Taking a trip out west? Welcome to food truck heaven. A visit to Connemara, Co Galway is enriched with gourmet food trucks serving fresh fish and coffee spots for your flat white fix …
Come rain or shine there is a lot to be said for picking up some good food, driving to a viewpoint and enjoying the wild weather of the west whipping around you! Weather regardless, these great food and coffee spots make for a delicious holiday with spectacular views of Connemara to boot.
My Little Flower, Main Street, Oughterard
If you are passing through Oughterard, then a stop off at My Little Flower is a must. Serving seasonal coffee, homemade bakes, crispy toasties, as well as Keep Cups, prints, mugs and other lovely Irish goodies, it is a gorgeous little space in the village. If you’re a coff-aholic (I admittedly am) – this beautifully made coffee will set you up for the rest of the journey. @mylittleflowercoffee
Sullivan’s Country Grocer (@sullivangrover) in Oughterard is also worth a visit says Sarah Halliwell, Beauty Editor. “Sullivan’s grocer is the dream – we wish it was our local. There’s everything from great Fixx coffee and pastries (best Portugese tarts ever) to a superlative range of local veg and treats, including honey.”
Misunderstood Heron, Derrynasliggaun, Lennaun
These guys really know what they’re doing when it comes to good food, good vibes and good views. The fact that Misunderstood Heron is open seven days a week from 12pm to 4.45pm means there never seems to be any massive lunch rush – it is busy, yes, but there are plenty of spaces to sit and they turn that queue around like clockwork. I went twice on my week-long trip – it really warrants that second visit. The Connemara smoked salmon with whipped ricotta, lemon, coriander and green chilli on sourdough is truly divine and the portion size is generous for any hangry campers who have just climbed Diamond Hill or had a cold plunge in the Atlantic. Other fresh specialities are the Killary Fjord Mussels, sweetcorn and halloumi fritters, fresh cakes and good coffee. The menu changes often and it is all good in my opinion. @misunderstood_heron
Snappy Snappy Crab, Ballinaskill Bay, Letterfrack
If you are a fan of crab then type Snappy Snappy Crab food truck into your Google maps and thank me later. A brioche bun with lemon, mustard, mayo and dill with a great portion of fresh crab simply melts in the mouth. This really is THE best crab I have ever tried and on a sunny summer’s day the view from Ballinaskill Bay is beautiful. @snappysnappycrab
Kabo Coffee, Letterfrack
If you are passing through Letterfrack, or are coming from Connemara National Park, I would highly recommend Kabo Coffee, located beside Veldons Pub (great food and ambiance here too!). Kabo offers takeaway speciality coffee with freshly made cakes and treats everyday. The brownies are divine, and the chocolate covered oat bar is delicious, but it is Aileen’s homemade lemon cake that has to be tried. The coffee shop stocks products from Irish businesses like jewellery, cards and gifts too so you can have a browse while you decide what to eat. There are some tables outside to perch at or take the coffee to go and park up by Renvyle beach to take in the sea air. @kabocoffee
Little Fish, Cleggan
Sarah Halliwell really rates the flat whites here and being somewhat of an expert on the subject, we trust her judgement. I did not try the coffee but the food is delicious and Cleggan is a great spot to visit. On the menu, Little Fish has a famous fish spice bag, fresh mussels, hot buffalo prawns and other flavourful meals to enjoy in the sea air. @littlefish_cafe
Oifig an fish, Clifden
This name – we like it. This restaurant in Clifden is the little brother of Snappy Snappy Crab (in place of where 12 Pins Coffee used to be) and the exterior has been designed to look like a post office. The crispiest fish and chips served with a craft beer on tap goes down a treat. Cleggan crab claws with garlic butter melt are a game changer and the vegetarian option when I visited was whipped Toonsbridge ricotta with garden peas on the menu – and it was delicious. @oifiganfish
Guys Bar, Clifden
For a pub and a pint, Guys Bar in Clifden is great place to go. The seafood chowder is sublime. Chowder, a bowl of chips and a Guinness is hard to beat in the west. The Killary mussels with coconut milk and chilli served with garlic bread is a genius creation too – guaranteed there will be nothing left at the end of the meal. @guys_bar_clifden
Great places for dinner in Clifden include The Lamplight Wine Bar on Market Street and the Marconi restaurant attached to Foyles hotel. For coffee, sadly 12 Pins is gone but Upstairs Downstairs is a real reliable and does a great coffee and top notch soup and sambo. I also recommend the orange and almond cake – it is exquisite. @upstairsdownstairscafe
So-Doh! Bakery, Renvyle
So-Doh! is a Sourdough microbakery in Renvyle Connemara. Owned and run by Laura O’Donovan. The mission of the bakery is to produce quality sourdough breads and some sweet sourdough treats – and that it does. Laura uses all organic or Irish milled flour in her baking process. Other delicious special bakes to try are her sundried tomato and rosemary focaccia, chocolate chip cookies, cranberry and orange scone, cardamon twists, cinnamon and walnut swirl, and sourdough loaves from plain to fennel, to multi-grain. See her in Renvyle and enjoy her deliciously fresh and dough-y produce.
Kylemore Abbey, Pollacappul, Co Galway
Kylemore Abbey is a must-see, there is so much to get out of a visit to the Benedictine Monastery – including a good lunch. Take a walk around the walled garden, browse the shop selling Irish designs, artwork and food supplies and have lunch in the café to finish it off – and/or a scone the size of your head. www.kylemoreabbey.com
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