Guidebook for Galway

Nicholas
Guidebook for Galway

Drinks & Nightlife

My favorite, right across from my apartment. With 23+ beers on tap, a friendly staff and “sampler” beer trays, it is impossible to go wrong here!
25 locals recommend
The Salt House Bar
Raven Terrace
25 locals recommend
My favorite, right across from my apartment. With 23+ beers on tap, a friendly staff and “sampler” beer trays, it is impossible to go wrong here!
My backup if the Salt House is too busy, a similar range of beers (albeit more German) and some seriously good sandwiches. Don’t think cucumber sandwiches.
21 locals recommend
Bierhaus Galway
2 Henry St
21 locals recommend
My backup if the Salt House is too busy, a similar range of beers (albeit more German) and some seriously good sandwiches. Don’t think cucumber sandwiches.
Live music most nights of this week, this is famous as one of the best music scenes in Galway.
90 locals recommend
Roisin Dubh Comedy
8 Dominick St Upper
90 locals recommend
Live music most nights of this week, this is famous as one of the best music scenes in Galway.
Won best Gastropub in Connacht, Massimo’s is a solid place for a pint and a bite to eat.
25 locals recommend
Quays Bar Galway
10 William St W
25 locals recommend
Won best Gastropub in Connacht, Massimo’s is a solid place for a pint and a bite to eat.
Mostly under-30s crowd, chilled vibe.
20 locals recommend
The Blue Note
3 s West End
20 locals recommend
Mostly under-30s crowd, chilled vibe.
Traditional music every night and probably the best Guinness in Galway.
94 locals recommend
Crane Bar
2 Sea Rd
94 locals recommend
Traditional music every night and probably the best Guinness in Galway.
Pub dates back to medieval times, serious history, great fireplaces, good food and drink.
46 locals recommend
The Kings Head Kitchen
Spanish Parade
46 locals recommend
Pub dates back to medieval times, serious history, great fireplaces, good food and drink.

