The best restaurants in Galway

12/03/2026: We only had oysters. It was lovely to try flat oysters here! Thank you!

10/03/2026: Amazing fresh sea food cooked to perfection. Well worth making the effort to visit.

26/04/2026: Dining at Lignum is not just eating, it is a full sensory experience. From the very first moment you feel that something different is happening in your body and also in your mind. Fire, wood and imagination are working together in a way that feels both ancient and incredibly refined. The use of wood is not just a technique, it’s part of the soul of the place. You taste it, see it, feel it in every single preparation, and yet everything arrives with a level of elegance that is truly surprising. The ingredients speak of their garden, of what they grow and choose with intention, and this creates a connection that is rare to find elsewhere. Every course feels literally alive. For instance the pasta… I have to say it. I am not even a big pasta lover, even though I’m Italian, but at Lignum it’s true excellence. Try their pacchero with Neapolitan ragù, it’s something I could eat for the rest of my life, really. Deep, rich, perfectly balanced, crispy on the surface. The lobster tortelli are simply divine, delicate but full of character. The quality of both fish and meat is exceptional, elevated not only by technique but also by the beauty of the presentation and the intelligence of the combinations. Among the starters, I still think about the small polenta parallelepipeds with venison and wild garlic, intense, comforting, with the Wow factor. The raw prawns with almond milk was perfectly balanced, elegant and clean. And the cime di rapa bonbon… it’s like a small explosion in the mouth, almost paradisiac. They manage to make fish like squid feel noble, refined, something completely different from what you expect. The smoked duck was just… divine, there is no other word. And then desserts, which could be a journey on their own. The blue cheese dessert with a hint of coffee is bold and unforgettable. And the after desserts, especially the Sorrento lemon bonbons, honestly? They’re to die for. The wine list is perfect, it is curated with the very same elegance with which they create an amazing atmosphere. Every bottle feels chosen with intention, not to impress but to complete the experience. What makes everything even more special is the team indeed. There is warmth, kindness, a natural positivity that you can only love. The sommelier is elegant, passionate, deeply knowledgeable, and guides you with a quiet confidence. And all the staff are attentive, professional and yet warm, always caring and warm. They feel like a family, and somehow you feel part of it for the whole evening. Danny is, for us, the best chef in the world. Even after the Michelin star, their identity stayed true, simply elevated, more precise, more themselves. And the beautiful Molly, with her smile, lights up everything.

06/04/2026: Lignum's tasting menu focuses on locally sourced Irish ingredients with an Italian influence for their preparation. The chefs offer both new flavors and familiar flavors perfectly refined to their peak. The kitchen cooks exclusively with wood fired ovens and grills which lends distinct elements to their dishes and pays homage to ancestral ways of cooking. Furthering ancestral ties, the chef's grandfather is a key supplier of the incredible Amalfi lemons and olive oil (two of the very few foreign ingredients) used in several dishes. My favorite dish was the smoked venison, its subtle smoky scent was so alluring that I delayed eating the morsel until after several wafts. My wife, who's an excellent home baker, was awestruck by the quality of the brioche, it was the best she's ever had. Our other favorites were the prawn with kumquat garnish, scarola (a bitter leafy green) pizza, stuffed pasta, and their signature dessert, Cashel blue cheese with coffee and chocolate glaze. The restaurant's atmosphere is chic yet rustic. While there's no dress code you should at least dress smartly. The wait staff was also extremely attentive and friendly. We will memorialize our experience by adding photos to our scrap book.

15/04/2026: Good gluten free options in a town where it is a little trickier to get a GF meal. V helpful staff, cute decor, and a damn good lamb dinner! Glad to report that thatch cottages are much cosier, warmer & dryer on the inside than they look from the outside, too.

14/04/2026: Best food I've had here in Ireland. Service was fantastic.

