Galway is a wonderful city to visit for so many reasons. The music, the bars, the craic and the culture are just some of the things that draw the tourists in. But did you know that Galway was also named as the top foodie destination in the world for 2020? And if you’re wondering where to eat in Galway city, we’ve got you covered!
There’s certainly no shortage of great places to grab a bite or enjoy a more leisurely meal in the city. And while we haven’t been able to sample all the epicurean delights over the last few months, thankfully that’s finally changing.
So as the city starts to open up again, I’ve put together a list of my favourite places to eat in Galway. They just so happen to be some of the best, too! So if you’re planning on heading that way anytime soon, keep reading. I don’t know about you but I’m certainly looking forward to going out for a meal again.
Whether you’re a fan of cheap and cheerful or you fancy splashing out, there’s an option here to suit every budget. If you have any personal recommendations on where to eat in Galway, feel free to share them in the comments.
Where to Eat in Galway
The Gourmet Offensive (TGO Falafel Bar)
This is one of our staples when we’re in Galway. Tasty, nutritious and great value. You can’t ask for more than that!
The Gourmet Offensive is a family run restaurant. The focus is on healthy, quality food and the menu is now 100% vegan. There aren’t many seats upstairs, though we’ve always managed to squeeze in somewhere. Unfortunately due to current restrictions though, these seating area won’t be open for the foreseeable future. Fortunately, take-away and delivery options are still available.
Marketed as vegan street food, the menu includes wraps, burgers, salads and even a vegan spice bag! The portions are very generous. TGO started as a market stall in Galway’s St Nicholas’s Market and you’ll be able to find them back here too, on weekends.
Location: 11 Mary Street, Galway.
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The Dough Bros
If you’re a fan of pizza, then you’ve got to try The Dough Bros. As the name suggests, Dough Bros was started by two brothers . Initially a street-food truck, the plan was to have a restaurant within five years. However things took off surprisingly quickly and within the first year they had a pop-up restaurant.
Now they’re fully established with their very own restaurant in the heart of the city. On the menu you’ll find just pizzas and a couple of sides. There are no salads, pastas or other items you might expect to go along with it.Just really simple, delicious and authentic, wood-fired pizza.
The relaxed, fun and quirky atmosphere is reflected in the names of the pizzas, such as the Hey Pesto, Wiz Kale Leaf A and the Hail Caesar.
Location: Cathedral Buildings, 1 Middle Street, Galway
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Cupán Tae
Walking through the door at Cupán Tae is like taking a step back in time, complete with your granny’s old wallpaper and fine china!
Enjoy a delicious sandwich or scone with a pot of bespoke tea, or sip a glass of bubbles while sharing a delicious afternoon tea. This is the perfect spot for breakfast or lunch if you’ve looking for something a bit different or you’re in the mood for a bit of a treat.
The food is really good and it’s not just your average sandwich on offer. I went for the Veggie Love Sandwich, which was butterbean & sweet potato spread, sliced avocado, goat’s cheese, mixed leaves, fresh grapes and Buckthorn berry tea-infused honey glazed walnuts on homemade brown bread. Enough to make your mouth water, right?
Even with such filling and yummy options, you’re made of strong stuff if you can resist the selection of homemade sweet treats on offer! And I will admit I was a little overwhelmed by the huge menu of teas on offer, but I did manage to pick one in the end. You can buy the loose leaf teas to take home and you can also purchase online.
Location: 8 Quay Lane, Galway.
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Ard Bia at Nimmos
Ard Bia is a quirky little spot, housed in a historic building at the start of the Long Walk in Galway. It used to be a customs house and was also formerly a mechanic’s, a boathouse and an art gallery, among other things.
Tucked away by the Spanish Arch, this is a fab place to enjoy a yummy brunch or evening meal. It’s very popular and you may have to wait a while for a table but it’s worth it. There’s a great range of options on the menu, which as a veggie, is not often the case. I had a hard time choosing but in the end went for the Hippy Fry (field mushroom, poached eggs, spinach, halloumi, potato farl, baked beans & brown toast) and there were definitely no regrets!
Though it’s not exactly off the tourist trail, being only a couple of minutes walk from bustling Quay St, Ard Bia seems to be a firm favourite with locals and it’s not hard to see why. Staff were lovely, our orders came out pretty quickly considering the place was full and the food definitely hit the spot.
There are lots of lovely local products displayed and for sale within the restaurant. Unfortunately when the seats are all taken it’s near impossible to get up close to check them out, but at quieter times be sure to have a browse.
Location: Spanish Arch, The Long Walk, Galway.
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Kai
Even ignoring the fact that I lived in New Zealand for 14 years in, I had to try out Kai. It was also popping up everywhere as a go-to for foodies in Galway. We visited for lunch and loved it but definitely need to get back for dinner too at some stage. The food was so fresh and delicious, the atmosphere was great and I loved all the little touches of Kiwiana around the restaurant, taking me back!
Opened in 2011 by New Zealander Jess Murphy and Carlow native Dave Murphy, the restaurant has been going from strength to strength. Kai is the Maori word for ‘food’ and here it’s served up using delicious seasonal and locally sourced ingredients.
Contact the restaurant directly to make lunch or dinner reservations. Or you can just pop in for coffee and a delicious sweet treat.
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Loam
This Michelin-starred restaurant is definitely a winner if you’re looking to impress or are celebrating a special occasion! I was very luckily gifted a voucher by a friend and we opted for the tasting menu with matching wines. It was such a treat. José had the regular menu, while there was no problem getting a veggie menu for me. Just let the team know in advance.
The philosophy at Loam is to only use food from the west of Ireland. More impressively, is even excludes the use of spices and other flavours that would have to be imported. This results in a pretty creative menu and lots of ingredients that are foraged, so recipes are constantly changing.
I’d consider myself to have quite simple taste, so I wasn’t sure if I was going to struggle. I needn’t have worried. Everything was just amazing, so delicious and full of flavour. And of course it was even better with the matching wines!
Loam is reopening on Friday 3rd of July and is located just off Eyre Square.
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So, there you have it…my top recommendations on where to eat in Galway. Let me know if you try any out when you visit. Bon appétit!
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