The Castle Inn, Easkey

Easkey is one of Ireland's best-kept secrets. Surfers have known about it for years. The Wild Atlantic Way brought everyone else. And right on Main Street, The Castle Inn is where all of them end up.

Formerly known as The Fishermans Weir, The Castle Inn has been a gathering spot on this stretch of the Sligo coast for as long as anyone can remember. Step inside and you'll find stone walls, a proper fire, pool and darts, and a publican who'll remember your name. Out back, a heated beer garden gives you somewhere to sit when the evening stretches out. On weekends, there's live music and a free shuttle bus so nobody has to worry about the drive home.

With a 4.9 rating on Google and over a hundred reviews, the word that keeps coming up is the same one: friendly. That's not a marketing line. That's just how it is here.