The best restaurantsof irish in Galway

26/05/2026: Upon arriving at the restaurant, we were told there would be a 30-minute wait, but we were seated within 10 minutes, which was great. We then requested a table closer to the band and were told we could sit at a nearby table for four. However, less than five minutes later, another couple was seated there instead. Naturally, it made me wonder if the color of my skin played a role. Sometimes it’s the small things that can make or break a restaurant experience. This was our first restaurant here, and I’m sure there are better places with friendlier service. Being handed vegetable stew in a to-go box to eat felt inconsiderate and unwelcoming. I’m from Texas — we simply don’t treat people like that. See pic below We had oysters, which were delicious of course being an American from Texas. We are so used to our crackers, and apparently they don’t know what that is. She had no idea what I was talking about. However, I should be grateful that they had Tabasco sauce.

26/05/2026: The drinks are great and great craic at night. However, my husband and I stopped here for dinner one night when looking for seafood and couldn’t get in to the upscale seafood place nearby. 45 minute wait for 2 people at 7:30pm on a Monday-would highly recommended the salted caramel espresso martini-amazing! We ordered the seafood platter and scallops. The oysters had pieces of shell in them and tasted of pure salt water-I love oysters but these were just not that great. The scallops were slightly overcooked as well. I would avoid this place for seafood and stick with drinks and possibly traditional food only.

13/05/2026: I'm here tonight to watch the Celtic vrs Motherwell game. The atmosphere is electric. I haven't eaten but the food looks great.

01/05/2026: English pub, young and friendly staff, good beers and excellent Italian pizza served until 10pm. Well done!

14/06/2026: Had such a great time, the atmosphere was fantastic, and the bartenders where excellent in their work and their personalities. There are 2 bartenders who need a shout out too and that is Mark and the only female bartender whose name i never knew but she was phenomenal also, the management should be proud of the atmosphere they have created and the entertainment has been number 1

13/06/2026: Outstanding service, great atmosphere!

23/05/2026: It was a wonderful evening with live music in Galway. Great atmosphere and fantastic music for singing along and dancing. I'd love to do it again.

22/05/2026: Traditional pub feel in a big club. Food was great and plenty of gluten-free options.

21/06/2026: This was our first dinner in Galway… A really nice find the atmosphere was classic Irish… The staff were warm, friendly and very personable… The dishes were very delicious fish and chips for two and salmon over risotto for one… The drinks were also very refreshing… We just wanted to sit there and enjoy the atmosphere. Enjoy the Galway hospitality… Tara was our server and the other staff members were just as pleasant and friendly as she was… I highly recommend a stop here… If you want something quieter low-key, but with excellent quality and pure Irish charm, this would be a good location…

20/06/2026: We popped in here on the off-chance for food. A lovely large old pub with traditional and seemingly original fittings. It was busy with lots of booth type seating and there was a great atmosphere in early evening on a Friday. Service was a little confused but all the staff were friendly (perhaps just new as this was June). We were seated (but not given a menu). Checked the menu on our phones. Weren’t sure whether to order at the bar or table. The bar staff member I asked didn’t seem to understand me? I found another staff member that confirmed it was table service. The menu is the usual pub comfort food. Not a lot of vegetarian but we both ordered the whipped goats cheese and beetroot starter with potatoes (I had Champ, my husband had chips). The whipped goats cheese was delicious! Makes me wonder if my assumption that the menu was “the usual pub comfort food” may have been an underestimation! The waitress didn’t know what champ was but I had a vague idea it was a mashed potato… and it was again delicious- smooth, cheesy mashed potato with spring onions. My husband ate way too much of mine!! Reasonably priced too😃 I will be back!!

19/05/2026: Beautiful clean and updated rooms. Our room was huge and had a massive bathroom. King size bed was a little firm. Highly recommend

17/05/2026: Fantastic. Couldn't recommend it more for food and drink. Service was top class

20/07/2026: Great Place to go. Take the catch of the day. Fresh fish right from the port. Great drinks. And tasty desserts…

15/07/2026: A great traditional pub, lovely staff. Only marking down as the batter on our fish and chips was quite stale and seemed like it had been sat cold for a while. Also the toilets were quite dirty and the toilet seat wasnt attached.

02/06/2026: Great stay. Perfect location. Lovely staff. Great facilities. Will definitely return.

