Clew Bay Hotel

The hotel stands out for its prime central location, offering guests immediate access to the town's vibrant atmosphere, shops, and pubs. Its exceptionally friendly and attentive staff consistently receive high praise, creating a welcoming, family-like environment that makes guests feel truly cared for. The hotel is renowned for its spotless cleanliness and delicious food, particularly the breakfast and restaurant offerings. This makes it an ideal choice for sightseers and explorers who wish to navigate the town on foot or use it as a comfortable base for discovering the wider region of Mayo, including attractions like Croagh Patrick. Couples and solo travelers seeking a warm, hospitable stay will find it particularly appealing. To ensure a peaceful night, guests are advised to request a room at the back of the hotel, away from potential street noise, and to consider booking dinner reservations in advance due to the restaurant's popularity.

Facilities & Amenities
Guests note the absence of an on-site swimming pool or dedicated leisure center. However, the hotel provides complimentary access to a nearby leisure center, which includes a swimming pool and gym facilities, located conveniently adjacent to the hotel's public car park. This arrangement allows guests to enjoy wellness amenities just a short walk away. The hotel itself features a comfortable and often lively bar area, which is popular for evening drinks and cocktails, with many praising the quality of the beverages. Guests also appreciate the presence of an elevator, providing easy access to upper floors. While some minor issues like a closed steam room or the lack of complimentary bottled water in rooms were occasionally noted, the overall provision of facilities is seen as adequate, especially with the convenient off-site leisure options and the inviting on-site bar.

Cleanliness & Room Comfort
Guests consistently commend the spotless cleanliness of the rooms, often describing them as very tidy and well-maintained. The beds are frequently highlighted as being exceptionally comfortable, ensuring a restful night's sleep, with many appreciating the quality of the pillows. Rooms are generally found to be spacious and well-equipped, often featuring a large bed and a clean en-suite bathroom. While many praise the showers for their good pressure, some guests have noted issues such as slow drains, tricky step-up access, or difficulty controlling water temperature. Noise can be a concern for rooms facing the street or bar, with reports of street noise and traffic, particularly in the early morning hours. Some guests also reported a noticeable odor in common areas and occasionally in rooms, which was attributed to ventilation issues. Despite these minor points, the overall room comfort and cleanliness receive high marks.

Dining & Food Quality
The hotel's dining experience consistently receives high praise from guests. The breakfast is frequently described as excellent, offering a wide variety of options, including both hot, freshly cooked-to-order dishes and a generous buffet selection of cereals, pastries, and fruits. Guests particularly appreciate that the cooked breakfast is served hot to the table, a detail that sets it apart from many other hotels. The on-site restaurant is also highly rated for its evening meals, with many guests enjoying the delicious food and finding it to be of a high standard and good value compared to other local establishments. The menu is varied, and dishes like rack of lamb and salmon are specifically mentioned for their quality. The bar also serves food, which is noted for being tasty and reasonably priced, making it a convenient option for casual dining.

Location & Accessibility
The hotel boasts an excellent central location, placing guests directly in the heart of the town. This prime position allows for easy walking distance to a multitude of local attractions, including shops, pubs, and restaurants, making it ideal for exploring the area on foot. Guests appreciate being able to step out and immediately immerse themselves in the vibrant atmosphere of the town. While the hotel does not have its own private car park, ample public parking is available directly behind the hotel and across the street. This parking is noted for being very inexpensive, typically costing only €3 per day, and is often free on Sundays. However, some guests have experienced the car park being busy or full, especially during peak times or when the alternative car park is closed for maintenance, which can lead to a wait for a space.

Staff & Service
The staff at the hotel consistently receive overwhelming praise, being described as exceptionally friendly, helpful, and attentive. Guests frequently highlight their professionalism and genuine warmth, noting that staff members go out of their way to ensure a pleasant stay. From the moment of check-in, which is often described as quick and efficient, to interactions in the dining areas and bar, the team creates a welcoming and caring atmosphere. Many reviews emphasize the staff's willingness to assist with requests, provide local information, and even offer thoughtful gestures like providing extra pillows or helping with car issues. This dedication to excellent service is a recurring theme, contributing significantly to the positive guest experience and making many feel like part of a family.

Additional Information
The hotel is widely recognized as a family-owned and run establishment, which many guests feel contributes significantly to its warm, welcoming atmosphere and the personalized attention received. This unique aspect fosters a sense of genuine care and hospitality, making guests feel truly at home. While the hotel does not have its own on-site leisure facilities, guests are provided with a pass for complimentary access to the nearby public leisure center, which includes a swimming pool and gym. This allows for convenient access to recreational activities just a short walk away. The hotel also supports local arts, occasionally hosting exhibitions or events, adding to its community-oriented charm. Guests often note the hotel's overall comfortable and cosy ambiance, making it a preferred choice for repeat visits.