Galway City's innovative Café Lates pilot initiative is back for its second year, building on the success of its initial phase in boosting the city's vibrant night-time economy. Launched in response to public demand for a thriving café culture after 6pm, Café Lates supports local businesses in trialing extended opening hours and offering diverse, alcohol-free evening experiences. Find out what's in store this year...
Following a successful first edition, Galway City Council is delighted to announce the participating businesses for 2025: Jungle Cafe, Plámás, Wylde Cafe, Fairhill Café, Blackrock Cottage Café, and Ré Coffee + Design. Dangan House Cafe is also participating in Café Lates with two special evenings programmed on the occasion of the Bealtaine Age & Opportunity Festival: a Jazz Night on May 2nd and a Craft Night on May 14th. From May to June and again from September to November, these establishments will host a variety of engaging events designed to enrich Galway's evening and night-time offerings.
This year's Café Lates programme promises a diverse range of experiences. Live DJ sets will create lively atmospheres at Jungle Café, Plámás, and Wylde Café. For those seeking a more intimate setting, Fairhill Café will host evenings of spoken word and live acoustic set.
Attendees can look forward to Tracy Bruen Live @ Fairhill Café (Abbeygate St) on May 8th, 7pm-10pm. Enjoy a free, relaxing Thursday evening with the soulful singer-songwriter Tracy Bruen. Let her beautiful melodies and heartfelt lyrics create a cozy atmosphere while you enjoy delicious coffee and treats. On May 22nd, June 5th & June 26th at Fairhill Café, enjoy Free Open Mic Spoken Word Nights from 7pm-10pm. Unleash your inner poet or simply enjoy the vibrant atmosphere! Share your stories, poems, or songs, or sit back and appreciate local talent. No booking is necessary – just come along and take the mic or a seat.
Jungle Café (Prospect Hill) will host Yawlag: Organica on select Thursdays throughout the year (May 22nd, June 5th, June 19th, September 4th, September 25th, October 16th, November 6th). These curated music events, hosted by the Galway-based Yawlag Collective, will offer themed evenings of organic global grooves and downtempo music in the café's unique tropical setting. 7pm-10pm, €5 on the door including a beverage!
Wylde Café (Forster St) will present free Spice Up Your Thursdays events on May 15th, May 29th, June 6th, June 12th from 6-8pm including Latino evenings with DJ Matt KV, promising vibrant rhythms, delicious coffee, and refreshing mocktails.
Plámás (Dominick St) will be hosting a series of Summer Parties in May and June, whenCoisír Thí sober rave brings DJ sets to their intimate indoor space with coffee, treats and craic out on the pedestrianised streets of Galway's Westend. Dates TBC.
The programme of events for Blackrock Cottage Café (Salthill) in September & October will be announced soon, so keep an eye out for that.
The Café Lates initiative directly addresses the public's desire for more post-6pm offerings, a key finding from consultations for the Galway City Council Night-Time Economy Action Plan. The core aims remain to expand evening and night-time options, support businesses in trialing extended hours, stimulate revenue, drive footfall, and build a dynamic evening café scene.
"We are thrilled to see the return of Café Lates for its second year," says Kate Howard, Galway City Council, Night-Time Economy Advisor. "This initiative has already demonstrated its value in diversifying Galway's night-time economy and providing appealing, alcohol-free options for residents and visitors alike. The exciting program of events planned by our participating cafés showcases the creativity and vibrancy of our local businesses, and we encourage everyone to come out, support and experience what Café Lates has to offer."
Sinead Curran, Manager and Owner of Fairhill Café and Ré Coffee + Design, expressed her delight at being involved in Café Lates. "As first-time participants in the Café Lates initiative, we're thrilled to be part of this movement to enhance Galway's evenings. At Fairhill Cafe, we're looking forward to hosting lively spoken word and music nights, we see this as a fantastic chance to connect with the community in new ways and contribute to Galway's evolving night-time scene. We're also developing something special for the later part of the year at Ré Coffee + Design. We believe this initiative is a wonderful way to support local businesses and create a more dynamic city after dark."
Stay up-to-date on the specific event schedules and extended opening hours for each participating café by following @thisisgalway on social media and visiting their dedicated Galway by Night events guide as well as the individual social media channels of Jungle Cafe, Plámás, Wylde Cafe, Fairhill Cafe, Blackrock Cottage Café, and Ré Coffee + Design.
CALL TO GALWAY CAFÉS:
Is your café already open later and programming evening activities? The Galway City Night-Time Economy Advisor is eager to connect with you! Please get in touch with Kate.Howard@GalwayCity.ie to explore how Galway City Council can support your efforts through marketing and communications initiatives.
Galway City Council is excited to support these businesses in delivering engaging evening experiences and further enriching the city's night-time economy. Café Lates is funded by Galway City Council and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.
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