Upscale in Galway

Crane Bar ★ 4.8

westend · 2 Sea Road, Galway, H91 A6T2

The Crane Bar on Sea Road Galway is the hub of traditional music; nightly trad sessions on a stage that launched music careers since the 1980s.

Darog ★ 4.8

westend · 56 Lower Dominick Street, Galway, H91 X9F2

Darog on Lower Dominick Street Galway holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand; Zsolt Lukacs won the 2025 Michelin Sommelier Award for this natural wine bar.

Kai Restaurant ★ 4.7

westend · 22 Sea Road, Galway, H91 DX47

Kai Restaurant in Galway earned a Michelin Green Star in 2024; Jess Murphy posts a daily-changing menu from the Murphys Moycullen farm each morning.

Tip: Lunch is walk-in only from Tuesday to Saturday; dinner reservations are essential.

Tigh Neachtain ★ 4.7

latin-quarter · 17 Cross Street Upper, Galway, H91 F9F7

Tigh Neachtain on Cross Street Galway is the most ambient trad-session pub in the west; low ceilings, open fire and live music most nights since 1894.

Roisin Dubh ★ 4.7

westend · 9 Upper Dominick Street, Galway, H91 N4AP

Roisin Dubh on Upper Dominick Street is Galway's principal live-music and comedy venue; Gugai's 2006 rebuild added a rooftop beer garden and a room upstairs.

Sheridans Cheesemongers Wine Bar ★ 4.7

latin-quarter · 14-16 Churchyard Street, Galway, H91 FN84

Sheridans Cheesemongers Wine Bar on Churchyard Street Galway matches Old World growers and Champagne farmers to Ireland's best farmhouse cheese counter.

Monroe's Tavern ★ 4.6

westend · 14 Upper Dominick Street, Galway, H91 T6V2

Monroes Tavern on Upper Dominick Street Galway stages live music every night from trad to folk and rock in a corner pub that defines the West End.

The Pullman Bar ★ 4.6

salthill · Glenlo Abbey Hotel and Estate, Bushypark, Galway, H91 XD8K

The Pullman Bar at Glenlo Abbey Galway is the pre-dinner room for the Michelin-starred kitchen; the wine list matches Angelo Vagiotis's tasting menu.

Oscar's Seafood Bistro ★ 4.5

westend · 22-23 Upper Dominick Street, Galway, H91 P6T8

Oscar's Seafood Bistro in Galway champions under-used Atlantic species; chef Michael O'Meara sources sustainably from local West of Ireland trawlers.

Tip: Reservations are confirmed by phone or email only; plan ahead for weekend evenings.

Oscar's Seafood Bistro ★ 4.5

westend · 22-23 Upper Dominick Street, Galway, H91 P6T8

Oscar's Seafood Bistro in Galway champions under-used Atlantic species; chef Michael O'Meara sources sustainably from local West of Ireland trawlers.

Tip: Reservations are confirmed directly; booking a few days ahead for Friday or Saturday is advisable.

Bierhaus ★ 4.5

latin-quarter · 2 Henry Street, Galway, H91 WK71

Bierhaus on Henry Street Galway stocks 150 craft beers from Ireland and Europe, with 10 rotating taps and monthly tap-takeovers from leading Irish breweries.

The Lane Wine Bar ★ 4.5

latin-quarter · 3 Kirwans Lane, Galway, H91 W5K0

The Lane Wine Bar on Kirwans Lane Galway is a Latin Quarter neighbourhood wine bar with an Old World list of Loire, Languedoc, Rioja and Jura producers.

Ard Bia at Nimmos ★ 4.5

spanish-arch · Spanish Arch, Long Walk, Galway, H91 X3CP

Ard Bia at Nimmos on the Long Walk Galway is a natural-wine destination; the biodynamic list pairs with a full seasonal Irish kitchen and a riverside terrace.

Cava Bodega ★ 4.5

latin-quarter · Unit 1 Middle Street Mews, Middle Street, Galway, H91 AF89

Cava Bodega on Middle Street Galway runs the deepest Iberian wine list in the city, matching the 200-bottle Spanish collection to a Basque pintxos menu.

Oslo Bar ★ 4.4

salthill · 226 Upper Salthill, Galway, H91 PN56

Oslo in Upper Salthill is the Galway Bay Brewery taproom on the promenade; 10 rotating craft taps, wood-fired kitchen and Atlantic views on the promenade.

Il Vicolo ★ 4.3

spanish arch · The Bridge Mills, O'Brien's Bridge, Galway, H91 R1WF

Il Vicolo in Galway's Bridge Mills has the only riverside terrace in the city, with a nightly-changing Italian menu and an all-Italian wine list.

Tip: Book the riverside terrace at least a week ahead in summer; it fills within hours of becoming available.

Il Vicolo ★ 4.3

spanish arch · The Bridge Mills, O'Brien's Bridge, Galway, H91 R1WF

Il Vicolo in Galway's Bridge Mills has the only riverside terrace in the city, with a nightly-changing Italian menu and an all-Italian wine list.

Tip: Request a riverside terrace table when booking; the interior is fine but the terrace is the reason to come.

John Keogh's ★ 4.3

westend · 22 Dominick Street Lower, Galway, H91 DY93

John Keoghs on Dominick Street Galway pours 14 draught craft lines and 80 Irish whiskeys in a Victorian bar that anchors the West End craft scene.