Food Scene

Good coffee and excellent hot chocolate, combined with dangerous tarts. You’ve been warned.
43 locals recommend
Gourmet Tart Company
43 locals recommend
Good coffee and excellent hot chocolate, combined with dangerous tarts. You’ve been warned.
Hot chocolate is the name of the game, with drinks including homemade chocolate as well.
Butlers Chocolate Café, Galway
40 William St
Hot chocolate is the name of the game, with drinks including homemade chocolate as well.
Great eats and seriously good fair trade, organic coffee.
Arabica Coffee Company
58 Dominic St
Great eats and seriously good fair trade, organic coffee.
Moroccan vibe, paninis, wraps and mint tea.
11 locals recommend
Antons
12 Father Griffin Rd
11 locals recommend
Moroccan vibe, paninis, wraps and mint tea.
Apache is famous in Ireland for really decent pizza for a tenner. One is enough for two people, unless it follows a session at the Salt House.
Apache Pizza Galway
34 Dominick St Lower
Apache is famous in Ireland for really decent pizza for a tenner. One is enough for two people, unless it follows a session at the Salt House.
A fish and chip shop with a difference. Lunch is all about fish and chips (choice of 6+ types of fish for the adventurous). Dinner is pricier but presents an even wider range of seafood.
77 locals recommend
McDonagh's
22 Quay St
77 locals recommend
A fish and chip shop with a difference. Lunch is all about fish and chips (choice of 6+ types of fish for the adventurous). Dinner is pricier but presents an even wider range of seafood.
Outstanding Cajun restaurant with a good meal deal before 7PM (€19 for two BIG courses)
7 locals recommend
Creole BBQ & Grill Restaurant
7 locals recommend
Outstanding Cajun restaurant with a good meal deal before 7PM (€19 for two BIG courses)
Epically famous French restaurant for a good reason. Although you get choice of a set menu, for €19 you can get one of the best steak dinners going. Sounds impossible? Try it!
48 locals recommend
Rouge Restaurant
38 Dominick St Lower
48 locals recommend
Epically famous French restaurant for a good reason. Although you get choice of a set menu, for €19 you can get one of the best steak dinners going. Sounds impossible? Try it!
Decent pub with a good deal: €15.95 for a steak, a pint of Guinness and spicy chicken wings.
22 locals recommend
The Dail Bar
42-44 Middle St
22 locals recommend
Decent pub with a good deal: €15.95 for a steak, a pint of Guinness and spicy chicken wings.
Really, really good. Early bird special is 3 courses for €25.
131 locals recommend
Tigh Neachtain
17 Cross Street Upper
131 locals recommend
Really, really good. Early bird special is 3 courses for €25.
Ethnic restaurant of the year, extensive menu and the best service in Galway.
24 locals recommend
Asian Lounge Asian Tea House Restaurant
15 Mary St
24 locals recommend
Ethnic restaurant of the year, extensive menu and the best service in Galway.
Best tapas restaurant in Ireland. Guaranteed. Book early if you want to go on Friday/Saturday.
46 locals recommend
Cava Bodega
1 Middle St
46 locals recommend
Best tapas restaurant in Ireland. Guaranteed. Book early if you want to go on Friday/Saturday.
Probably the most inventive restaurant around, the chef (from New Zealand) creates a Kiwi-atmosphere with really wild food combinations that just work. Think Asparagus Ice-cream.
123 locals recommend
Kai Restaurant
22 Sea Rd
123 locals recommend
Probably the most inventive restaurant around, the chef (from New Zealand) creates a Kiwi-atmosphere with really wild food combinations that just work. Think Asparagus Ice-cream.
The best seafood in town, also 50 meters from my door. The owner/chef is a photographer, which is shown in the décor/on the plate.
30 locals recommend
Oscars Seafood Bistro
22 Dominick St Upper
30 locals recommend
The best seafood in town, also 50 meters from my door. The owner/chef is a photographer, which is shown in the décor/on the plate.
Norwegian Tapas restaurant, always pumping with an interesting menu
52 locals recommend
Dela Restaurant
51 Dominick St Lower
52 locals recommend
Norwegian Tapas restaurant, always pumping with an interesting menu
Great soup and brown bread for €4, this café is a good place for a quick bite.
Sam Bailey's
2 Eglinton St
Great soup and brown bread for €4, this café is a good place for a quick bite.
Upstairs is really nice, with tall windows looking out on the buzz of Quay St.
Revive Cafe
35 Eyre St
Upstairs is really nice, with tall windows looking out on the buzz of Quay St.

Arts & Culture

Free and often has good temporary art exhibitions. Café 8 downstairs is really great.
141 locals recommend
Galway City Museum
Spanish Parade
141 locals recommend
Free and often has good temporary art exhibitions. Café 8 downstairs is really great.
Excellent small venue, reasonably priced, good and varied program of events. Trendy little bar upstairs for posing during the intervals.
74 locals recommend
Town Hall Theatre
1 Courthouse Square
74 locals recommend
Excellent small venue, reasonably priced, good and varied program of events. Trendy little bar upstairs for posing during the intervals.
Beside the G Hotel, fantastic iconic building, screening all the latest movies including live Opera from the Met in NYC.
39 locals recommend
Eye Cinema Galway station
39 locals recommend
Beside the G Hotel, fantastic iconic building, screening all the latest movies including live Opera from the Met in NYC.

Shopping

Located on Middle Street, this is a true gem in Galway. An amazing book store, an experience in itself, with a wide selection of mostly used books. Go for a few minutes, stay for an hour.
49 locals recommend
Charlie Byrne's Bookshop
Middle Street
49 locals recommend
Located on Middle Street, this is a true gem in Galway. An amazing book store, an experience in itself, with a wide selection of mostly used books. Go for a few minutes, stay for an hour.