After we got settled into our apartment, we headed out to Hargadon Bros for oysters as I knew they had 6 for 14€ on the menu. The place was full when we arrived but after I told the hostess, Amy, that we just wanted oysters and drinks, she let us use a table in the bar area as they didn’t need it for an hour. I got my Lissadell oysters (briny and huge!) and a Guinness, while Eric ordered an Orchard Thieves cider, which he found a bit too sweet. This place was very popular and we saw several disappointed people turned away without reservations.
After our dinner of wine, cheese, and crackers back in the apartment, we ventured out again (with umbrellas this time) to Thomas Connolly pub for a whiskey. As we walked in, I immediately saw a table with abandoned Guinness glasses, so we snagged it. Eric had researched some options ahead of time, so I went to the bar area to order. They didn’t have the one I wanted, instead I was offered a new release from Drumshanbo, a single pot still, oloroso cask (€11). It took me a bit to warm up to it as it was high in tannins but it mellowed out with some air and the chocolate notes and fruitiness came forward. Eric got the Powers John’s Lane (€11.50) – light chocolate, sherry, dry finish, very nice. Bar service was friendly and efficient and we loved the custom dram glasses with the wedge bottoms.
On our second visit to Thomas Connolly pub we each got a very reasonably priced dram from Silkie (Sliabh Liag Distillers in Donegal), The Legendary Red for me and The Midnight for Eric. Eric’s choice was lighter in color with a medium finish, but with smoke that grew as it opened up. The red wine cask one was lovely, milk chocolate, some dry leather and tannin on finish. For our second drams, Eric went even smokier(!) with the Ardara Single Malt Irish Whiskey. Burnt rubber at first, and grass but more campfire as it opened. I got the West Cork 7 Year Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey (9€) – fig, tropical notes and chocolate and cinnamon as it opened. I really liked this one as well. Highly recommend this place for a drink if you find yourself in Sligo!
After our rainy adventures, we needed a little something to tide us over until dinner, so we stopped for a snack at The Brasserie Sligo. The daily soup didn’t sound interesting, so we split a side of patatas bravas for 5€. The portion was plenty big enough for us to split. We saw lots of people getting cakes and pastries, which looked good too.
We couldn’t get a reservation at OTTO on Saturday night, but found a slot for 6pm on Sunday night. Good thing too as they were very busy and turning people away. We started with the padron peppers (very fresh, charred and salty), then split a pizza with vodka sauce, chorizo, and basil which was nicely charred and flavorful. Eric had a Malvasia from Puglia (lots of stonefruit, lush) and I had a glass of the Montepulciano d’Abruzzo and then a Ripasso. Both were great representations of their regions. Overall, friendly and efficient service and great food.
