The Ultimate Guide to the Amazing Town of Clifden Ireland

I first visited Clifden, Ireland back in 2007.

I remember reading the description in the Lonely Planet guide and it wasn’t exactly a ringing endorsement.

But after just one quick night, I got a good vibe from the town and vowed to return.

Well it took me 10 years to go back — and unfortunately it was yet again for one quick night.

However on that trip in 2017 I knew I would return to Clifden for a longer stay.

I had to. Something was pulling me to do so.

So this year I spent 6 nights in Clifden.

And what did I think?

I love it!

It’s a fabulous town with wonderful people.

And the location can’t be beat.

So I want to offer up some of the best things to see and do in Clifden.

But first…

 

Where is Clifden?

Clifden in located in County Galway about 77km west of Galway City.

It’s known as the “Capital of Connemara” as it sits in a strategic location to explore much of the Connemara area which is a western piece of County Galway.

Clifden sits along the water and is also near the mountains — best of both worlds.

 

Where to stay

There’s a nice array of accommodation choices in Clifden and the surrounding area.

And depending on whether you want to be right in town or a bit outside of town will determine your decision.

Here are a few of my choices.

 

Hillside Lodge

I’m not going to go into this place too much since I just wrote a post on it.

But I will say that I highly recommend Hillside Lodge.

It’s about 2km from the heart of town but so worth it to be out on Sky Road and in the peace and quiet of cow and sheep fields.

Ruth is an amazing host and the rooms are clean, comfy, tastefully decorated and affordable.

It’s one of my favorite B&B’s in all of Ireland!

 

Sea Mist House

I stayed in Sea Mist House on my 2017 trip to Clifden.

Located right in town, across from the SuperValu supermarket, Sea Mist is a lovely house with wonderful hosts and a delicious breakfast.

I love the location as it’s close enough to walk everywhere yet it’s just enough out of the hubbub to not be noisy.

Sheila, your host, even has a small refrigerator in the one common room for keeping bottles of wine or a bit of food.

She encourages you to use the 2 sitting rooms which are cozy and warm for those chilly, rainy Irish days.

The breakfast room has loads of windows to watch that Irish weather — because you can get some sunshine too.

At €40-55 per person per night, it’s a fabulous deal.

 

Mallmore Country House

One of the places I checked out on my trip in 2018 is Mallmore Country House.

This is for those who are okay with not being right in town and want something truly out in the countryside.

It’s not out Sky Road as Hillside Lodge is but rather it’s south of Clifden and on the other side of the harbor — about 2km to the heart of town.

Located down a rural road this is the place for you if you really want peace and quiet and a true country house. The grounds are beautiful!

Mallmore is a protected, historic home dating back to the late 1700’s.

So for those who want something more modern, this won’t be for you.

But for those who love old homes with lots of character, great hosts (I met Alan) and want to connect with nature, this will be a perfect choice for you.

And at €45-50 per person per night, it’s very affordable.

 

Dolphin Beach House

This is the B&B for you if you want to splurge and if you’re okay being a good 5km from the center of Clifden — because it’s located that far out on Lower Sky Road.

But the reward is magnificent views.

2 couples, travel clients of Wander Your Way, stayed here in September 2017.

They loved it.

They raved about Clodagh, the host, who took good care of them.

And they thoroughly enjoyed the breakfast which is delicious and is served in a room that overlooks the sea.

The rooms at Dolphin Beach House are beautiful and many overlook the water.

It’s a bit more at about $150-200 per room per night. But well worth the splurge if a peaceful sea view is what you want.

 

Where to eat

There are some excellent places to eat with many of them being in the pubs which have surprisingly tasty and affordable meals. But, as always, there are a few spots that stand out.

 

Restaurant Darcy Twelve

As I walked into town for my first night of dinner in May 2018 and saw this place, I thought to myself, “This wasn’t here last year.”

And I was right.

Restaurant Darcy Twelve opened in late spring 2017.

