The two pubs on the island, Tigh Ned's and Tigh Ruairí, both sit close to the pier and both run live traditional music sessions through the summer evenings — informal, with whoever is on the island that night. Tigh Ned's tends to be a bit more local and a bit more low-key; Tigh Ruairí pulls more of the day-tripper crowd.
For coffee and cake there is a small kiosk by the harbour and a café at the heritage centre. Don't expect a coffee scene — bring patience. An evening in either of the pubs, on the other hand, is exactly what people come to the Aran Islands for: low ceilings, a turf fire, and a fiddle player who probably grew up on the next island over.