Gus O'Connor's Pub

Gus O'Connor's PubGus O'Connor's Pub
Gus O'Connor's PubGus O'Connor's Pub
Bar, Eatery

Pier Road
Doolin
Clare
Ireland

+353(0)65-7074168 | map
PLACE STATS
Average:
3.9
Reviews:
9
Ratings:
12
pDev:
14.87%
View: Place Reviews
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Ratings by Kevin67:
Photo of Kevin67
Reviewed by Kevin67 from Arkansas

2.8/5  rDev -28.2%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3 | service: 2 | selection: 3 | food: 3.5
Definitely one of the bars in town that caters to tourists. If you're looking for a better experience, go to McDermott's.

Atmosphere is okay, but you better hope a tour bus doesn't arrive during your meal, or beer time.

The service was lacking, the quality was okay, and the selection wasn't as good as I thought it would be.

The food was good, but not great.
Jun 08, 2016
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.51 by McMegaRad from Colorado

Sep 15, 2015
 
Rated: 4.25 by twb0392 from Wisconsin

Nov 21, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by Hayley_86 from Netherlands

Apr 21, 2014
Photo of JohnnyP3
Reviewed by JohnnyP3 from Alaska

4.18/5  rDev +7.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
Stopped here for lunch as part of a tour of Ireland. This pub had a very pleasant authentic Irish pub atmosphere. Very clean and squared away with a sense of history to it. The service was top notch. Ordered from the bar and the food was delivered very quickly. Also ordered a pint of Murphy's that was served promptly.

The food selection was above average for many of the pubs that I visited during my whirlwind visit to Ireland. Lots of quality choices for young and old. I ordered the fish and chips and it was the best fish and chips I've had so far. The food was served hot and the fish was the freshest in a fish and chips dish I've experienced thus far. Tasted like they had just hauled it out of the Atlantic and threw it in the fryer moments before I arrived.

The beer selection was OK. You had both Guinness and Murphy's as well as some standard Euro Pale Lager style offerings. There was also an Irish cider on tap that I was not familiar with.

The price and quality matched up quite well at O'Connor's.
Jul 12, 2010
Photo of TheSarge
Reviewed by TheSarge from Virginia

3/5  rDev -23.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3 | selection: 2 | food: 3
For this being a high touristy location, this pub seems to have reasonable prices when it comes to their food. The menu is full of the typical Irish pub grub, and the location is beautiful with the Cliffs of Moher just a few miles down the road. The interior of the tavern was very clean and well kept. It was divided into two sections. One was more for eating and the other for drinking. I didn't stay inside too long. I just got a pint of Guinness and sat outside on their picnic benches.

I can't really dog or commend their service, since I just got a pint and took off afterward. The bartenders did take their sweet time to pour my brew, and I feel I could have had it a lot sooner so I have to knock them down a bit for that.

Of course this is Ireland, and not a huge mecca for beer. They had the typical stout and cider, as well as the American adjuncts guaranteed to be ice cold so you don't have to taste them.

Again, the menu looked chopped full of the typical pub grub along with some other items. There was nothing significantly different about their menu from any other pub in Ireland.

Altogether I wouldn't have added this place to this website. It is good for what it is, and I wish I could have stuck around for the live entertainment but I had to drive. I checked out many pubs during my week stay in Ireland, and this is nothing different from them and not really worth bragging about.
May 12, 2010
Photo of Otterburn
Reviewed by Otterburn from Canada (QC)

3.78/5  rDev -3.1%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 3.5
I went there with the tour bus on our way to the Cliffs of Moher. It's a beautifull area.

Nice facade typically irish. Inside, wood tables and chairs, with, of course irish music to complete the vibe.

We don't had a lot of time because we were on a tour guide. But I a french fries and a pint of Guinness. Nothing to say about that. Food and the beer is fresh.

I had to thanks the bus driver to stop here, because it completed very well the visit to the jawbreaking cliffs of Moher.
I guess its an institution in the area, and it was fun to stop by.

I recommand to visit this area if you are travelling in Ireland.

It is when you visit pubs that you can really understand the culture.
It is the best way to talk with locals, because pubs are the center of their social life. Its where they go to meet friends, eat, have a beer and chilled out.

