hidden gems in Galway City

My ultimate guide to eating out in Galway

When I lived in Galway, I quickly became obsessed with trying all the restaurants and cafés I possibly could. I even started a little food page on Instagram, chronicling every spot I went to and what I recommended to try. Obviously, some places stood out more than others, and since I haven’t been back to Galway since pre-Covid times, I’ve daydreamed about them for months now. So I wanted to share them here to remind myself just how many places I need to revisit when I eventually make it out back West to my absolute favourite place in Ireland ; and maybe also help you find a new favourite place to eat in Galway too.

Note: After writing all of this and reminiscing about eating in these places, I am so insanely hungry, it’s not even a joke. Proceed at your own caution.

Ulio Tru - Sicilian Street Food

This was easily one of the best places I discovered while living in Galway. I always had such lovely eating experiences there, simply because of the staff, the coffee and of course, the food. First off, the arancini. There was always 4 or 5 different types to choose from when I was there, and let me just tell ya, they will blow your mind. From time to time, there was lasagne on the menu, and I remember this white lasagne with pistachio and pancetta that, quite honestly, changed my life. As for the sweet stuff, there are unique Sicilian pastries always on offer that are gorge, and the owner once told me he flies his ricotta in from Sicily specifically for his cannolis - that’s why they’re so good. And I can confirm - they are better than good. Get the pistachio one. This should be your number one stop when you arrive into Galway!

Gerona Deli & Café

This is the spot to come to when you want endless wholesome and delicious choices for your lunch. They’ve got hot food, soups, salads, quiches and sandwiches to satisfy your every craving, plus all sorts of sweet stuff and pastries. Their coffee is gorgeous and the company has always been super vocal about their compostable packaging and environmental policies. This was my go-to spot for my work lunches - the staff started to recognise me after a while and I think I became a regular?? I’ve never been a regular in any restaurant / café in my life, so that in itself has cemented Gerona as one of my fav spots to date. Can’t recommend enough

The Pasta Factory

Go here if you need some really great pasta that doesn’t break the bank and also don’t want to feel bloated for the rest of your day. They always have meat, veggie and vegan options and the food never disappoints. They also don’t skimp out on the parmesan, which is always a plus, and the staff is always so friendly and welcoming.

BóTOWN

So I know that Handsome Burger is probably the most famous burger joint in the West - or potentially Ireland, since it’s home to the best burger in the country. But my favourite burger place in the city was actually a couple of doors down from them - a lil’ place called BóTOWN. The vibe of this restaurant was always so chill and inviting, and their staff are easily some of the most welcoming I’ve ever come across. Their burgers are so damn good, with vegan options to boot, and their selection of craft beers to go with them is class.

The Gourmet Offensive

A plant-based restaurant that blew my fackin mind the first time I ate there. The staff are so enthusiastic about the food they’ve created that it’s actually infectious. They specialise in street food, with flavours inspired by Mexico, the Mediterranean, the Middle East, India and Ireland (specifically referencing their Not Chicken Roll for the last one). I can’t hype it up enough to be honest - go and get the beetroot arancini burger! You won’t regret it.

Jungle Café

Easily one of the best cafes in Galway - the ambience, the coffee, the food. The menu changes regularly, but everything I’ve ever had here has been unreal - like next-level food that you might not expect from a small cafe. Their ‘jungle’ is sheltered, so when it inevitably starts raining. you won’t get soaked. It’s also a fab spot to grab some snacks if you’ve time to kill before your bus or train - it’s a two minute walk from the bus, train and coach stations respectively. Like, ideal.

Boychik Donuts

If you find yourself in Galway at the weekend, head straight for the farmer’s market just off of Shop Street. Have a potter around, look at the stalls as you like, but the first one you should try to find is Boychik Donuts. Cooked fresh in front of you, then coated heavily in sugar, cocoa or cinnamon, these fluffy, warm donuts are honestly so damn perfect to snack on while mooching around and soaking up the atmosphere of the market.

Not hidden gems, but places you should absolutely hit up

The Dough Bros - for damn good pizza

I mean this is pretty obvious -I feel like these guys are famous enough for you to have heard about them. And yes, I can confirm, they have the absolute best pizza in Galway. The ‘Peter Stinger’ was always what I went for - gubeen chorizo, fresh chilli & their luscious Hot Honey. No matter what toppings you get, you should absolutely get a drizzle of their Hot Honey on top and a tub of their wild garlic dip on the side. I guarantee you won’t leave a crumb on your plate. Drooling just thinking about it.

Gourmet Tart - for your sweet tooth

All right, this is probably not a hidden gem, considering they have 5 locations across the city but you should take a look in if you’re not a local. They have a huge range of French patisserie style desserts and pastries, and even though I haven’t tried them all, they all look ridiculously good. Their pain au chocolat and Danishes are so good for a grab-and-go breakfast, and I always went for a pecan tart when I wanted to treat myself. So insanely delicious and delicate; I always tried to just eat half but could never help myself. Also, to this day, I think the best chocolate cake I’ve ever had came from this bakery. Enough said really. (Side note : I loved this place so much, a friend bought me their branded socks as a Christmas present. No joke. I still have them.)

The Secret Garden - for chill ambience and gorge hot drinks

Not a hidden gem for Galwegians, but definitely one I would direct one to if you love tea, coffee, cats, cozy spaces and/or need to get some work done. It’s a super chill cafe, the staff are always so lovely and there’s a cat called West who mooches around the place looking for affection. The coffee and food is always delicious (especially their potato and pea curry!) and their tea selection is insane - definitely a spot for someone who likes to venture outside the realms of the standard breakfast tea. Would also recommend the Dirty Chai or London Fog - oof. So good.

Coffeewerk + Press - for amazing coffee

Not much to it. These guys make amazing coffee. Simple as. The entire business has a Scandinavian vibe about it, and they stock a huge range of products, like local artist’s prints, eco-conscious bits for the home, and sustainable clothing brands. There’s almost always a line, but the coffee is worth the wait.

Tigh Neachtain’s - for cozy pints

This is probably the best pub in Galway - in my humble opinion anyway. Cozy interiors, good pints, great atmosphere and it’s where the locals go. The food is gorge (try the polenta chips or the chowder!) and sitting outside means you can people watch for hours. They also serve Murphys here, which as any person from Cork will tell you, is 10000% times better than Guinness. And once you’ve tried it, it’s hard to disagree.

Pizza & Pasta Napoli - for drunk snacks

I’ll be real - the pizza here isn’t quite on the same level as the aforementioned Dough Bros. But the reason I mention it is because it’s in the middle of the Latin Quarter (i.e. where all the busy pubs are) and it stays open ‘til around 3 in the morning, serving gigantic pizza slices loaded with cheese to drunk customers. The atmosphere is kind of hilarious - they blast techno music after 11pm and there’s no such thing as a line. But their pizza is ideal soakage after a night on the town, and it’s also just a really good midnight snack, even if you haven’t been drinking. The tomato and pesto one was a personal fav, but to be honest, they’re all class.