The Spaniard Inn is named for Don Juan del Águila, the commander of the Spanish forces during the Siege of Kinsale (1601), and it has been trading in some form ever since the Spanish connection gave the town its outward-looking maritime character. The bar sits in the village of Scilly, a short walk or taxi from the town centre, with views over the harbour and Charles Fort.
It is the kind of Irish pub that does not need to try: low ceilings, a turf fire in winter, live music on weekend evenings (folk, traditional), and Murphy's stout on tap. The food is straightforward — seafood chowder, sandwiches, fish and chips — and very good. Go on a weekday evening for a quieter experience; at weekends the terrace fills with the sailing crowd from the yacht club.