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Grill, Seafood, Irish, Vegetarian - Blackthorn, Galway, County Galway

Blackthorn

4.4 (12)
€31 to €50
Grill
The Twelve Hotel Barna coast Road, Bearna, Galway, County Galway H91 Y3KA

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2 people
19:30
Booked 3 times today

About this restaurant

  • Innovative
  • Great for fine wines
  • Neighbourhood gem
Offering a one-of-a-kind dining experience, Blackthorn will bring together the artistry of charcoal grilling, the finest locally-sourced ingredients, and a beautifully refurbished space designed to complement the natural beauty of the West of Ireland.

With a menu focused on expertly sourced, high-quality ingredients, Blackthorn offers a fresh take on traditional Irish cuisine, featuring dishes cooked over a Mibrasa charcoal grill.

The restaurant’s commitment to sustainability and support for local artisan producers is a cornerstone of its ethos. Blackthorn's warm, light-filled dining space creates an inviting atmosphere where guests can experience the very best of the West of Ireland.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    €31 to €50
  • Cuisines
    Grill, Seafood, Irish
  • Hours of Operation
    Dinner Wed–Sun 18:00–21:00
  • Phone number
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress

What 12 people are saying

Blackthorn reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.4
4.4 based on recent ratings
  • 4.6Food
  • 4.2Service
  • 4.4Ambience
  • 4.2Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Galway City

    Most Booked

12 Reviews
  1. Jane

    New York City6 reviews

    3.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4
    Disappointing second visit. The menu has changed a lot and seems quite confused with burgers and steaks mixed with rendang and Thai influences which seems odd. Service was patchy and the server for our table wasn’t familiar with the ingredients or menu. Shame as our first meal here was gorgeous.

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  2. Patricia

    Leinster1 review

    5.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 5
    Great little restaurant. the food was exquisite. It was difficult to choose what to eat, everything on the menu was tempting. Some people find find that the service can be slow as there is only one wait staff on together with the maître d. however, this did not take form the experience, it was an incredibly enjoyable night. Just relax, absorb and enjoy.

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  3. Billy

    Connacht1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 15 May 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Wonderful night at the Blackthorn. A beautiful room and a complete revamp of the’ West ‘ . Lovely warm welcome from Fergal and staff . Started off with wine tasting -some German wines . An excellent Riesling and a light fruity red ( ‘Gold’ winery ) Then small sharing plates started arriving. It was the full Blackthorn menu ! everything from the oysters to the steak and black sole and dessert was served . 10/10 on everything, we’ll be back ..

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  4. Anne

    Connacht1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 11 May 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Restaurant is bright and airy, minimalist decor with fabulous wooden tables and chairs.,Friendly and competent staff, made us feel very welcome. Food was well presented on pottery plates and dishes, great quality and choice. House wine excellent. Good value for money Would definitely go back, both for food and ambience.

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  5. Louise

    Connacht1 review

    4.0

    Dined on 8 May 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    Food was fantastic, especially the barbecued carrot. The revamped menu was a bit odd. My meal (beef tartare, bbq carrot, financier) was balanced and delightful. Hubby had tempura gambas, lamb and chocolate dessert: latter 2 were both quite unnecessarily huge portions though equally delicious. The chef is apparently still the same as in the days of West and can obviously cook and source good produce. Hopefully they will refine the menu and trim the 'more is better' items.

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  6. Jane

    New York City6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 3 May 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    The food was really very good here I was a bit surprised based on the mixed reviews. It’s elegant and extremely tasty. The room has had a complete overhaul and is bright and airy. Looking forward to revisiting, the steak was one of the best I’ve ever tasted.

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  7. Fionnuala

    Connacht1 review

    4.0

    Dined on 18 April 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    The food was fabulous. They seem short staffed. The room was a little stark and bright initially it was better when they dimmed the lighting.

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  8. Shane

    Northern Ireland1 review

    2.0

    Dined on 30 March 2025

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 3
    Disappointing experience in this new incarnation of West. On arrival was shown to a dark and isolated table down a corridor at the back of the restaurant with zero atmosphere. I can only assume this was to make things easier for the staff to clean up later on. I was easily moved when I asked but confirmed my theory I was there so they could easily clean as opposed to the restaurant being full. Service was ropey with a very young team of enthusiastic albeit inexperienced girls serving us, didn't see a manager the whole evening. Server spilt wine across the table and never wiped the table, never asked how any of our courses were or when paying the bill. Roast beef was tough. Price was ok to be fair - €48 for three course but all in all, I'd give this place a miss. Shame, as I used to love this hotel. Bar man couldn't get out of the bar fast enough at 10.30pm. Looks like the place has gone downhill with the departure of the old and original MD's departure.
    BlackthornResponded on 5 April 2025
    Dear Shane Thank you for your feedback and for your recent visit to Blackthorn, I am sorry it was a disappointing experience. I would like you to know that we recognise that we have work to do in relation to our service and most certainly we could have managed the engagement with you, our customer and the service so much better on the day . I hope you will accept my apologies. Yours sincerely Patrick Murphy

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  9. Yvonne

    Connacht1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 30 March 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I regularly go to the twelve but the renovation has taken it to another level. Excellent food and service as always - looking forward to my next visit 💜

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  10. Kristen VIP

    Los Angeles10 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on 28 March 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Very nice atmosphere and delicious food. I just wish they had more vegan or vegetarian options. That being said, we will go back as the menu changes daily.

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FAQs

Blackthorn is rated 4.4 stars by 12 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

  1. Home
  2. Ireland, Republic of
  3. Connacht
  4. Galway City
  5. Bearna

Make a booking

2 people
19:30
Booked 3 times today
Google Map for Blackthorn

The Twelve Hotel Barna coast Road, Bearna, Galway, County Galway H91 Y3KA

Additional information

  • Area
    Bearna
  • Hours of Operation
    Dinner Wed–Sun 18:00–21:00
  • Price
    €31 to €50
  • Cuisines
    Grill, Seafood, Irish
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Private Lot
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Additional
    Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Impressum
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
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