendly staff. The only thing stopping this being a 5-star review is the lack of vegetarian choices. There was only one vegetarian main course, which was very tasty, but another option would have been better... particularly for people who don't like aubergines.
10. The Wild Atlantic Lodge
Overall Ratings
4 based on 265 reviews
Situated along the Wild Atlantic Way, The Wild Atlantic Lodge offers charming, family-run accommodation and a welcoming bar. The picturesque County Clare coastline and the Cliffs of Moher are nearby. Enjoy traditional food and drink in the inviting bar, with regular entertainment. Cosy features include beamed ceilings and open log fires. Staff are friendly and welcoming. The Wild Atlantic lodge offers comfortable rooms, with en suite facilities and a TV. An inclusive breakfast is provided for guests.
Reviewed By mcconnellboys - Lexington, Kentucky
The B&B we were staying in for the night did not serve dinners, so they sent us into town and suggested this restaurant for us. It was pretty good!
