A locals guide to the Westport food scene

Lately, food has become as much of a tourist attraction as sand dunes and greenways, and Westport’s culinary scene is on the up. From award-winning restaurants to locally sourced shellfish and organic veg, Westport’s offering for foodies is a veritable smorgasbord of delicious delights.

Whether you’re looking to dine and dash, or don some fancy threads for a special night out, Westport’s got it all. We reached out to some residents to discover the inside scoop on their favourite local spots to drink, snack, dine and indulge to comprise this list of the best places to eat in Westport!

Cafés

Every good adventure begins with fuel. Luckily, we have some great cafes around Westport to get you caffeinated for the day ahead.

Cornrue Bakery: Award-winning Cornrue Bakery is more than just a home for naturally leavened loaves of sourdough - it’s a stalwart of the community. Loaves and boules sit in crisp white bags, waiting to be enjoyed by the locals and visitors who flock to this renowned bakery day in, day out. Head to Cornrue early before the bread sells out, and make sure to order in advance if you want to get your hands on their famous cinnamon rolls (Thursday and Friday only). Saturday mornings in Summer, sit outside and listen to the live music and local chatter from patrons who perch on the wall outside.

Christy’s Harvest: Local institution, beloved by all who live here. A home away from home for many, this pocket-sized café has some of the best seats in the town, perfect for people watching from the sidewalk seating area. Don’t leave without picking up some handmade truffles for those unlucky enough not to have made it to Westport.

Curry's Cottage: This classic bakery and café bring you back to those childhood days, in granny’s kitchen, with the warm smell of cookies and bread emanating from somewhere close by. The interior is like a cosy parlour, and the display boasts an array of sweet treats brimming with nostalgia. Curry’s Cottage also wins the prize for the most inventive window displays, with every calendar event marked by enthralling scenes playing out behind the glass.

Mc Hughes on the Mall: No trip to Westport, or indeed Mayo, would be complete without a visit to McHugh’s. This family-run business has various locations across Mayo and Galway, each as good as the next. The sandwich names alone are worth the visit, with The Gobble Gobble, The Twerky and Ya Mad Cow being some of the best.

The Creel Café & Deli: A visit to Westport Quay is a must and there is no better place to stop off than The Creel restaurant or its Deli next door. It's well-known locally to serve up some of the best brunch plates in town. Their lunch menu is modern with specials on rotation daily. If you're on the run hit the Deli to grab your coffee, cake and carefully crafted sandwich to take away and enjoy by the shores of Clew Bay.

Servd: This casual café right in the heart of Westport town is THE place for lunch and brunch. Hearty servings of granola, pancakes and eggs benny make their way out of the kitchen and into your mouth, and the counter is full to the brim of OTT pastries, perfect for those weekend hangovers the morning after a session at Matt Mollys on Bridge Street.

This Must Be The Place: A firm favourite with Instagram influencers nationwide, This Must Be The Place is a hotbed of deliciousness. They use Cornrue bread for their gourmet sandwiches and churn out the best oat flat whites in town. Get your lunch to take away and bring it on a hike. You’ll thank yourself when you’re at the top of Croagh Patrick and you have a signature sandwich from TMBTP to chow down on.

Savoir Fare: Westport has really lucked out with this deli & bistro that serves casual plates of delectable French-inspired but locally sourced food at a reasonable price. Delectable cheeses, wines, bread and meats are on display daily in the deli. Pate en crouté, Killary Fjord mussels, Achill Island smoked salmon are all dine-in menu staples.

The menu changes daily along with the seasons. If you’re looking for somewhere to celebrate a special occasion with friends or family, book out the entire place for their private supper club.

Cobblers: This bustling gastropub nestled at the corner of the Wyatt Hotel Westport has perhaps the best view of the Octagon where Lindsay Lohan just shot her new Netflix film “Irish Wish”. Bar food is served all day long, and the menu is full of family favourites, like burgers, fish and chips and steak. If you stay past dinner on a Sunday, you’re sure to encounter some local musicians pulling up stools for the legendary Sunday Night Session in Cobbler’s Bar.

Coveys: A Covey is a local slang for someone born and bred in Westport, so no trip to the town would be complete without a visit to this gastro bar in the Westport Plaza Hotel. Inspired by Little Italy in New York, the bar and restaurant has a plush interior and is always buzzing. Known for its stonebaked pizza fired up in its open kitchen, Coveys is the place to see and be seen in Westport.

Friends Bistro: Winner of the Tripadvisor Travels Choice Awards 2022, Friends Bistro is twell worth checking out, if they can squeeze you in. This small café and restaurant is tucked away on a lane off James’ St and is a real find. Friends offer interesting twists on Irish classics, as well as traditional dishes like quiches and casseroles.

An Port Mór: One of the top restaurants in Westport with the best of modern Irish cooking is to be found at An Port Mór, recently voted the ‘Best Restaurant in Connaught’ at the Irish Restaurant Awards. The menu changes daily, but fresh fish caught right on Westport’s doorstep is a firm fixture. The setting is cosy, moody and a little bit sexy - perfect for date night.

Seafood lovers: You're going to be spoilt for choice in Westport. If you want some local oysters washed down with a creamy pint of plain and a view out over the waters of Clew Bay, look no further than The Sheebeen. If you're staying in the heart of town check out The Mariner whose fish specials and early bird menu are always a good catch. Down at Westport harbour, The Towers is the best place for families, as parents can watch kids play in the compact playground on site while they gulp back a bowl of chowder. Lastly, but certainly not least, The Helm offers an inviting interior, the perfect place to sample mussels, prawns, scallops and crab, all locally sourced.

Sage: If you’re looking to go all in on a culinary experience, Sage is the place to go. Perfect for fancier occasions, Sage’s menu, which features dishes such as duck and monkfish, will satisfy every taste bud. Go around 8pm and make a night of it.

The Tavern: Located a stone’s throw away from Croagh Patrick, you will love this cosy gastropub post-hike, known for serving the best pub food in the area. Come hungry, because the generous portions will have you rolling out the door. Make sure you have a booking in summer because this popular place fills up fast!

Arno's Bistro: Step into Arno’s Bistro for a flavour of France on the doorstep of the Wild Atlantic Way. More local produce adorns the plates served up in Arno’s, and the wine list is one of the best in town. The goat’s cheese creme bruleé and the beetroot wellington are some of the most interesting dishes on the menu for those who aren’t tempted by the meat, poultry and fish.

Knockranny: Anyone in the market for a destination restaurant in a swanky hotel with the most impressive view of Croagh Patrick and Clew Bay around need to look no further than Knockranny Hotel. The award-winning head chef Seamus Commons is the talent behind La Fougére Restaurant, and visitors can expect a gastronomic experience that is heavy on detail, precision and taste.

Krēm: Westport’s has it's very own gelato parlour and it really is the creme de la creme of ice cream. Independently and family-owned, the crew behind Krēm has been making gelato for four generations, so you know you’re in good hands. Forget the 99’s, Krēm is where it’s at on those hot summer days or even those cold winter nights.

Enrica’s Cupcakes: Happiness is cupcakes, right? Well, Enrica certainly thinks so, and so do we, after tasting one bite of her mouth-watering cupcakes. Find her cute bakery on the lane between James’ St. and Bridge St., and make sure to get a red velvet cupcake to take away for later.

Becca’s Bakery: This pocket-sized bakery is packed to the brim with pastries to satisfy the sweetest of teeth. One of the specialties at Becca’s Bakery are custom-made birthday cakes, and they even hold crafty classes for kids at weekends - the perfect parent and child activity!