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The Laurels

4.4 (85 reviews)
ModeratePubs
Closed 10:30 am - 11:30 pm

The Laurels Photos

THE LAURELS ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Moderate noise
Dogs allowed
Good for groups

Recommended Reviews - The Laurels

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Irish Stew
Mark G.

This restaurant was very heavily recommended. I would describe the food as above average and leaning a little on the bland to under-seasoned side. We did enjoy the Fried Brie and the Potato Pancakes. I guess we just didn't understand that fried mashed potatoes could be its own entree. My Irish Stew was a thin broth (as advertised) with boiled meat and vegetables. I rarely to never ever reach for the salt and pepper at the table, but I needed to with this one. I don't like writing critical reviews, but I just don't think the service and quality matched the price tag. Hopefully others have better luck than we did.

Eric B.

Solid Choice - Nice Service - Interesting Menu - Fun Atmosphere The 4 of us dined here at the end of our first day in Killarney. We were seated at a nice table within the spacious dining room in back. The area was a little sparse when we came in, but by the time that we called for the check, the place was full and with lots of happy noise. I don't remember what Fern and Gayle ordered, but Don and I went straight for Potato Cakes with Chicken & Smoked Bacon. The menu states that this is a Laurels Classic and firm favorite. It's a comforting , this comforting combination of Creamed Potato, Chunks of Chicken & Smoked Bacon is served in a Crisp Breadcrumbed sphere of deliciousness with a Creamy Mushroom Sauce and Side Salad. After finishing that, we both agreed that our choice was even better than represented. I almost went with the Pizza or Monkfish Thai Red Curry , and I'm glad I went in this direction. The Laurels Menu itself has good variety and a clear step or 2 above "pub grub". The beer list was also nicely varied, and there was no way we were going to pass on the dessert selections.

Dessert menu 9/2025
Sabrina S.

We had a craving for Irish stew and our hotel concierge recommended this spot in downtown Killarney. We managed to find a spot of the Main Street and just in time for free parking, otherwise paid. This downtown area gets quite busy, so try to adventure over a little early. We did not have a reservation, but arrived early enough for available seating . Our servers were fabulous - attentive and friendly. Of course we ordered the highly recommended lamb shank and the Irish stew. Both were delicious and cooked to perfection! The Irish stew had a light broth, root vegetables with potatoes, tender chunks of lamb, and a large slice of homemade bread. The perfect stew to warm the body on a wet and windy day. Great food and service ! Thank you

Cheese and potato fritters
Dipali G.

I was extremely disappointed by laurels! Service: compared to nearly every other place in Ireland, I found a lot of the servers very rude here! Food: the food was not good - we got the ravioli and the lamb stew and both were not good! The potato and mushroom app was the only thing we liked Ambience: large pub vibes but very tightly packed

Kathryn M.

Our family's tour guide recommended this place for dinner on our last night. It was perfect because we didn't have to worry about our party of 10 finding a spot. Everyone was super nice. Our server was fast and all our orders were correct. I ordered the vegetarian ravioli with spinach and cheese and let me tell you, it was amazing! The only regret I had was that I couldn't finish it and I couldn't take it with me. My son had French fries and it was served with a curry aioli of sort and this was wonderful! I could have drank it!

My wife marking me take a photo to remember this place.
Jason P.

Absolutely fabulous! Food was fantastic. It was so good that we went back two days in a row. It's a little deceiving because of the entrance into this bar/ restaurant, but once inside, there's a small bar area and then if you walk past that to the back, an entire BIG restaurant opens up inside with TV's tables, etc.... Staff was helpful, attentive, and happy we were there both nights. Both nights the food was spot on and exactly what we needed. Would highly recommend this place to anyone, especially if you are traveling like we were from the USA. This was one of our highlights in Killarney.

Chris S.

