Winter Weekend in Westport

alliteration for the win!

Mar 28, 2017

*POST UPDATED NOVEMBER 2024.

Friends, I have to be honest with you: Westport was never one of the places on my “to-go list”. Why would I want to go to a small town tucked away in the back arse of nowhere? A trip to Westport would have meant experiencing that true Irish-country-feel that tourists seem to revel in. To be honest, the smell of cow poop that comes to mind from previous country visits doesn’t do it for me. Then Boyfriend came along. He spoke of the wonders of the Wild West & insisted time and time again that we visit Westport together. Apparently, I would love it. I was skeptical, but I am weak to Boyfriend’s puppy-dog eyes.

We set out for Westport in January 2016, and returned again in December 2016.

why westport?

It takes just over three hours to drive from Dublin to Westport, & the journey is filled with the most gorgeous landscapes. With the ‘Into The Wild’ soundtrack playing on full volume, we drove from one side of the country to the other. I had never been to Mayo before, but ever since our first visit to Westport, I’ve been hooked. There’s something about the place that hits you in the face & sticks in your mind long after your visit has ended. A certain type of magical charm that you can’t really put your finger on. You can taste it in the air, see it in all of the quaint little shopfronts, & feel it when you venture into your first Westport pub for a local Mescan beer.

where to stay

The Wyatt Hotel // a charming hotel. Perfect location, excellent rooms, friendly & helpful staff, not one single thing we could fault it on. Added bonus: the bar in the hotel does an outstanding club sandwich, which is not a statement we would make lightly. Address: The, Octagon, Westport, Co. Mayo

The Helm // slightly outside town, along the quay. We’ve stayed here twice, and it’s good for groups that want to rent a whole apartment, but it’s nothing special other than that. Would book a hotel if it’s just for two. Address: The Quay, Cloonmonad, Westport, Co. Mayo

The Mariner // a very central hotel. Located just off the main street – a standard, cheap hotel. The room was comfortable & the breakfasts in the morning were hearty and filling. Address: Mill St, Cahernamart, Westport, Co. Mayo.
*2022 UPDATE: when we stayed here, it was called The Mill Times Hotel. It seems to be the same, just a rebranding.

where to drink hot chocolate

Marlene’s Chocolate Haven // the only place I have ever ordered a hot chocolate & actually enjoyed it. Basically, the inside of the cup is coated with luscious melted chocolate & piping hot milk is poured into the middle. Two options: stir thoroughly to feel like you’re drinking liquid chocolate or do it my way & scoop all of the melty chocolate out with your spoon & make a right mess. Address: James St, Cahernamart, Westport, Co. Mayo, F28 YR74
*2024 UPDATE: sadly, Marlene’s is now just a takeaway spot with no tables for sitting in at. Honestly, it was nowhere near as enjoyable drinking our hot chocolates out of takeaway cups. Would we go back? I’m genuinely leaning towards a strong no.

where to eat

breakfast

This Must Be The Place // a beautiful café. The menu is healthy and fresh, filled with original ideas not found anywhere else in Westport. The food is delicious – as is the coffee – so much so that Boyfriend & I stopped in for another speedy lunch before setting home. Pro tip: get the homemade beans with the feta and the chorizo, it is mouthwatering-ly good. Address: High St, Cahernamart, Westport, Co. Mayo, F28 Y440

~~Willow Tea Rooms~~ // adorable little tea rooms just beside the clock tower (with an A+ window display also), serving up a huge choice of loose leaf teas & cute little baked goods. I’m a sucker for a cute mince pie & this was definitely the best one I’ve had in my whole life – heated ever so slightly with a healthy (or not so healthy) dollop of softly whipped cream. Perfection. ~~Address~~~~: High St, Cahernamart, Westport, Co. Mayo, F28 Y440.~~
*2022 UPDATE: sadly, now closed.

dinner

An Port Mor // an absolute must. An adorable, quaint little restaurant from the outside, a seriously great restaurant on the inside. The food is outstanding, perhaps the best we’ve had in all of Ireland. Every meal we’ve had there – yes, there have been a few – has left us in awe, wanting to come back again the very next night. The service is impeccable. A little pricier than most, but after one bite of your roasted pig cheek you’ll forget all about that, we promise. Address: 1 Brewery Place, (Adjacent to Bridge Street), Westport, Co. Mayo, F28 KP70

~~The Pantry & Corkscrew~~ // the sheer volume of glowing reviews for this place on Trip Advisor piqued our interest so much that we had to try it out. The whole truth: I have never been so pleasantly surprised in my whole life! We loved it so much we cancelled one of our bookings & ate here two nights in a row. ~~Pro tip:~~ ~~get the fried chicken – mouthwatering, moist, tender, crispy & delicious!~~ ~~Address~~~~: The Octagon, Co. Mayo~~
*2024 UPDATE: sadly, now closed.

Cronin’s Sheebeen // a 40-minute trek outside town, the Sheebeen is the perfect place to refuel. In Dublin, when you eat in a pub it’s always the same dried out food that you regret eating. Cronin’s Sheebeen is so far away from that – the food is always delicious. The goat’s cheese starter is a winner; baked in angel hair pastry, it is the most delicious & delicate thing ever. Added bonus: they do a ‘smoked bacon mashed potato’ that tastes exactly like Bacon Fries. Trust. Address: Rosbeg, Westport, Co. Mayo

where to drink

beer

Matt Molloy’s // one of those places that everyone goes to. If you say you’re going to a pub, people assume you mean Matt Molloy’s & that’s just it. You might get lucky & secure a seat in the back beside the fire, where you can watch the live band play. If you find yourself seated at the bar, there’s a great collection of American police badges pinned up all over the walls from all sorts of places. Address: Bridge St, Cahernamart, Westport, Co. Mayo

McGing’s // definitely our favourite pub. Have you seen the outside? A grey, dull building, entirely brought to life by the mad bright colours of the pub. Walking inside feels like stepping back in time. It’s like one of those great pubs your grandparents used to drink in that were so full of character. In the sitting room – yes, the sitting room – there’s a lovely blazing fire to keep warm while you sip away on your Mescan. What more could you ask for? Address: High St, Cahernamart, Westport, Co. Mayo

Hunt down some Mescan // wherever you can. Locally brewed, it is delicious.

wine

The Gallery Boutique Wine Bar // a chic little wine bar to nestle into for a glass of wine. When we asked the owner, Tom, what wines he had by the glass he answered us with a question: what would you like? Two glasses of malbec later, we were satisfied customers. Address: Brewery Place, 9, Westport, Co. Mayo, F28 VP63

*Date of trips: 8th - 11th January 2016, and 2nd - 5th December 2016*