Please mention ireland-guide.com when enquiring.

Burren Perfumery Tea Rooms

When touring Clare you will be pleased to find this charming spot - the perfumery is beautifully laid out, with a herb garden (where many native plants are grown - and later used in the organic herbal teas), pleasing old buildings and lovely biodynamic scents.

The little tea rooms are beside the distillation room, where essential oils are extracted in a traditional still, and open on to a courtyard opposite the perfumery shop.

Although small and simple, the tea rooms are pretty, with floral waxed tablecloths, fresh flowers and cups and saucers all creating a happy mismatch of pastels - and what they do is of high quality, made freshly on the premises, and uses local and organic produce.

At lunch time there might be summer minestrone & herbs soup with brown bread, or salad plates - a home-made organic goat's cheese & spinach quiche served with mixed salad - or, from a range of traditional home baking, you might just have a lavender flower muffin.

There are all kinds of teas and tisanes, also natural juices - and coffee is served in individual cafetières.

In July & August, Sunday lunch is offered, with special dishes available (booking required), and organic wines are now offered by the glass (€3.20-3.50) or bottle (€18-22).

Seats 20; children welcome (high chair); open daily 10-4.15 (to 5 on Sun), Apr-Sep. Set 2 course L €15. Organic wine €18 a bottle or €3.20-3.50 per glass. Cafe closed Oct-Easter. [Perfumery open daily 9am-5pm all year (except Christmas); high season (Jun-Sep) open to 7pm.] MasterCard, Visa, Laser.

Directions:

In the Burren, east of Gort - off R480 & N67.