The Tea & Garden Rooms

The Tea & Garden Rooms, also known as An Fear Gorta, is a tea room and restaurant in the village of Ballyvaughan, in the heart of the Burren in County Clare. It occupies a stone building dating from 1790 that was originally put up as a residence for coast security officers. The property later fell derelict before being restored by the O’Donoghue family, who reopened it as a tea room with gardens in 1981. Long run by Katherine O’Donoghue, it has since passed to her daughter, Jane.

The character of the place lies in its unhurried, homely setting. The dining room is furnished with an informal arrangement of old furniture and a display of home-baked fare, and there is seating for around thirty guests. In fine weather visitors can settle in the conservatory or the back garden, and the surroundings offer a quiet spot to pause while exploring the Burren, with views out towards Galway Bay along the Wild Atlantic Way.

Food is a particular focus, with an emphasis on home baking and fresh, local ingredients. Vegetables and herbs are grown in the establishment’s own gardens, eggs come from its free-range hens, and other produce is sourced from artisan food producers across the Burren. Over the years the tea rooms have gathered recognition, including a Gold Medal for Cafes and Coffee Shops from the Hotel & Catering Review in 2011 and mentions in Georgina Campbell’s Ireland Guide and the Bridgestone Guides.