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.
Signature: Dry-aged Irish beef steaks, Atlantic seafood
Order: The dry-aged Irish beef is the headline; the Atlantic seafood platter works well for groups
Tip: The pre-theatre set menu offers good value if you are heading to a show nearby.
Ruibin at Galway's docklands serves Irish seafood and European classics in a relaxed bar-restaurant with a curated whiskey bar near the Galway centre.
Signature: Grilled Atlantic fish, Irish beef cuts
Order: The Atlantic fish changes with the day's catch; the beef is well-sourced from Irish farms
Tip: A solid weeknight option when Westend restaurants are fully booked; the bar has a good whiskey selection.
Mama Rich in Woodquay Galway brings Malaysian and Thai street food at family-recipe prices; the yaki soba and har mee broth anchor a menu of generous wok plates.
Signature: Yaki Soba, Rich Har Mee, Malaysian street food
Order: The Rich Har Mee noodle broth; the Malaysian curries are the other reliable order
Tip: Book ahead as the dining room is small; the rebranded Mama Rich is the continuation of the long-running Papa Rich kitchen.
HYDE Bar on Forster Street Galway runs all-day brunch seven days a week with bottomless cocktails and bank-holiday disco brunches that made it the city's.
Signature: Disco brunch plates, Bottomless cocktail brunch
Order: The themed bottomless brunch on Bank Holiday Mondays is the headline event; book well ahead
Tip: Standard brunch is walk-in friendly on weekday mornings; weekend sittings need a reservation.
Merchant Cafe and Bar at Eyre Square Hotel Galway keeps all-day locally sourced dishes from breakfast through dinner for city workers and visitors.
Signature: All-day brunch, Simple Irish lunch plates
Order: The daily brunch specials; the room is calmer than the Latin Quarter on a busy Saturday
Tip: Good value given the Eyre Square location; a reliable option when you need food quickly.
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.
Signature: Brunch cocktails, Panoramic Galway Bay views
Order: The rooftop brunch on a clear day with a view of the Bay; book the outside table specifically
Tip: The weather matters here; check the forecast before booking the outdoor terrace.
Ruibin at Galway's docklands serves Irish seafood and European classics in a relaxed bar-restaurant with a well-curated whiskey bar near the city centre.
Signature: Atlantic fish specials, Irish beef
Order: The Atlantic fish special or the Irish beef cut; the bar is worth a post-dinner pint
Tip: Less busy than the Westend on weeknights; a solid option when you want to avoid queuing.
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.
Signature: Dry-aged Irish steak, Atlantic seafood
Order: The dry-aged beef is the headline; the Atlantic seafood platter at lunch is a crowd-pleaser
Tip: The pre-theatre menu is good value for those going to Galway's city centre venues.
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.
Signature: Brunch cocktails, Seasonal rooftop menu
Order: The rooftop brunch on a clear day; book the outside terrace table specifically
Tip: The weather matters here; check the forecast before committing to the outdoor terrace.
HYDE on Forster Street Galway runs all-day brunch with bottomless cocktails and bank-holiday disco brunches that made it the city's most-booked weekend event.
Signature: Themed disco brunch, Bottomless cocktail brunch
Order: The themed bottomless brunch on Bank Holidays is the experience; book at least two weeks ahead
Tip: Standard brunch is walk-in friendly on weekday mornings; the weekend service needs a booking.
Mr Waffle on Newcastle Road is a Galway family-friendly cafe specialising in sweet and savoury waffles and crepes alongside a full breakfast and lunch menu.
Signature drink: Coffee with waffles
Tip: The waffles are the reason to come; order sweet and savoury across the table to compare.
Dangan House Cafe in Galway is set in a refurbished 19th-century grain store within a garden centre, serving coffee, sweet treats, toasties and curries.
Signature drink: Coffee and herbal teas
Tip: The Wine and Jazz evenings are worth checking the schedule for; the garden centre setting is calming on a weekday morning.
Top Shelf Coffee Bar on Fairgreen Road is a Galway specialty coffee spot near the market area, with well-executed espresso drinks and a loyal morning crowd.
Signature drink: Specialty espresso
Tip: A reliable specialty coffee option close to Eyre Square without the tourist-area crowds.
GBC just off Eyre Square has been a Galway family bakery since the 1930s; the ground-floor counter sells fresh-baked breads and confectionary daily.
Worth the queue: Daily-baked soda bread and traditional Irish fruit scones
O Connors Traditional Bakery on Francis Street Galway bakes Irish soda bread and brown loaves; the most traditional Irish bread counter in the city.