Now I was on my way to eat at the famous Mitchell’s (see below).

But Mitchell’s didn’t have any openings. It was a busy Saturday evening.

So I thought I’d try Darcy Twelve.

And it was a revelation!

I ordered 2 starters, a lovely glass of Austrian white wine and dessert.

It was all divine.

So I decided to dine here again on my final night (I stayed 6 nights in Clifden).

This time I ordered a main because scallops were on the specials menu.

Ummm….scallops? Hell yes!

And it was a fantabulous meal.

I ordered the same Austrian Grüner Veltliner and the same dessert of a citrus panna cotta that kind of reminded me of key lime pie. It’s a gluten free dessert so it had my name written all over it!

Darcy Twelve is an awesome addition to the Clifden restaurant scene.

 

Mitchell’s

Mitchell’s is a seafood restaurant that’s been around for a while.

And while there are a few non-seafood items on the menu, it’s really about the seafood here.

I’d heard good things about it so I wanted to eat here on my 2018 trip.

So I made reservations and had a tasty meal of a whitefish that I didn’t remember to remember — perhaps John Dory or Hake.

It’s definitely worth the splurge as the food is delish.

Now it will be a bit pricier than some of the good pub food around town.

If you’re on a budge and still want to try it, stop by for lunch as the lunch menu is less expensive.

And do make reservations as Mitchell’s is popular — even with the locals.

 

Mannions

Otherwise known as the place I ate beef.

Mannions is a fantastic place to eat in Clifden.

I actually had a fish and chips meal here in 2017 as I listened to some traditional Irish music.

The fish and chips were tasty as was the pint of Guinness.

It’s a wonderful spot to hear some Irish music early as you dine.

On my 2018 travels I met a man who worked at Mannions so thought I’d pop by to say hi and grab a bite.

When I asked him what to eat, he raved about the Featherblade of Irish Beef.

It’s cooked slowly in Connemara Whiskey (which I’ve had and is very peaty) and a peppercorn sauce.

I was actually eyeing the seafood but decided to adopt the “When in Rome” attitude.

And yes, I actually loved the beef!

Mannions is really a more upscale pub in many ways than a restaurant.

But it’s an excellent place to eat, catch some traditional Irish music and have a drink or 2. They have a nice whiskey selection.

And it’s affordable with many items on the dinner menu costing about €15.

 

Guys Bar & Snug

While I didn’t go to this pub and restaurant, I’ve had clients eat and drink here who highly recommend it.

The food is good and there’s a wonderful atmosphere with “snug” areas that are little coves where you might be sitting by a turf fire.

And like so many of the pubs in Clifden, Guys has music most nights.

Another fabulous choice.

 

Upstairs Downstairs Cafe

This is the spot for breakfast, lunch or some tea/coffee and a treat.

At Upstairs Downstairs you’ll find tasty panini and wraps for lunch as well as soup — which is always a good idea in the cool Irish weather.

And it’s a perfect spot to grab a hot cup of tea or coffee and a tasty muffin or scone.

 

Connemara Hamper

If you want to get a picnic to go, then Connemara Hamper is definitely the spot.

It’s both a market and a deli.

So if you’re staying in self-catering accommodation, it would be a wonderful place to pick up specialty foods such as cheeses, olives and wine.

But if you want a sandwich for lunch or if you want to get that sandwich to go, Connemara Hamper is also great for that.

I bought some delicious cheese here.

 

Walsh’s Bakery

Walsh’s Bakery has been around since 1953 and is still run by the Walsh family.

It’s a wonderful spot for lunch and an even better place for something from the bakery — breads, cakes and pastries.

Seriously, I was salivating when I walked in.

And it’s all made right there.

Yum!

 

Where to have a pint or a wee dram

As with most Irish towns there are always pubs to choose from. Below are my recommendations.

 

Lowry’s

Lowry’s was my go to pub for whiskey.

