Galway

Galway (Irish: Gaillimh) is the county town of County Galway on the west coast of Ireland. It's Ireland's fourth-largest city, with a population in 2024 of 85,000, but its historic centre on the east bank of the River Corrib is compact. Galway is a colourful party town with live music and revellers spilling onto its pedestrianised central street. It's also a base for exploring the scenic surrounding county.

See: 7
Do: 5
Eat: 10
Drink: 14
Buy: 6

14 places match

Drink

56 Central

Chic and stylish, if a little pretentious. Offers fancy coffee and a decent selection of food.

€4 for a coffee, €5 for various fancy stuff (matcha latte, hot chocolate etc), €6.50 for a smoothie

Drink

An Púcán

Lively bar with music and dancing, it's the food that reviewers seem most to enjoy.

Mon–Thu 10:30AM–11:30PM, Fri Sat 10:30–2AM, Sun 10:30AM–11PM

Drink

Cooke's Thatch Bar

The last thatched pub in Galway city, dating back to the 1600s. (Within the county are Powers at Oughterad, and Morans at Kilcolgan). Has trad music on Wednesday and Sunday nights.

Daily

Drink

Plámás

Small simple place with simple coffee. Often touted as "the friendliest coffee shop in Ireland", but that's subjective of course. You get a discount if you order as Gaeilge (in Irish).

8AM–5PM€4 for a coffee

Drink

Taaffes Pub

Great authentic Irish experience. You can find trad music there almost any night and there's a friendly atmosphere. Food only to 5PM.

Daily 10:30–12:30AM

Drink

The Crane Bar

Great pub, music nightly: trad downstairs or various styles upstairs, where you need to grab your seat not much after 9PM. Some outdoor seating, but you are moved inside around 11PM. Cash or card accepted.

Daily 3–11:30PM

Drink

The Quays

Lively pub, the interior is done up like a church. Also calls itself a "gastropub" (which frankly it's not, you won't starve but few visitors rate the food) and a "music hall" which is on the mark, there's always live folk and other styles of music.

Daily 11–2AM

Drink

The Secret Garden

Cozy little hidden gem with beanbags and free board games. Offers a huge selection of specialty tea from around the world.

Daily 9AM–9PM€4.80 for a small pot of tea, €6.80 for a large pot

Drink Not mapped

Busker Brownes

Four bars: the original Busker's and Slatehouse, while the large Hall and small Mezzanine bars are often booked for events. Also, Kirby's upstairs turns into a late bar after dinner. Live bands nightly from 10:30AM. Decent bar food.

Mon–Sat 10–2AM, Sun noon–2AM

Drink Not mapped

Freeneys

Fine traditional pub, often much quieter than its neighbours midweek, indeed at first glance from the street it doesn't look like a pub. They pour a good Guinness but where Freeney's excels is in its collection of Irish whiskeys.

Daily 10:30AM–11:30PM

Drink Not mapped