First, the good: Food was amazing. The potatoes pancakes had chunks of ham in them, simply delicious. So good I'm still talking about them a couple of weeks after eating them. They also have Kilkenny which I found hard to find in Ireland in general. The dessert and lamb stew was also very good. Definitely leave room for the dessert. 2) The not so good. Tried to make reservations, and all phone numbers went to voicemail or hung up and no call back. Tried email, and got notification of reservation hours later. One we got to the restaurant, nobody could confirm that reservation was actually there and our group of 3 was sat in possibly the worst table, hidden away in the back (not even part of the restaurant). Finally, the initial waitress was quite rude. I get that it is a busy place, but condescendingly telling an elderly lady to drink some water was a bit much. Afteter the disrespect, we were ready to leave and suddenly a good table, in the actual restaurant, opened up. Please do better because your food and the place is really great.

Pizza
Marc T.

Had dinner here before heading out for live music. Smallish bar area but plenty of seating in other sections. Friendly staff and great service. Our group had a lamb shank and a pizza. Lamb was very tender and tasty, one of the better meals I've had in the past week. Pizza was good size but taste was average at best. For a casual meal in town with great service, I would make a stop in here.

Stacy H.

Popped in to this pub after exploringKillarney . We heard the potato cakes were good and they did not disappoint. They have a nice seating area in the back with a bar & sports on the TV. We had the bacon & cheese burger. Delicious with hot fries. The bunfotty pie dessert is so amazing. It's a popular place, so you may have to wait a bit for a table but the service is fast & friendly.

Lamb shank
Glen W.

This is a fun little spot if you're in Killarney. The staff is very nice and the food is very good. I had the Lamb Shank and it was wonderful. They were quick on the drinks and made you feel like a local. The only reason this isn't a 5 star review was because my man wrote down our food order and never turned it in. So we sat there an hour before he realized it. I will say, once they got it in the food came out fast and again was excellent. So don't let the 4 star run you off, it's worth giving them a shot.

Lamb Shank
Beth S.

The lamb shank was so good!!!! The service was attentive and the food came out so fast!!! I highly recommend the Laurels when in Killarney!! And leave room for dessert-the toffee dessert was well worth it!!

Potato cakes
Brad M.

Stopped in The Laurels for dinner during my recent stay in Killarney. There is a very cozy traditional pub in front and a larger area in the back with many tables and a large screen TV for viewing sports (pub was full so we sat in back). At the server's recommendation I went with the potato cakes stuffed with chicken and cheese and was quite satisfied (the portion was large enough that I couldn't finish); the accompanying side salad was good as well. My friend had the Irish stew and enjoyed his meal as well. The staff was friendly and we got our food quickly, so no complaints on the service. Overall a nice option if you want some traditional fare in Killarney.

Smithwicks Killarney
DebBrady t.

Had the potato cakes with chicken and mushrooms pared with a Smithwick pint. Can't be beat. My husband had the Lam'b Stew . Fresh ant not games. He loved it

a cove in the back of the restaurant

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9 years ago

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8 years ago

Love the ambiance and the location. Wish I had more time to be here but the Ring of Kerry awaits

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9 years ago

Great restaurant! Great local pub! Great food! Great service! Nice wine menu! Try the burger or the fish and chips! Nice size portions!

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9 years ago

Best seafood chowder I've had all week on our visit to Ireland. Irish lamb stew was also amazing. Great atmosphere. Friendly staff.

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14 years ago

Ok place. The bartenders were fairly attentive and the prices were average for Ireland. Closed the place down one night.

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8 years ago

Excellent food at a reasonable price, with great service! If you want the traditional Irish pub atmosphere, ask to sit on the pub side.

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Review Highlights - The Laurels

I started with the seafood chowder and I could cry right now thinking about how incredible this stew was.