Salthouse Bar ★ 4.3

spanish-arch · 4 Ravens Terrace, Galway, H91 X2P4

The Salthouse on Ravens Terrace Galway is a Galway Bay Brewery pub; seafood boards, oysters and craft taps beside the canal in the Spanish Arch quarter.

McDonagh's ★ 4.3

latin-quarter · 22 Quay Street, Galway, H91 TX4A

McDonalds Bar on Quay Street Galway is the after-fish-and-chips local drawing both visitors and families in a relaxed pub beside the famous chipper.

Ruibin ★ 4.3

spanish-arch · 1 Dock Road, Galway, H91 D7NE

Ruibin on Dock Road overlooks Galway's harbour, pouring French, Italian and Irish low-intervention wines alongside a seasonal small-plates menu.

Brasserie on the Corner ★ 4.2

eyre-square · Eglinton Street, Galway, H91 W5PR

Brasserie on the Corner near Eyre Square Galway runs all-day service from breakfast through dinner around dry-aged Irish beef and Atlantic seafood plates.

Tip: The pre-theatre set menu offers good value if you are heading to a show nearby.

Brasserie on the Corner ★ 4.2

eyre-square · Eglinton Street, Galway, H91 W5PR

Brasserie on the Corner near Eyre Square Galway runs all-day service from breakfast through dinner around dry-aged Irish beef and Atlantic seafood plates.

Tip: The pre-theatre menu is good value for those going to Galway's city centre venues.

The King's Head ★ 4.2

latin-quarter · 15 High Street, Galway, H91 X2H4

The Kings Head on High Street Galway occupies a building licensed since 1611 with nightly trad sessions, live comedy and the longest bar in the city.

John Keogh's ★ 4.2

westend · 22 Dominick Street Lower, Galway, H91 DY93

John Keogh's on Lower Dominick Street is a Galway premium gastropub with a wine list built around Old World classics and a serious by-the-glass programme.

HYDE ★ 4.2

eyre-square · Forster Street, Galway, H91 PY7E

HYDE on Forster Street is Galway's cocktail and natural-wine bar, focusing on amphora-aged and minimal-intervention bottles from Sicily, Jura and the Loire.

The Quays Bar ★ 4.1

latin-quarter · 11 Quay Street, Galway, H91 T2W4

The Quays on Quay Street Galway is a three-floor Victorian bar with stained-glass from a French church; trad sessions run seven nights a week.

The Harbour Hotel Bar ★ 4.1

spanish-arch · New Dock Road, Galway, H91 H4K6

The Harbour Hotel Bar on New Dock Road Galway is the pre-theatre cocktail lounge for the Town Hall with refined bar snacks and Atlantic oysters nightly.

Kasbah Wine Bar ★ 4.1

latin-quarter · 2 Quay Street, Galway, H91 H5D2

Kasbah Wine Bar above Tigh Neachtain's on Quay Street is Galway's Latin Quarter wine room, with an eclectic European list and a covered terrace.

Taylor's Bar ★ 4.0

westend · 7 Upper Dominick Street, Galway, H91 C4V7

Taylors Bar on Dominick Street Galway draws late-night crowds with DJ sets and live gigs in a no-frills room where Galway music has gathered since 1985.

McSwiggin's Bar ★ 4.0

eyre-square · 3 Eyre Street, Galway, H91 E4T1

McSwiggins on Eyre Street Galway is a warren of dark-wood rooms and gas fires that feeds a lunchtime crowd then stays loud with live music until midnight.

Cellar Bar ★ 4.0

eyre-square · 12 Eglinton Street, Galway, H91 D278

The Cellar Bar on Eglinton Street Galway is an 18th-century landmark basement; DJ nights and acoustic sets in the granite-vaulted room Thursday to Saturday.

Oslo Bar ★ 4.0

salthill · 226 Upper Salthill, Galway, H91 PN56

Oslo Bar in Upper Salthill is Galway's Galway Bay Brewery taproom with natural wine selections; the promenade terrace is the best outdoor wine spot in summer.

Lena's Rooftop Bar and Restaurant ★ 3.9

eyre-square · Crown Square, Joyce's Road, Galway, H91 H5PX

Lena's Rooftop at Radisson RED Galway on Crown Square has panoramic Bay views; weekend brunch and seasonal dinner use the city centre's highest outdoor.

Tip: The weather matters here; check the forecast before booking the outdoor terrace.

Lena's Rooftop Bar and Restaurant ★ 3.9

eyre-square · Crown Square, Joyce's Road, Galway, H91 H5PX

Lena's Rooftop on Crown Square Galway has panoramic Bay views; weekend brunch and seasonal dinner use the city centre's only elevated outdoor dining terrace.

Tip: The weather matters here; check the forecast before committing to the outdoor terrace.

An Dail Bar ★ 3.9

latin-quarter · 50 Middle Street, Galway, H91 R2K1

The Dail Bar on Middle Street Galway is the political-cartoon-lined pub famous for the cheapest pint in the city centre since the 1990s with long hours.

Gourmet Food Parlour Salthill ★ 3.8

salthill · 14 Lenaboy Gardens, Salthill, Galway, H91 A37N

Pub Salthill on the Salthill promenade is the Galway sea-front local for an after-dip pint; open-terrace seating and live acoustic sets on summer weekends.