They have the best selection of whiskey and their Guinness is pretty tasty too.

There’s live music every night and, if I do say so, they bring in some really good musicians.

It’s a typical pub with dark wood — floors, bar, tables — and not fancy in anyway.

But I love it!

You’ll definitely want to spend some time here.

 

Mannions

Not only a restaurant but a pub, Mannions is a brilliant choice for having a pint or a wee dram and listening to music early in the evenings.

They have a superb selection of whiskey — just not quite as extensive as Lowry’s.

And the Guinness is pretty damn tasty!

 

Other pubs

Admittedly, I only spent time in Mannions and Lowry’s when it came to pub time.

But some locals told me that the Central Bar brings in some good music and is a fun spot to hang out.

EJ Kings always seems to be hopping so it looks like a great choice as well. It’s in a prime location right on the town square with outdoor seating.

When it comes to pubs, I always think that you tend to find one that suits you and your personality and that’s YOUR pub for your time in that area.

 

Where to shop

There are some wonderful shops around with everything from wool sweaters, to beautiful paintings to t-shirts to handmade soaps to hand crafted jewelry.

 

Conn O’Mara

This is a cute shop with fun t-shirts and other bric-a-brac.

The couple that run this developed their signature guy, Conn O’Mara, and he and his sheep appear on the t-shirts which are drawn by the wife of this team.

If you’re looking for a gift for yourself or a loved one, one of these creations is perfect.

I bought a cute women’s t-shirt. I couldn’t resist!

 

O’Dalaigh Jewellers

While I didn’t buy anything from this jewelry shop, I could have.

O’Dalaigh was started by John and Annie Daly and has now grown to include their 2 children, Jonathan and Johanna.

There are some beautiful pieces with an emphasis on Celtic designs which are created by the family.

And there are different price points so you can spend a little or a lot.

If you love jewelry then be sure to stop by.

 

What to experience

All of Connemara is at your beck and call from Clifden.

Seriously. This is a stunning area.

But in this article I want to focus on the experiences right in Clifden.

 

Walk along the harbor

One of my favorite things to do was to take the long walk either to or from town to Hillside Lodge.

This walk takes you along the harbor — and it’s simply lovely.

While you are walking on the road, there are fewer cars so it’s a bit quieter.

You have views of the harbor, the 12 Bens and of Clifden.

It’s a wonderful way to slow down and take in the stunning scenery.

 

Drive, walk, run or bike Sky Road

Sky Road begins in Clifden.

And you can’t miss this!

I drove this on my first visit to Clifden then again on my second visit in 2017.

For the 2018 visit, I decided to run a bit of it in the morning.

And I really wish I would have had the time to walk and/or run the entire thing.

It’s essentially a loop drive — with a very narrow road.

You’ll drive out past Abbeyglen Castle (also a hotel).

Just a bit past Hillside Lodge you’ll come to Clifden Castle (ruins) and the road splits — Lower Sky Road and Upper Sky Road.

I’d recommend taking Lower Sky Road then you can circle back to Upper Sky Road.

It’s a hard right turn that takes you back toward Clifden Castle and Clifden town.

There is a parking area with a view point on Upper Sky Road that is a fantastic spot for pictures.

You can certainly drive this in reverse — taking Upper Sky Road and then circling back on Lower Sky Road — and have the same stunning views.

Just be prepared for narrow roads and walkers and bikers.

But don’t miss it!!

 

Clifden is amazing

If you want to spend time in Connemara, Clifden really is the perfect town for your stay.

After spending 6 nights here in 2018, it truly won me over with all it has to offer.

There’s a fun pub scene with incredible music.

The food scene is good and getting better and better.

But for me, it’s the people as there is an eclectic mix of locals who have lived here their whole lives, other Irish folks and even people from elsewhere in Europe who now call Clifden home.

I love this blend of people that make Clifden … Clifden.

I’m definitely looking forward to my next visit!