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Murphy's

Murphy's

4.2(110 reviews)
0.2 km
€€

This review is for the restaurant not the pub. We came for lunch and found all the usual Irish pub…read moreofferings. The pie of the day, not on the menu, was steak and kidney, which I had to try "for research purposes". The pastry crust extended to the sides and bottom so it fully enclosed the filling and was served "freestanding". Crust and gravy were excellent. In the filling, both the steak and the kidneys were plentiful. My research completed, I probably wouldn't order it again; just give me the steak - no more kidneys please! Nevertheless I did enjoy and finished it. This was served with decent fries and a truly excellent green salad: a variety of leafy greens, radishes, cucumbers, pickled onions, and pre-dressed with a vinaigrette. The wife had the Beef & Guinness Casserole, served with brown bread. Along with steak there were also plentiful veggies (root vegetables and celery) and mashed potatoes in the center. She liked it. I tried it and agreed. I would get that next time. I had a Jameson Old Fashioned to drink and it was the best Old Fashioned I've had in some time. The unusually large twisted orange peel probably contributed and it may have had more than the customary amount of bitters. The wife's tea was amusingly served with a knitted "cozy" keeping the teapot hot. For dessert we shared a Sticky Toffee Pudding, served with vanilla ice cream, attractively presented with a dusting of sugar, whipped cream, and a ground cherry complete with its leaves. I'd rate it second among the three I've tried so far. Would certainly order it again. As for the pub I can't say. It has a reputation for good traditional Irish music every night but unfortunately not until 9:30, way too late for us. Sadly we're just not pub people.

Murphy's has great character and friendly service. It's a pub and a restaurant, but the atmosphere…read moreis definitely dark and pub-like. Very noisy when busy, but that's part of the fun! Music starts at 9pm. The food was delicious and reasonably priced. We had fish and chips, the stuffed chicken and sticky toffee pudding. Washed it all down with a couple of Guinness and a Red Spot whiskey! It was a lovely meal.

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Murphy's
Murphy's
Murphy's - Outside

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Outside

O Donoghues Public House

O Donoghues Public House

4.3(24 reviews)
0.2 km
€€

O'Donoghues is situated at the base of a hotel on the main street of Killarney's city center, and…read morewas a spot we visited for cocktails and dinner one evening. The space is good sized and features several dining areas and a decent sized bar. Decor and overall vibe is your classic Irish pub with lots of dark woods, soft lighting and grandiose fixtures and dividers. We initially bellied up the bar to grab a pint and cocktail while we waited for our table to be ready. After about 20 minutes, the staff came and whisked us away to a small table just off the main entrance. The table was not that comfortable, but they are doing everything they can with every inch of space they have, and we were just happy to be there! While bellied up to the bar, we enjoyed a pint of Guinness and the Apple & Honey cocktail. The Guinness was perfection, and the cocktail was tasty. The food menu has all the classics from toasties to stew and even fish and chips. We started our meal with the trio of croquettes. They were okay and plating was a bit odd as the salad and veggies that accompanied the croquettes were more visible and focus than the actual croquettes. While the trio was all different, the taste profiles were very similar for each one. For our mains, we both went with sandwiches. I got the Prime Sirloin Steak and my partner got the Ham, Cheese and Tayto. Steak was well cooked, bread was a great vessel, however more sauce would have been welcomed. The toastie was classic, no frills and hit the spot. Service was okay. Not very efficient or helpful, but also not awful or unfriendly. Was odd enough to notice, but not bad enough to ruin the visit. Overall, a fair rating is 3.5 for O'Donoghues. Given no half stars, they get the fourth. It is a good location and is just okay. We wouldn't go out of our way to visit again, but also wouldn't go out of our way to avoid.

When we walked in, they took our name and told us that there was a 15min wait. We went to the bar…read moreto grab a drink while we waited. We ordered a pint of Guinness and an O'D fashioned. We stood in what was a service area, the bartender asked us to move very politely. We tried to find a place to stand out of the way, the bartender came out from behind the bar to bring a stool for us. That was so sweet, just then the host found us the take us to our table. We very much appreciated the effort made by the bartender. Loved the drinks, btw. We sat down and looked over the menu. Decided on the burger and soup and sandwich combo. The burger was really good, made with Irish Hereford beef. It was so beautiful on the plate and tasted great. I got the soup abd sandwich of the day. It was a carrot soup (carrot and something else, I can't recall) and a toasty of ham and cheese with Tayto chips. Both the soup and sandwich hit the spot. It was a beautiful pub, lots of cute areas, I even saw an armored suit when I went to the bathroom. I found the menu prices very reasonable. 9.50 euro for soup, sandwich and chips (crisps).

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O Donoghues Public House - Inside

Inside

O Donoghues Public House
O Donoghues Public House

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The Laurels - pubs - Updated June 2026

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