Worth the queue: Wheaten soda farls and butter-glazed fruit scones
Geometry Coffee Roasters in Galway supplies the best cafes including Plamas and Urban Grind; George and Matt roast traceable single-origins since 2015.
Sources from: Ethiopia, Colombia, Rwanda, Guatemala
How they serve: Espresso, Filter, Whole bean retail, Subscription
Calendar Coffee in Oughterard, 27km west of Galway, roasts small-batch single-origins and runs a seasonal cafe for cyclists seeking the county's best coffee.
Sources from: Ethiopia, Brazil, Honduras
How they serve: Espresso, Filter, Whole bean retail
Top Shelf Coffee Bar on Fairgreen Road Galway serves rotating single-origin filter and stripped-back espresso, and supplies the nearby business district.
Sources from: Ethiopia, Brazil
How they serve: Espresso, Filter
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.
Signature pour: Amphora-aged Sicilian white by the glass
Wine focus: Small-producer European natural wines and cocktail pairings
Food: Bar snacks: charcuterie, smoked fish, seasonal plates
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.
Signature drink: Pint of Stout and a toasted sandwich at the bar
Food: Bar food: toasties and soups until 17:00
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.
Signature drink: Connemara Negroni: Connemara whiskey, sweet vermouth, Campari
Food: No food service
Mr Waffle on Newcastle Road Galway has served Belgian waffles with sweet and savoury fillings to city-centre visitors in a friendly cafe setting.
Try: Belgian waffles with sweet and savoury fillings
Galway Hooker Brewery in Oranmore supplies Galway pubs with its Irish Pale Ale; named after the traditional Connemara fishing boat and brewed since 2006.
Galway Eyre Square Market runs Thursday and Friday with Connacht produce, crafts and hot street food attracting a local and visitor crowd each week.
Moycullen Farmers Market at An Fuaran runs every Friday with west Galway producers; the only Galway market awarded the national Farmers Markets Good Practice Standard.
Connemara Smokehouse in Ballyconneely Galway supplies the city market circuit with cold-smoked Atlantic salmon and eel, produced on the Connemara coast.
Portumna Market on Lough Derg in east Galway runs on the first Saturday monthly; brassicas, roots and honey from east county farms near the lake.
Ballinrobe Country Market in south Co. Mayo supplies the wider region with fresh eggs, farmhouse butter and seasonal vegetables from Mayo border farms.
Mr Waffle on Newcastle Road Galway serves Belgian waffles with cream from €6; the city location makes it a reliable sweet budget fix any day of the week.
Try: Belgian liege waffles with Connacht butter and local honey
Order: Liege waffle with Connacht butter and local Connemara honey: the €4 essential Galway street snack
Brasserie on the Corner on Eglinton Street Galway is the city brasserie for large brunch tables; full Irish and eggs Benedict run Saturday and Sunday.
Order: Eggs Benedict with Connemara smoked salmon on toasted sourdough with dill hollandaise
Lena's Rooftop on Crown Square Galway serves weekend brunch with city views; the elevated outdoor terrace and brunch cocktails make it the city's most.
Order: Avocado on sourdough with Galway Bay crab and poached egg: the signature rooftop brunch plate
Capital Turkish Kebab on Eglinton Street Galway is the halal doner stop open until 4am; freshly baked flatbread and halal-certified lamb served every night.
Try: Doner and adana kebab wraps until 04:00
Lena's Rooftop on Crown Square at Joyce's Road is Galway's only rooftop bar; the elevated terrace above the city centre offers views over the rooftops and is the only outdoor elevated drinking space in the city, serving cocktails from 12:00 until late with a Galway skyline backdrop.
Tip: Book the corner table for the best views; the Galway Bay Gin cocktail is the house signature and the terrace is heated in spring and autumn.
Cellar Bar on Eglinton Street operates from a historic below-street-level room; the Irish whiskey cocktail menu and music programme make it the most atmospheric underground bar in Galway city.
Tip: The bar is quieter before 22:00 on Thursday and Friday; Connemara Negroni is the house pour in the vaulted basement room.
McSwiggin's on Eyre Street is Galway's great democratic dive: a warren of dark-wood rooms and gas fires where students, tourists, GAA supporters and musicians mix without hierarchy; the pint is cheap, the toastie is €4 and no one is moved on before 02:00 at weekends.
Tip: The back room is the best place to find locals on a midweek evening; the GAA match Sundays are the most atmospheric occasions and the cheapest pint in the city centre.