We love these places too much to keep them to ourselves so go off on a treasure hunt around Galway and discover its greatest hidden gems…
Oftentimes, it’s when you go off the beaten track that you discover the most memorable places. This is why we have decided to share our favourite cafés, restaurants and bars in Galway 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 want to experience that same feeling in Galway, read on to find out more..
The Lane Wine Bar
Born out of a love for continental neighbour bistros, The Lane Wine & Cheese is a perfect replica of the cosy and welcoming continental wine bars you’ll find throughout European cities. Hidden away down a laneway in the city’s Latin Quarter district, The Lane is a lovely setting for a romantic date night, or if you are travelling solo, this is an ideal location to meet and share a bottle with like-minded foodies. You might arrive at the door on your own but we can guarantee you’ll be making friends and having a laugh with strangers by the end of the evening. Here, your dining options include glasses of New and Old World wines, pintxos and cheese and charcuterie boards.
Directions: How to get here
above: photo courtesy of The Lane
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 curry 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 location 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
above: photo courtesy of Dangan House Café
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 Sunday for dinner (6pm-9pm), and Saturday and Sunday from 12.30pm-3.30pm for a special weekend brunch, we highly recommend you pay them a visit and spend an evening indulging in the rich flavours of Portuguese dishes.
Directions: How to get here
above: Alma Restaurant
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
Delight
Nestled amongst the brilliant community in Renmore, there is a pretty little café called Delight. This is the locals go-to for brunch and lunch and it’s easy to see how it earned its popularity. The food here has proven time and again to be a huge hit for all family members, and the menus include a range of salads, bagels, melts and breakfast options. As well as this they offer a fantastic selection of smoothies and juices, perfect if you want to give caffeine a miss for the day. You’ll find them at the Kingfisher Club in Renmore and are open from 8am Monday to Friday and from 9am on the weekends. A sister business to Ground & Co and Mr Waffle, Delight is as the name suggests; delightful!
Directions: How to get here
above: Delight
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
above: Blackrock Cottage Pantry, photo by Ado Lyons
Chef Laura Rosso
We don’t know about you, but we believe that when people care the food they serve, their love of cooking gives your dining experience an unmistakable higher quality and 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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