02/06/2026: When we arrived we were given a free upgrade to a bigger suite as it was my birthday .Huge busy hotel .Staff excellent .Rooms spotless .Music in the bar that night was very enjoyable .Have to say that for such a busy hotel I was really impressed at breakfast time at the speed at which everyone was seated .Tables were cleaned .Beverages served .Loads of buffet breakfast availible and food was good too

23/07/2026: Only popped in for one or two, ended up staying all evening. Lovely atmosphere, staff and even the doorman! Perfect Guinness too!

21/07/2026: The service is great! And always in a good mood! It's fantastic!

30/03/2026: Nice place with two lovely cabins for 4, with a view to the street. The cod was very juice and fresh. Soup of the day was vegetable with some cream... Caesar salad was great!

21/03/2026: Perfect place for drinks and the best chicken wings.

22/10/2025: Location was wonderful. the staff was very kind and tried to be as helpful as possible… Rooms were very outdated, extremely dusty/musty, beds very uncomfortable, Wi-Fi didn’t work half the time & AC was broken with inability to be fixed. The room also smelled terribly of a nursing home which did not dissipate at all with our windows open for two days.

21/10/2025: Such a great spot! I was visiting Galway for a few days with my family, and we could not have picked a better location. All the staff were so kind. Henrique at reception in particular was incredibly helpful and very fun to converse with.

08/06/2026: Absolutely the best pork chop I’ve had in my life. I will never forget it—I closed my eyes for most bites so I could savor it. We asked for a recommendation for dessert and it was ridiculously amazing. The flavors were incredible. The chocolate was so rich it was plenty for four of us to split since we all were full from our incredible meals. Others in our party got a fish entree they loved and the sauce that it came in was so fantastic they used the extra bread to finish it off! 10/10 We will be back next year. (Thanks for telling us about Kai, Kelly!)

06/06/2026: We had a very odd experience here. We came during our honeymoon after several people recommended we visit while in Galway, but from the moment we arrived, the service felt uncomfortable and unwelcoming. We arrived at 6:04 p.m. for our 6:00 p.m. reservation, and from the initial interaction with the host/server, we felt as though we were somehow in trouble. After reading other reviews, it seems that unfriendly service may not be an isolated issue. I’ve have never left a negative restaurant review before, but our experience warranted one. A couple seated next to us, who arrived after we did, received their meals significantly sooner than we did. In fact, they had already finished their mains and were ordering dessert before our entrees even arrived. I ordered the steak, which was served with a single slice of tomato on top. The couple next to us ordered the same dish, and theirs came with multiple slices of tomato as an accompaniment. I understand that presentation can vary, but the difference between one slice and several seemed unusually inconsistent. My wife ordered the scallops and received only three scallops. Photos online clearly show the same dish being served with noticeably more. I understand portion sizes can vary, but the difference was substantial enough to stand out. After our plates were cleared, we sat for approximately 10–15 minutes without anyone checking on us. Apparently, the server asked my wife about dessert while I was in the restroom, but when I returned, we waited another five minutes before I finally had to ask for the bill myself. Throughout the evening, we felt largely ignored. Looking back, I don’t believe anyone ever asked how our meals were. My family owns a restaurant, so I understand that service can suffer when staff are overwhelmed. That wasn’t the case here. The server walked past our table multiple times and never once acknowledged us or checked in. Out of habit from the United States, I still left a generous tip, but in hindsight I wish I hadn’t. We left feeling genuinely disappointed by the cold and dismissive service. It was certainly not the dining experience we had hoped for during our honeymoon in Galway.

12/07/2026: Music too loud. Very difficult to have a conversation

08/07/2026: Had an early dinner with 6 adults 3 kids. They very clearly wanted us to leave quickly as people were filtering in to watch a game.

03/07/2026: Me and my partner waited so long to come in here and try the food , service was abit slow but when I got the food I was so happy as it was also my Birthday celebration. I'm so disappointed as I have had to work a 9 to 6 shift the next say with constant diarrhea and throwing up to the point infection was the only thing coming from my stomach. I never write reviews but I am very disappointed and will not come here again.

02/07/2026: Service was lovely. Food not so much. Music a bit loud for a late afternoon..

21/05/2026: Delicious food and ok quick service

20/05/2026: Food: Beef Stew was great. Nice chunks of tender beef, onions and carrots. Save some "sauce" for the sides, mashed, carrots, turnips and roasted potatoes. Service: Waitress had a "short and sweet attitude" no frills, yet not rude in any way. I could see this as a turn off for some but we dont mind it. Atmosphere: Small and quaint, old school. We always try to find those "hole in a wall" places off the main drag anytime we travel away from the tourist traps. Get away from the mainstream places and grab some good food from Finnegans!