Westport Co Mayo, Ireland

This recently renovated restaurant and outdoor bar is located right on the water at Westport Quay. With unbeatable views and a relaxed atmosphere, it’s a lovely spot for a drink while watching the sun set. Or if the weather allows, dine al fresco in their large outdoor space, with a menu of fresh seafood – there’s even a food truck offering casual bites.

The award-winning Cornrue Bakery is the perfect stop for a morning coffee and fresh sourdough bread, cakes, scones and cinnamon rolls (if you’re lucky!). They tend to sell out so make sure to head there early. Owner Patrick O’Reilly is very welcoming and will make you feel like an old friend, sharing stories about his baked goods and worldly travels. We recommend ordering a slice of the Basque Cheesecake and Tunisian Orange cake to enjoy with your coffee dine-in, or take-away as we did, for our road-trip around Achill Island.

This traditional pub is perfect for a Guinness and fresh fish and chips, overlooking Clew Bay. Located just outside of Westport (an easy 40 minute walk from the centre of town), Cronin’s Sheebeen specialises in fresh seafood and traditional Irish dishes. Grab one of the tables out the front, or settle in for the night in one of several snugs inside. The meals are generous and the staff very welcoming.

Owned by folk music legend Matt Molloy (flute player from The Chieftains), this pub in the heart of town is a trad favourite. Grab a Guinness at the bar and squeeze into the back room for intimate nightly music sessions, a lively atmosphere and good ‘craic’ (fun). Music typically starts at 9:30pm Sunday–Thursday and 8pm on Friday and Saturday. This is a drinking pub (there is no food available), and the back room fills up quickly so it’s best to get there early and make friends with your neighbours.

Located in the centre of Westport, this cosy cafe serves specialty coffee and a small but delicious seasonal menu using quality Irish ingredients. For breakfast there are eggs, porridge and granola, and for lunch, simple toasties (made with Cornrue bread), arancini and soup. Plus daily sweet treats including some very tasty scones. They also have a grocery section where you’ll find Irish food products and wines – great for picnics or a meal at your accommodation.

We loved spending our early morning walks exploring Westport Estate’s 400 acres of beautiful woodland and parkland setting. A network of tracks and trails take you through gardens and paddocks, across lakes and past the historical Westport House. Dating back to the 1500s, the site has a rich history of lords, ladies and even a pirate queen – Grace O’Malley’s castle forms the foundations of Westport House. Entry to the grounds is free, with guided tours of Westport House (there’s thirty rooms open to the public, across three floors) available for €7–15. Also on the estate is an adventure park, cafe, food trucks and accommodation, including campsite, glamping and a luxury hotel set to open in Spring 2026.

Achill Island features some of the best natural beauty we saw in Ireland – white sandy beaches with turquoise water (including five Blue Flag beaches), the highest sea cliffs in the country, soaring mountains, inland lakes, colourful wildflowers and white cottages dotted through the landscape. A 45-minute drive from Westport, it’s a stunning place to spend the day exploring – best done by car or bike. Our favourite stops were Keem Bay, Keel Beach and the white cliffs of Ashleam. If you’re a film fan, The Banshees of Inisherin was largely filmed on Achill Island.

One of our most memorable experiences in Ireland was a visit to Croagh Patrick Seafoods. A ten minute drive from Westport, the family oyster farm offers unique tours run by the very passionate and welcoming owner, Padraig Gannon. The tour includes incredible insight into Ireland’s oyster farming history – including Padraig’s own fascinating role in the industry – an oyster-shucking demonstration, and tutored tasting (including Clew Bay native oysters and their award-winning Pacific oysters), all while overlooking the oyster beds. There’s also fresh seafood served daily at the new Visitor Centre, including fresh or grilled oysters, steamed mussels and Achill smoked salmon – which you can pair with wine or local beer. Tours are €35 per person, including 6 oysters (served fresh or grilled).

This fabulous little studio, gallery and store is located on a clifftop, overlooking Doogort beach on Achill Island. Co-run by artist duo Francis Van Maele, originally from Belgium, and partner Antic-Ham, from South Korea (they collaborate artistically as ‘Franticham’), the store sells hand-crafted books, traditional prints and contemporary artworks, stationery, Polaroid photos and vintage cameras. The couple designs, prints and makes their own limited edition art books using collage, photography, laser printing, solvent transfer, risograph, stencils, rubber stamping, drawing, and found objects and ephemera. Many of their amazing creations have found their way into the collections of museums and universities worldwide, including the Tate Gallery and V&A Museum in London and the MoMA Library and Metropolitan Art Museum in New York. Red Fox Press is the perfect place to pick up a unique, budget- and travel-friendly souvenir – we came home with several artworks and a vintage camera!