The Best Pubs In Doolin: 4 Brilliant Bars For Post-Adventure Pints

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. 

Our 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

An absolute must for foodies visiting Doolin, 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 the colourful Fisher Street.

With live music daily during the peak season, Gus O’Connor’s is a cosy and atmospheric spot ideal for a hearty meal, a few pints of Guinness and a taste of traditional Irish culture.

If you arrive here at winter, you’ll be greeted by a roaring fire as you walk through the door. There’s also some tasty (and very hearty) food on offer here. 

Serving up delicious local favourites including fried breakfasts, homemade soups and seafood including oysters, mussels and much more.

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!

Now, you’ll find McGann’s near McDermott’s, a 15-minute walk from Fisher Street – the same advice applies – don’t walk this after dark.

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 our guide to the best Doolin pubs for post-adventure pints is the brilliant Fitzpatrick’s!

You’ll find Fitzpatrick’s Bar a short, 10-minute stroll from Fisher Street. Again (I’m like a broken record, I know), this isn’t a walk you want to do when it’s dark.

Fitzpatrick’s is another great spot to come for traditional music, food and beers in the town. Serving up fish and chips in classic newspaper wrapping as well as silky seafood pasta and varied platters, there is plenty to choose from here.

With live music throughout the summer and a wide range of Irish beers and Irish ciders on offer, you can’t go far wrong with a few hours at Fitzpatrick’s Bar!

Live music pubs in Doolin: Where the magic happens

Doolin is known for its excellent live music sessions that take place in pubs on most nights during the busier, summer months, and at the weekends during the off-season.

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 2022?

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.