We love these places too much to keep them to ourselves, so take this as your sign to go on a treasure hunt around Galway and discover some of the city's best hidden gems…
Oftentimes, it’s when you go off the beaten track that you discover the most unforgettable places. This is exactly why we are sharing our favourite cafés, restaurants and bars around Galway city whose location we can no longer keep secret. The feeling of stumbling across a locally loved spot that is tucked away from the noise and busyness of Galway’s main tourist areas is irreplicable. (It’s our version of finding a four leaf clover, honestly!) If you're looking to explore Galway like a local and experience its most authentic spots, keep reading for our guide to the hidden gems in the city that you won’t want to miss..
Escape Boats
Tucked away in the heart of Galway’s city centre, Escape Boats is one of the city's most unique hidden gems, offering an immersive escape room experience like no other. Set aboard a beautifully restored Dutch barge moored just behind The Long Walk, this award-winning adventure is perfect for families, groups, couples, and team-building events—or simply for those looking for an unforgettable thrill. Their first game, The Inspectors, launched in summer 2024, challenging players to step into the role of an elite maritime inspection team investigating a suspicious cargo vessel off the coast of Galway. With a new room set to open in summer 2025, Escape Boats continues to bring intrigue and excitement to the city. This hidden treasure promises an experience you won’t soon forget. Advance booking is highly recommended! Use the code EBGALWAY10 upon booking to receive a 10% discount. Good luck!
Directions: How to get here
above: photo courtesy of Escape Boats
Alma Restaurant
Galway’s only authentic Portuguese restaurant can be found just a few side streets away from Eyre Square. Alma is an intimate restaurant, whose name means ‘soul’ in Portuguese and this accurately depicts what all guests can enjoy here; wholesome soul food that has been prepared and made with love. Owned by João & Márcia, the original team behind Galway’s famed Apoema Bistro, they are bringing everything they love about Portuguese cuisine and gastronomic culture to the table. Open Wednesday to Saturday for dinner (6pm-9pm), Thursday to Saturday for lunch (12.30pm-3pm) and Sunday from 12.30pm-3.30pm. We highly recommend you pay them a visit and spend an evening indulging in the deliciously rich flavours of Portuguese dishes.
Directions: How to get here
above: photo courtesy of Alma Restaurant
Dangan House Café + Nurseries
We’ve only recently discovered Dangan House Café & Nurseries for ourselves and let’s just say that we really had no idea what we were missing! Dangan House is a beautiful café and garden centre situated in a refurbished 19th-century grain store. Its rustic café and al fresco decking area is a lovely spot to while away the day before or after having a browse of all their gorgeous plants outdoors. The café serves coffee, sweet treats, toasties, and curries throughout their daytime hours and hosts evening events such as their monthly Wine & Jazz nights as well as Weekly Classic Film Screenings. It’s easiest to get to this hidden gem by car although it is possible to get the 404 bus from Eyre Square part of the way, followed by a 12-minute walk from the nearest bus stop.
Directions: How to get here
Top Shelf Coffee
In need of a coffee after arriving in Galway city? Top Shelf Coffee is the answer to all weary travellers’ prayers. Only a slight wander up from the Galway Coach Station near the city centre’s main transportation hub on Eyre Square, this coffee shop provides a truly unique in-house coffee and food experience. The drinks menu has been curated by taste and is executed with exacting scientific methods for extraction, that is to say they’ve done their research in order to guarantee you great tasting coffee every time you visit. Alongside their beverages, their in-house bakes include the now famous Fairgreen cookies, brownies, lemon tarts, flap jacks, and blondies. Their toasties are super popular also, and are made with Magpie Bakery sourdough and deli meats from McCambridges on Shop Street.
Directions: How to get here
above: Top Shelf Coffee, photo by Ado Lyons
Kasbah Wine Bar
Sometime the best hidden gems are the ones right in front of us, because while this next bar is located on one of Galway's busiest streets you might not cop onto its location until you look up! That's right, The Kasbah Wine Bar can be found right above Galway's iconic blue and yellow pub Tigh Neachtains. Kasbah Wine Bar only recently reopened so while we don't think spot will remain a hidden gem for too long, for now it has earned its place on our list. It's a fantastic option for date night, or enjoying a glass of wine with a pal. Comprising amazing views, stunning décor, tasty cocktails, a fantastic range of wines and a delicious food menu of sharing boards, tapas, light bites and more – what is not to love?!
Directions: How to get here
above: Kasbah Wine Bar, photo by Ciarán MacChoncarraige
Blackrock Cottage Pantry
A perfect pitstop for all road users, Blackrock Pantry is the latest venture of the amazing culinary team at Blackrock Cottage. Located at the old Spinnaker Hotel, (just up the road from Blackrock Cottage itself!) here you’ll find a batch of tasty treats. We for one could not believe the incredible range of pastries, cakes, breads, sandwiches, coffee, eggs, vegetables, meats, beer, wine, sauces and more - all of which is either made fresh in-house or sourced from local suppliers. If you’re shopping at Blackrock Pantry you are enjoying products that have been homemade with care with the added bonus of also supporting local. There is also plenty of parking right outside so you’ll have an easy time finding space to pop in and pick up a few bits and bobs.
Directions: How to get here
Chef Laura Rosso
We don’t know about you, but we believe that when people care the food they make, it gives the dishes an unmistakable higher quality, when from the first taste you just know that chefs are passionate about what they do. And for us, that is what every visit to Chef Laura Rosso is like. Situated in an unassuming location at the back of Salthill’s Business School, Chef Laura Rosso is a Brazilian restaurant that deserves to be on your radar. If you want our recommendations we suggest their Açaí bowl for breakfast, this is a native Brazilian superfruit, that both tastes amazing and toppings can be personalised to suit you and for your lunch, you’ll never go wrong when ordering their hearty Brazilian lunch.
Directions: How to get here
above: photo courtesy of Chef Laura Rosso
City Sushi Galway
Get your tush-i to the Galway Docks and try some of the best sushi you’ll ever have at City Sushi Galway. Operating out of Galway Bay Seafoods’ Dockside Deli, (whom they receive their produce from) once you try their affordable sushi platters, you’ll never look back. Owned and run by Chefs Helio and Lucas, every platter they put together is a masterpiece of bold, fresh flavours. Open Thursday to Sunday until 10pm, we say give into your sushi cravings and treat yourself to the best local seafoods. We suggest ordering their Japanese style bento boxes which each include the chef's selection of sushi, chicken gyoza, veg gyoza, edamame beans, sunomono salada and rice.
Directions: How to get here
above: photo courtesy of City Sushi Galway
Feature photo courtesy of Dangan House Nurseries
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