Great drinks and entertainment. Saw live music there and enjoyed a pint and a shot. Was staying at the hotel above called the Queen. Enjoyed a nice time there w/ family. Definitely will return. read more

This restaurant was in such a great location. All of the different food items that we had were very tasty and the service was exceptional. I would recommend the crab sandwich and the beef stew. read more

The BEST meal I've had so far in Ireland. My husband and I ate lunch here while passing through Ennis. This was Day 5 of our 9 day holiday. I ordered the chicken with mushroom sauce. So tasty! Perfectly cooked chicken breast, mashed potatoes and veggies. read more

See all

Excellent service and food was really good. Lite lunch bowls of Chowder were spot on - big pieces of fish and shrimp ( first place in IR) that had shrimp -- :). Served with brown bread and butter. We also split an order of Crab cakes that were equally as good - no filler just straight crab.. Must try when here in town!! Dermot the manager even made me ice tea which know one in Ireland serves just hot tea. Guess it's an American thing .. Kudos to the bunch!! read more

See all

Driving from the Cliffs of Moher to Dingle we were in need of food. Cloister popped up as a place on the way. I wasn't sure what to expect given that the town of Ennis didn't seem to be much. I was pleasantly surprised. The food here was quite good. I did a bit of their soup and some fish and chips. Both were absolutely wonderful. The soup had a lot of great flavors and was quite warming on the cold day we were there. I liked the fish but the chips were a highlight for me. Crispy but still fluffy. Perfect. The only thing I can ding them on was the service. It wasn't busy and there were two people serving. I ordered a beer at one point and our waitress/bartender got distracted and forgot. She never checked back in with us until it was far too late to order my beer. If you find yourself in Ennis for any reason though, this is a great place to stop and grab a quick bite to eat. 85/100 read more

The Cloister recently reopened under new management a few weeks ago, and I must say, the quality of the bar service and food has greatly decreased. I have been living in Dublin for the past year, so I was not aware of the change until I arrived last weekend. I used to like the lunch menu and food which they served, but last weekend you could really tell it wasn't the old staff as the menu options and food quality has taken quite a hit. The wife and I stopped in for a quick cocktail before heading out to meet up with some friends on St. Stephen's night and again, I was less than impressed with the new bar staff. They were very polite and courteous, but their bar skills were lacking. I ordered two Kettle One vodka martinis on the rocks, shaken, dirty. First off, they said they didn't have Kettle One. I asked for Grey Goose, or some other top shelf vodka, and they said all they had was Smirnoff. They then told me it didn't matter which vodka I choose, because they pour all martinis from a pre-mixed bottle. They were dreadful. They also had no olives or olive juice, or even vermouth - just this bottle of putrid mix that said MARTINI they poured into a highball glass, over cubes of ice. We went there for a proper cocktail, as they bill the place as a cocktail bar, but the reality is the bar staff although polite are nothing more than pint jockeys who pour pre-mixed stuff in bottles over ice. The establishment looks the part, the staff is nice, but the food and drink leave much to be desired. For the prices they charge, I would definitely recommend you look elsewhere for libations if in Ennis. read more

See all

After a long desperate evening driving around in the dark, I practically stumbled into this place. Greeted at the door by a friendly fellow (who also recommended and secured me excellent lodging up the street) I felt right at home. I had a delicious hot and savory tomato soup and a burger. Very pleasant place - I'd go again but it's a bit far off my beaten path. read more

We were staying in Ennis during a tour of Ireland and chose to dine at The Cloister as it's top rated for the area. The evening was flawless from the moment we arrived - great ambiance, excellent food and service that is second to none! So far, our trip had been so hurried with scattered so-so meals - it was a treat to discover The Cloister and enjoy a perfect meal in their welcoming and beautiful dining room. A special thank you goes to the manager Dermot who went way above and beyond for us - when it wasn't possible to get a cab back to our hotel down the road, he actually offered to take our handicapped mother and aunt himself! The distance on foot would have been enough to spoil an otherwise perfect evening, and I hope he's aware how appreciated his kind gesture was. I would highly recommend The Cloister to anyone visiting Ennis, and will absolutely return the next time we're in Co. Clare! Thanks again!! read more

We've eaten in some of the best restaurants across the globe & definitely know the difference between high and not so high-quality. The Cloister Restaurant deserves each of 5 stars. The food is prepared very well using exceptional quality products. Service is personal and attentive without crossing the line of intrusive. The bar could use a bit of refinement including increasing the selections. The decor is thoughtful and quite nice, and everything (including the bathrooms) is quite clean. From appetizers to entrées to dessert everything was delectible. Highly recommended! read more

Superb food and terrific service. The fries are very tasty, not plain. Goat cheese and bacon salad was very fresh and delicious. Beautiful interior and Open good hours too. Was quite the blessing to find this place after hours in the car and often finding the restaurants closed. read more

One of the best meals we have had in Ireland. The pork belly is delicious, and with the little touch of black pudding - so essentially Irish - it is exceptional. The ribeye was equally great, the salmon and avacado salad, a delight. The staff friendly and attentive. Cannot recommend this place enough. read more

Wonderful venue for dinner. Excellent food, friendly and attentive service. This restaurant near the Old Friary is very good value. We had dinner in the bar rather than in the main restaurant. It is spacious and comfortable. If you are in Ennis and want a top class dining experience, this is the place to go. read more

We had wonderful meals at Cloister's the two evenings we were in Ennis. The crab and salmon appetizer was absolutely delicious as well as the mozzarella and tomato with balsamic "caviar" which is made fresh upon ordering. Our entrees were equally as delicious...rib eye steaks one night, the salmon the next. The owner, Dermott, participated in the serving and was so gratuitous and friendly....he remembered everything we had spoken about the evening before and personally wished us good travels when we left. The food all through our visit to Ireland has been great, but Cloister has been the best yet! We highly recommend this restaurant! read more

Fantastic food & service in an amazing building. A very nice menu with a mix of of fish & meat dishes served by knowledgeable & friendly staff. read more

In October 2014, my son and I traveled to Ireland for ten days. Our first dinner after ariving at Shannon Airport was The Cloister in Ennis. The food was delicious and service excellent. My son, who is in the restaurant industry in New York City, said the Cloister is as good as the best in NYC. So, we recommend it heartily. Enjoy. read more