Galway's Top Pubs & Restaurants
The streets of Galway are covered in unique pubs and delicious eateries. Each more charming than the last, there wasn’t a place I didn’t like in this harbor town.
Don’t let the exterior of a pub influence your decision to go in - they’ve all got something special. My friends and I explored many in this Irish town, but here’s my top seven.
The Quay (11 Quay Street)
I spent a fair amount of time in this massive pub. Our tour director told us this was the place to be, and he wasn’t wrong. They’ve got live music and several different rooms. I had quite a bit of fun here, and you will too.
Fish & chips with dill tartar.
McDonagh’s (22 Quay Street)
One doesn’t visit a seaside town and not eat seafood. It’s wrong. This one’s got great fish and chips (a hefty portion for a cheap price), with a side of the best dill tartar sauce I’ve yet tasted. And, it’s conveniently located right across from The Quay.
Murphy’s Ice Cream (12 High Street)
Did I eat here four times within a two-day span? Yes. To say I was obsessed with this place would be a bit of an understatement. Don’t leave town without stopping here.
They’ve got a lot of great flavors, from Irish Brown Bread to Honeycomb Caramel (and the staff is so friendly, they’ll let you sample whatever you want), but you must try the Dingle Gin.
Murphy’s Ice Cream (photo courtesy of my friend, Sarah Moran,
McCambridge’s (38/39 Shop Street)
I came here for the full Irish breakfast, and went with the Breakfast Brioche Bap with coffee maple streaky bacon, black and white pudding (a more subtle way of trying it), a fried egg and brown sauce. If that description doesn’t convince you, the view and ambiance will.
The Skeff (27 Eyre Square)
I really enjoyed the look of this pub. Beautiful flooring, stained glass and woodwork. If you’re looking to participate in a pub crawl (and I highly recommend it), this was the perfect place to start, as they’ve got room for large groups and an impressive variety of drinks - be on the lookout for flyers, Galway has one nearly every night.
O’Connells Bar (8 Eyre Square)
I especially enjoyed this one because of its outdoor seating. Once you walk through the bar, you’ll find a courtyard beer garden.
The Skeff
Taaffes Bar (19 Shop Street)
They’ve got little indoor and outdoor seating areas. It’s relatively quiet and not too busy during the day.
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