GALWAY

galway food

MY FAVORITE: Ard Bia at Nimmos - honestly good for breakfast, lunch or dinner! Or multiple times for all of the above. Right along the Spanish Arch area - very cute, but small cottage dining so wait times can be long - WORTH IT! - get there early when they open for breakfast or make a reservation for dinner - I have their cookbook and love everything I make from it :)

  • Tigh Neachtain- best people watching in Galway and really good food - I would go for lunch - good fresh oysters and smoked salmon, also great guinness

  • Blackrock Cottage - make a reservation and ask for a table in the front room

  • Markets - crafts and good food on Saturdays and just crafts on Sunday - right in front of Saint Nicholas’ church in town

  • McDonagh’s - decent fish and chips in the heart of town - casual order at the counter kind of place good for lunch

  • Aniar - lovely dinner spot 

  • kai - another nice dinner spot 

  • Dela - never been but my cousin recommended and it looks so good!

  • Cava Bodega - tapas!

  • Kirwan’s Seafood Bar in Galway

  • Griffins Bakery - yummm

  • McSwiggin’s - more traditional but the banoffee pie for dessert is very good 

  • McCambridges - good for lunch 

  • Sophie’s Bar/ restaurant on top of the Dean Hotel - cool views but can get busy - not the best food either, I wouldn’t do dinner here, but cool for a drink!

  • The Pie Maker - delicious meat pies

  • Marmalade Bakery

  • Little Lane Coffee

  • Sheridans Cheesemongers- SO…MUCH…CHEESE!

SPECIFIC RESTAURANTS AROUND GALWAY AREA

  • Moran’s on the Weir - a delicious oyster restaurant about 15/20 minutes outside of Galway in Clarenbridge - incredible history it’s been around since the 1700’s 

  • O’Dowds in Roundstone - a drive but beautiful and so worth it - one of the best seafood restaurants in the country!

  • Pullman Restaurant- this place is pretty cool it’s in an old train car - a bit out of town! I think murder on the orient express was filmed here or at least partially. Cool experience if you have a lot of time. Not my favorite meal honestly but really fun. 

  • Pádraicíns Bar + Restaurant in between Spiddal and Galway - cozy, delicious fish and chips and beautiful views overlooking the bay

  • If you make it out to Clifden (worth the drive) go to Mitchell’s Seafood Restaurant - the Mitchells grew up with my dad and his family - also really cute town and amazing food (edit: new owners now so can’t speak for the food quality anymore but it’s cute ☺️)

Pubs

  • Garavans - Seamus’ favorite bar, lots of ol boys in here, voted best whiskey bar in Ireland. Often live music too. Pretty popular now!

  • O’Connors in Salthill - this is where galway girl music video was filmed plus it’s a cool bar and serves a good pint

  • The Quays bar + restaurant - live music and been around forever!

  • Taafes Bar has traditional live music and is really fun - get there early if you want a seat though this place gets packed 

  • Tigh Neachtain

  • John Keogh’s - on Shop St. 

  • The Front Door - fun! 

  • Sophie’s - on top of the dean hotel - cool views

  • King’s Head

  • The Skeff Bar

  • Supermacs for late night munchies 😂

TO DO

  • Galway markets on Church Lane 

  • Walk around the Claddagh area

  • Famous race course Ballybrit if there are races on

  • Ballyloughane Beach - just as you’re driving into the city in the Renmore area - it has stunning views of the Bay and you can park and walk along the sea - there’s a nice path, you’ll probably find some cows and feel like you’re in the country

  • Salthill - walk along the prom

  • Walk out to Mutton Island from the Claddagh 

  • Galway City Museum

  • Wild Atlantic Way 

TO DO (& eat while you’re there) around galway area

  • WEST:

    • Dogs Bay - beautiful and one of the best beaches in Ireland !

    • Kylemore Abbey 

    • Ashford Castle - good place for high tea and views of Lough Corrib

    • Ballynahinch Castle - another good stop for lunch and views

    • Roundstone

    • Clifden

  • SOUTH: 

    • Kinvarra

      • Connolly’s Pub has pretty good food if you’re hungry but my other options below are better!

    • The Burren

      • Eat at Linnane’s Lobster Bar and then take a walk along the quay after - seriously such good seafood and coffee, can’t recommend it more - voted one of the best seafood restaurants in Ireland

    • Doolin - stop here on your way to/from the Cliffs of Moher:

      • Russell’s for food or drinks - think they also do a lovely Irish breakfast now too

      • The Ivy Cottage - delicious food

      • Gus O’Connors for food and live music !

      • Homestead Cottage - just outside Doolin but phenomenal Michelin star restaurant

      • Doolin Cliff Walk

      • Doonagore Castle

    • Spanish Point

    • Adare Manor Hotel - nice tea spot and just beautiful :)

 

DINGLE

FOOD

  • Out of the Blue - daily fresh catch seafood, they don’t do anything but seafood - so delicious but make sure you’re with seafood lovers to really enjoy! Make a reservation

  • Solas Tapas - probably the best meal of our entire trip! Make a dinner reservation 

  • The Fish Box - great for lunch - gets busy so plan accordingly 

  • Fenton’s (didn’t get a chance to eat here but it was recommended to us)

  • Doyle’s (didn’t eat here but it was recommended to us)

  • Murphy’s Ice Cream - try the brown bread flavor!

DO:

  • Drive around Slea Head

 

OTHER FAVORITES

  • Kinsale

  • Killarney (stay at Cahernane House Hotel)

  • Kinvara 

  • Athlone (Sean’s Bar - oldest pub in Ireland)

  • Aran Islands

  • Inishbofin

Pubs:

  • Dick Mack’s

  • Bob Griffin’s

  • Foxy John’s

  • Kennedy’s

  • O’Sullivan’s

  • An Droichead Beag

STAY:

  • Pax Guest House - wish I could stay here literally every time I go!