Bogbean Café & B&B, Roundstone, Connemara, Co Galway

Archive - all the best places to eat, shop and stay in Ireland. A local guide to local places.

Bogbean sounds just... right. What is it? It's a smart, suave café and a series of five B&B rooms upstairs in the centre of Roundstone, run by Orla Conneely and Shane McElligott. But Bogbean is also a plant, and a strangely appropriate one, at that. Why so? Well, because it's a plant that likes to have its feet wet, with its stems reaching well into the water in its habitat of bogs, canals, streams, fens and slow-moving water. And, like the bogbean, so do the owners of Bogbean, Orla and Shane, who are uber-serious sailors, kayak instructors, outdoors people, guys who can show your how to paddle and kayak, stand up on a SUP, or race a catamaran, courtesy of their company, Roundstone Outdoors. But, on land, on terra firma, in Connemara, Bogbean has already been sinking its roots into pretty Roundstone. If you crave superb coffee, then your Connemara destination is Bogbean. If you want a superb bowl of porridge, or yogurt and fresh fruit for breakfast, then Bogbean is your destination. If you want the nicest lunchtime treat, and then a slice of superlative spongecake, then Bogbean is your destination. Hot chocolate? The Bogbean hot chocolate is benchmark good. Upstairs, the rooms are comfy and just right, with lovely, locally-made hardwood furniture. You'll quickly find that you want to sink your roots deep in Bogbean. www.bogbeanconnemara.com Roundstone Outdoors Centre are on Facebook. John McKenna Read other stories in Megabites...