Foley's Kenmare

Foleys is right among the pubs and shops, and we’d stay again if we make it back. We could hear the advertised live music from our room, but it was quiet by 10pm. We slept with the windows open and the street was completely silent. We really enjoyed our stay. The room was clean, tidy, and comfortable, breakfast was amazing, and the service was impeccable. The cook came out each morning to ask where we were headed and offer tips. One morning the barkeep even came upstairs to ask if we wanted breakfast before the kitchen closed. The music was good every night.

We won’t be back, and I can’t recommend it unless you’re desperate for a meal. I ordered a Coke Zero and got a 200ml bottle for €3.20, which felt absurdly expensive. My wife’s beer was a decent size at €6.50. My wife’s Seafood Pie was really mediocre. The fish, maybe salmon, under the mashed potato had a very strong, unpleasant odor, and the limp green salad was a sad little side. I’d give it 2/5 at most. The Beef & Guinness Pie was okay, with tender beef and decent gravy, but what arrived felt more like a shallow bowl of stew topped with overcooked pastry than a pie. Maybe 3/5 at best. This is only a restaurant review. We stayed at a local B&B. For some reason, all the recommended restaurants nearby were closed at 3:30pm on a Wednesday, so Foley’s was one of the only places available.

It’s a sweet, historic bar with a great feel, and the live music was excellent. We stayed quite a while. The food was decent, especially the soup and fries, though I wasn’t keen on the spring rolls. Ordering was frustrating because the QR code on the menu wouldn’t work for us, and my phone hadn’t been working well in Kemmare. I couldn’t get anyone’s attention long enough to ask for the wifi password. After trying to order at the bar, we waited 20 minutes before someone came over and took our food order. No one checked if we wanted another round of drinks, but they asked four times whether we were finished eating. I’m a slow eater. Maybe I didn’t understand how the service worked, I’m not sure. I never got a chance to tell them the QR code wasn’t working, and it was very busy.

The town is tiny, so being central isn't hard, but the location was GREAT. The rest was fine, which is why I gave it 3 stars. I don't usually leave negative reviews, but the room smelled so much like paint thinner that my clothes still smelled of it when I left.