Vaughan’s Pub, Kilfenora, County Clare: A True Gateway to the Burren
Some pubs do one thing well. Vaughan’s Bar and Restaurant in Kilfenora, County Clare, does several things very well indeed. Sitting on the green in the heart of this small but storied village — widely known as the Gateway to the Burren — Vaughan’s manages to be a traditional Irish pub, a proper restaurant, a guest house, and a wedding venue all at once, and it pulls each of those things off with what the team themselves describe as care and attention at the heart of everything they do.
Open every single day of the week from 10:30 in the morning until 11:30 at night, Vaughan’s is exactly the kind of place that is simply there for you, whether you are rolling in after a long day walking the limestone pavements of the Burren or settling in for the evening with nowhere else to be.
The Food
The restaurant at Vaughan’s is famed — their word, and one we are happy to repeat — for its food. The kitchen serves from 12:30pm until 9pm daily, turning out traditional Irish cooking that leans on hearty pub favourites alongside more refined specialties. It is the kind of menu that suits a wide range of appetites and occasions, whether you are stopping in for a quick bite after a morning on the Burren trails or sitting down for a longer, more leisurely meal. The traditional interior of the restaurant reflects the same values as the food itself: warm, considered, and rooted in something genuine.
Accommodation on the Green
If Kilfenora and the surrounding County Clare countryside have persuaded you to stay a little longer — and they very likely will — Vaughan’s has you covered there too. The on-site guest house, Vaughan’s on the Green, offers nine ensuite bedrooms with capacity for up to twenty-one guests. It operates as a self-catering option, complete with a fully-equipped kitchen, a dining room, and a sitting room, making it feel genuinely like a home away from home rather than a hotel stay. It is a comfortable, relaxed base from which to explore everything this corner of Clare has to offer.
Weddings and Special Occasions
Vaughan’s also holds a distinctive place in the hearts of couples across the region, thanks to its unique wedding barn venue. Set against the scenic backdrop of Kilfenora, the barn provides an enchanting setting for a celebration of love. Beyond weddings, the team at Vaughan’s have catered for a wide range of events over the years and are clear that no occasion is too small or too unique for them to take on. That is the kind of attitude that makes a venue worth considering for any special occasion.
Kilfenora and the Burren
Kilfenora’s reputation as the Gateway to the Burren is well earned. The Burren is one of the most distinctive landscapes in Ireland — a vast, ancient stretch of karst limestone in north County Clare that draws walkers, nature lovers, and curious travellers from all over the world. Having a pub like Vaughan’s at its edge means that every trip into this remarkable landscape has an excellent beginning and a very good reason to return. Whether you are exploring the region for a day or spending a full week in Clare, Kilfenora makes an excellent base, and Vaughan’s makes Kilfenora all the more inviting.
What You Will Find at Vaughan’s
- A traditional Irish bar open seven days a week, 10:30am to 11:30pm
- A restaurant serving food daily from 12:30pm to 9pm
- Traditional Irish cooking, from pub favourites to refined specialties
- A self-catering guest house with nine ensuite bedrooms for up to twenty-one guests
- A distinctive wedding barn venue for celebrations large and small
- A team experienced in catering for functions and special occasions of all kinds
Plan Your Visit
Vaughan’s is located on the green in Kilfenora, County Clare, V95 DT8K, open Monday to Sunday from 10:30am to 11:30pm. Whether you are coming for a meal, a pint, a weekend stay, or to begin planning your wedding, you will find everything you need at Vaughan’s, where their own website has full details on the restaurant, accommodation, and event spaces.
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