Looking for the best pubs in Doolin in Clare? You’ll find a handful of lovely spots below!
Situated on Ireland’s west coast, the lively little village of Doolin is the perfect base for a road trip (there’s loads of things to do in Doolin!).
There are also a handful (4) of great pubs in Doolin where you can whittle away an evening after a long day on the road.
My favourite pubs in Doolin
In the guide below, you’ll discover our favourite pubs in Doolin, from, the well known Gus O’Connor’s Pub to the mighty McDermott’s and everything in between.
If you fancy a bite to eat before you head out for a sip, you’ll find plenty of great places to eat in the village in our Doolin restaurants guide.
1. McDermott’s Pub
McDermott’s is a traditional Irish pub owned and run by the same family since 1876.
Offering up excellent homemade meals every day of the week (and traditional Irish music live every night during the summer), this place packs a punch.
McDermott’s is a 15-minute walk from Fisher Street (this shouldn’t be attempted when dark as there’s only path some of the way) and has plenty of parking next to it.
If you can, try and nab the seats in the right hand corner after you walk through the door (across from the toilets) – you won’t get much more snug than these!
Food wise, highlights here include fish and chips, Irish stew and a hefty lamb shank that goes perfectly with a pint of Guinness.
2. Gus O’Connor’s
Gus O’Connor’s tends to be one of the more popular Doolin pubs among visiting tourists, as it’s located right in the middle of colourful Fisher Street.
Established in 1832, O’Connor’s is synonymous with traditional Irish music and you’ll find sessions running here 7 evenings a week, from February to November, and at weekends all year round.
If you arrive here during winter, you’ll be greeted by a roaring fire as you walk through the door along with a mix of locals and tourists enjoying a bit of respite from the cold.
Food wise, there’s plenty of Irish fare on offer, with the beef and Guinness stew my go-to on every memorable visit.
Related read: Check out our Doolin accommodation guide (it’s packed with everything from the fancy Doolin Village Lodges to some very quirky places to stay).
3. McGann’s Pub
Great food and a warm welcome are guaranteed at McGann’s – one of the most overlooked of the 4 pubs in Doolin.
If you manage to rock in here before it fills up, try and grab a seat to the right as you come in, a little back from the corner.
This is where the music sets up and you’ll have a front row seat if you plonk yourself here!
McGann’s has a cosy, traditionalsetting with wooden furniture, vintage memorabilia, and a stone fireplace that’s in regular use!
This is another of the Doolin pubs that packs a punch food wise, with everything from local classics, like stew with soda bread, to lamb shank and fish and chips.
4. Fitzpatrick’s Bar
Last but by no means least in this guide to the best Doolin pubs for post-adventure pints is Fitzpatrick’s!
You’ll find Fitzpatrick’s Bar in Hotel Doolin, a short, 10-minute stroll from Fisher Street where there’s a wide range of food and Irish beers and Irish ciders on offer.
Fitz’s is arguably best known for holing live music sessions 365 days of the year, which is no easy feat.
The interior of the pub is cosy while, on those often rare warm evenings, there’s a spacious outdoor area.
Live music pubs in Doolin: Where the magic happens
Doolin is known for its live music sessions that take place in pubs throughout the year.
The trickiest thing can be deciding which sessions to attend, as each of the 4 Doolin pubs tends to have a session taking place.
Some of the best include the Wild Atlantic Sessions at Fitzpatrick’s every Monday, Blackie, Cyril and Geraldine at McGann’s on a Tuesday and Dubhlinn at McDermott’s every Monday and Wednesday (note: dates and acts may change).
Another thing to look out for are the impromptu music sessions that tend to spark up in the pubs in Doolin at any time of the year. Your best bet with finding out about what’s on and when is on the pubs Facebook page.
FAQs about the best Doolin pubs
We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from which pubs in Doolin have live music to which are best for food.
In the section below, we’ve popped in the most FAQs that we’ve received. If you have a question that we haven’t tackled, ask away in the comments section below.
What are the best pubs in Doolin in 2024?
McDermott’s, Gus O’Connor’s, McGann’s and Fitzpatrick’s are all worth kicking-back in after a long day on the road.
What Doolin pubs do the best food?
Although each of the bars in Doolin do food, lunch in McDermott’s is hard to beat (the chicken wings and soup are both the business) while the beef and Guinness stew from Gus O’Connor’s packs a punch!
What pubs in Doolin have live music?
All of the Doolin pubs host live music sessions throughout the year. The best place to find out what’s taking place and when is on each of their Facebook pages.
Keith O’Hara has lived in Ireland for 35 years and has spent most of the last 10 creating what is now The Irish Road Trip guide. Over the years, the website has published thousands of meticulously researched Ireland travel guides, welcoming 30 million+ visitors along the way. In 2022, the Irish Road Trip team published the world’s largest collection of Irish Road Trip itineraries. Keith lives in Dublin with his dog Toby and finds writing in the 3rd person minus craic altogether.