The Climbers Inn

Another rustic inn in Kenmare? Just what this quaint Irish town needed - as if the Ring of Kerry wasn't already dotted with enough establishments claiming to be the perfect mountaineer's refuge. The Climbers Inn in Kenmare had me rolling my eyes before I even crossed the threshold, preparing myself for yet another tourist trap trading on its proximity to Ireland's highest peaks.

I'll admit, though, something shifted when I stepped inside from the lashing rain. Perhaps it was the immediate offer to hang my sodden jacket in their dedicated drying room - a practical touch that spoke of genuine understanding rather than performative hospitality. Or maybe it was the way the bar's weathered wood and climbing memorabilia felt authentically earned rather than carefully curated for Instagram.

The place has this irritatingly genuine charm about it. While other venues might plaster their walls with random mountaineering photos ordered from some wholesale decorator, The Climbers Inn's collection tells actual stories. Local achievements, visiting legends, and that one fantastically terrible shot from '87 that nobody has the heart to take down - it's all refreshingly real.

Let's talk about the food because I was fully prepared to write it off as standard pub grub. The audacity of their seafood chowder, though - rich enough to fuel a summit attempt yet refined enough to make you forget you're sitting in hiking boots. Their goat cheese starter (which I ordered purely to find fault with) betrayed actual culinary skill, paired with a salad that wasn't just an afterthought of wilted leaves.

The rooms upstairs - and I'm genuinely annoyed about having to praise them - strike that impossible balance between comfort and practicality. Clean, modern bathrooms (a rarity in historic Irish inns) alongside sensible features like hooks that can actually support wet gear without pulling out of the wall. Someone who actually climbs clearly had input in the design, and I hate that I have to acknowledge how much that matters.

The bar deserves special mention, if only because it forced me to revise my cynical expectations. It's where the real magic of The Climbers Inn Kenmare reveals itself - that elusive blend of locals and visitors that every tourist pub claims to achieve but rarely does. The Guinness is pulled with the kind of care that makes Dublin establishments look sloppy, and the staff have that maddening ability to remember your name after hearing it exactly once.

Breakfast - included in the room rate, which is refreshingly reasonable for Kenmare - manages to nail both the traditional Irish fry for the purists and lighter options for those heading up to Carrauntoohil. They even time the service perfectly for early starts, which shouldn't be noteworthy but somehow is in this part of Ireland.

The location, annoyingly, couldn't be better. Positioned right in Kenmare's heart, it's perfectly placed for both the serious mountaineer and the casual tourist who thinks walking to the pub counts as hiking. It's close enough to the peaks to make early starts feasible, yet surrounded by enough civilization to ensure you won't go hungry or thirsty upon return.

For those planning a visit (and I can't believe I'm actually recommending this), book ahead. The word has gotten out, and the combination of genuine hospitality and practical amenities means The Climbers Inn in Kenmare fills up faster than a rain gauge in Kerry. While part of me wants to keep this place secret out of sheer contrarian spite, I suppose they've earned their success.

Look, I didn't want to like The Climbers Inn. I arrived armed with skepticism and left with a reservation for my next visit. In a region where tourist-focused venues often prioritize appearance over substance, this place stubbornly insists on offering both. Go ahead, prove me wrong - book a stay and try to find fault with it. I'll be at the bar, reluctantly enjoying another perfect pint, pretending I'm not already planning my return visit.