19/04/2026: Amazing restaurant, happy to return any time

18/04/2026: What a delight. Food was delicious. I had a lovely potato leek soup and a delicious duck for dinner. My husband had a lovely cod. Wonderful experience.

15/04/2026: The perfect pub to experience the magical atmosphere of Ireland: an absolutely fantastic whiskey bar and servers who are happy to make you any cocktail you want! A perfect experience!

11/04/2026: One of the best pubs in Ireland. A trip to Clifden and a visit to Lowry's are a must. Even better in the evening.

20/04/2026: Authentic old castle hotel. Timeless, great service, clean & today. Beautiful spacious bedrooms & unbelievable bathroom size with shower & seperate tub bath.

18/04/2026: Yup, it’s a castle, 🏰 it’s a fairy tale come true! So so beautiful! And I love how green the walls are!

03/05/2026: What an Amazing Pub to have couple of Pints and Amazing Food. We Ordered Mild Chicken Curry with Basmati rice and Naan 😍😍😍😍; Prawns Scampi😍😍 ; Vegan Red Past😍😍; Chicken Goujons😍😍. Every thing was just amazing and mouth watering food. Best was for spice level they gave us Sriracha Sauce and made the best 👌.

03/05/2026: Peggy is the best! Super kind, personable, and really making our group feel cared for. We love her

02/03/2026: Visited during my stay in the area and I loved it. A tuesday evening and the place was hopping. Great atmosphere and really good food at reasonable prices.

11/02/2026: Well worth a visit. Great food, atmosphere & staff.

14/04/2026: The best restaurant of our road trip!!! It doesn't look like much from the outside, but honestly, we highly recommend it!!! The fish was of incredible quality!

14/04/2026: Nice place, typical fisherman's decor. Classic but tasty and very generous portions. The men's toilets outside smell terrible and give a bad first impression. But don't let that put you off. The Guinness Zero is nice and cold 😉

29/03/2026: Absolutely love this place. The food is amazing. Michael and callum are lovely and full of chats. Had a lovely takeaway coconut cappuccino 5 stars always the lads know what they are doing

29/03/2026: Great food and good service. There is a sit down restaurant as well as a bakery / coffee shop.

05/05/2026: Been here many times, will go back, the standard of service is great, food excellent, overall very good, food prices were fair.

01/05/2026: Best brown bread and seafood chowder that wr had in all of ireland

16/04/2026: I’ll start by saying the waitress suggested the early bird special. It was 8 o’clock, wasn’t that early but she said they still offered it. At the end of the meal there was some confusion over what the early bird special included as we thought it was one of the listed starters, one of the listed entrees, and any of the menu desserts. So that is what we ordered and we were never questioned by the waitress for clarification even after pointing to the special page. But if you read the menu closely, it’s either a starter and an entrée or an entrée and a dessert. Small print on the top of the menu and they’re all listed on the same page on the menu leads one to thinking there’s actually a special price. The reality is there is no special price. The food was good. The mussels were local and good with a large quantity. The seafood chowder was good, but a little thin. The soup of the day was potato and celery. Initially, I thought restaurant was good and a good value, but after the misunderstanding I was not as impressed.

16/04/2026: Nice place, with very pleasant staff.

08/04/2026: Gorgeous food, venue and service. We had brunch this morning and both of our meals were really well seasoned and tasty. I also got two cakes to takeaway. My only criticism is the price of the cakes - they were quite expensive. But otherwise I’ll definitely be back.

06/04/2026: Excellent sausage rolls, cool interiors. Disorganized, inexperienced table service.

01/11/2025: I love the atmosphere in this cosy restaurant which is situated in the most picturesque location possible. Wonderfully professional friendly staff, delicious food.

30/10/2025: Wonderful evening; fabulous service and delicious meals. The mussels and sticky toffee dessert were scrumptious.

14/04/2026: the best steak sandwich I have had in my life

22/03/2026: The food the atmosphere the staff the people it really is your one stop shop my favourite place to be when im home in galway Porterhouse ❤️