I guess its the most popular pub in this area.
Feb 01, 2009
Photo of emazzie
Reviewed by emazzie from Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev -1.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 3 | food: 4.5
I visited Gus O'Connor's Pub on a trip to Ireland last year while on Spring Break with my boyfriend. We both got traditional beef stew and I believe Guinness. I remember that their beer selection wasnt anything remarkable and I was surprised for such a renowned bar that they should have such little choice of brews. The food was outstanding and service was fast, the people were very nice and friendly. The atmosphere is nice with it being practically all wood inside and all the furniture being wood as well, beautiful setting by the sea. Must stop in for a pint and lunch if in the area.
Dec 08, 2008
Photo of thierrynantes
Reviewed by thierrynantes from France

4/5  rDev +2.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4
It must make a detour by Doolin (Clare county new Moher falls) and a stop at O'Connors pub seemed to be a nice idea.
It was not disappointed, the atmosphere was great fun and spirit especially good music all different day, we are delighted to left this place. About beers : Guinness of course !
Do not miss if you go there ! The people of Ireland were so welcoming.
There are other pubs in Doolin - McCann's, in the part of the city center, while O'Connors is in Fisherstreet. O'Connors is probaby the best.
Oct 23, 2008
Photo of HochFliegen
Reviewed by HochFliegen from Oregon

4.13/5  rDev +5.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
We went to Gus O'Connor's last year during the 1st week of May. We spent 3 weeks touring the whole country and after seeing the Cliffs of Moher we decided to have some chips and fish. It was a very nice pub with lots of room. They need it as we found out. It was just the start of the tourist season and all the tour buses were going thru stopping at the Cliffs. Lots of tourists like myself but the service was still very good. I had a pint of Smithwicks and a Guinness. The fish & chips were very good.
On a side note....we went to Slieve League first which are the highest sea cliffs in Europe and there was no one there. Its in County Donegal in NW Ireland and it was much more impressive than Cliffs of Moher. No tourists and much more impressive. Back to Gus O'Connor's when I go back to Ireland I will make a stop there again. Its a great pub with great people.
May 27, 2006
Photo of daliandragon
Reviewed by daliandragon from Maryland

3.88/5  rDev -0.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 3 | food: 4
My girlfriend and I hit this pub for lunch on the second day of our vacation to Ireland last week and were pretty happy and satisfied. This is a famous pub in Clare's noted traditional music village located along the only real street.
Dark, woody, interior with police and fire dept. badges from the USA everywhere along the walls. Bigger than it looks from the outside with several back rooms.
Ordered Irish stew and a Harp and both were served lightning quick and both were decent. The stew was meaty and great for Sunday lunch on a cold day.
Good value in an expensive land, good accents and friendly people. A little unexciting because it was January but otherwise a pretty good place.
Jan 25, 2006
Photo of IrishRedRock
Reviewed by IrishRedRock from Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +15.4%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 3.5 | food: 5
10/05: My 2nd trip to Gus O'Connor's. This time I spent the day and night in the tiny village of Doolin, and got to experience Gussie's during the day for lunch as I had before, and even better, a packed pub on the coast of the Irish countryside at night. The music was excellent, the food and beers were all superb (though no house beer on draught on this particular day...they had run out) and the quality and friendliness of the staff there is top-notch. Many people who visit Ireland never make it to Doolin, which is a shame. This will be a stop every time I am on that beautiful island, and this is easily one of the finest pubs there as well.

Original review:
As far as traditional Irish pubs go, this is the real deal. Doolin is one the most well known places in all of Ireland to hear wonderful traditional Irish music. It's a tiny little village near the spectacular Cliffs of Moher, and is a great place to experience Irish culture and music.

Centered in Doolin are a few pubs, one being Gus O'Connor's. We stopped in just before noon on our way to the Cliffs. The tap selection consists of what you can find just about anywhere in Ireland -- Guinness, Guinness EC, Bud, Harp, Carlsberg, and surprisingly they had Bass Ale on tap as well. However, I opted for the lonely tap at the end of the bar: O'Connor's House Beer. I am unsure if this lager is brewed on the premises, no matter though...it was awesome!

The atmosphere of Gus O'Connor's is fantastic. Many friendly Irish locals very willing to start up some great conversation. Many tourists as well though, due to the proximity to the Cliffs. I think traditional Irish music plays every night, although we missed that. The service was great, and the food was even better. We ordered what our meals at the bar, turned around, and literally one of the meals was being brought out already. Service was fast and friendly. And the food...wow. Had the Irish Beef Stew made with Guinness, and it was one of the best meals I have ever eaten in my entire life. I even took a picture of it, it was so good. This place is absolutely awesome, and I hope to return someday.
Nov 26, 2003
Gus O'Connor's Pub in Clare, Ireland
Place rating: 3.9 out of 5 with 12 ratings