The river-mouth district where the Corrib meets Galway Bay, anchored by the medieval Spanish Arch and the long-running Ard Bia at Nimmos, a riverfront landmark for seasonal Irish cooking.
Ard Bia at Nimmos is Galway's most atmospheric venue at the Spanish Arch, serving North African-influenced Irish menus in a medieval stone building.
Signature: Mezze plate, Seasonal Irish-North African dinner menu
Order: The mezze plate at lunch; at dinner, whatever the chalkboard shows from the Gairdín Bia garden
Tip: Weekend brunch without a reservation is fine; dinner sittings fill quickly so book ahead.
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.
Signature: Seasonal pasta, Italian seafood
Order: The seasonal pasta and whatever the day's risotto offers; the terrace table is the one to request
Tip: Book the riverside terrace at least a week ahead in summer; it fills within hours of becoming available.
Corrib House in Woodquay Galway is a Georgian townhouse on the River Corrib, serving freshly baked cakes and light plates in a serene riverside setting.
Signature: Buttermilk pancakes, Freshly baked cakes
Order: The buttermilk pancakes at brunch; the homemade cakes change daily and are consistently worth trying
Tip: Closed Mondays; the garden seating in summer is Galway's best-kept outdoor eating secret.
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.
Signature: Seasonal pasta, Risotto, Italian wine selection
Order: The seasonal pasta or risotto; the terrace table with river views is the room's defining feature
Tip: Request a riverside terrace table when booking; the interior is fine but the terrace is the reason to come.
Ard Bia at Nimmos in Galway keeps its 18th-century Custom House stone building at the Spanish Arch as the city's most atmospheric casual dining room.
Signature: Mezze plate, Seasonal garden menu
Order: The mezze plate at lunch; dinner menus are written on the chalkboard and change with the garden
Tip: The organic and natural wine list is shorter than the Westend wine bars but all are well-chosen.
Corrib House in Woodquay Galway is a Georgian townhouse on the River Corrib, serving freshly baked cakes and light plates in a serene riverside setting.
Signature: Buttermilk pancakes, Homemade cakes and scones
Order: The buttermilk pancakes at weekend brunch; the daily cakes are different each visit
Tip: Garden seating in summer is the best outdoor eating spot in the city; arrive early to claim a table.
Ard Bia at Nimmos Cafe in Galway is a medieval stone room at the Spanish Arch serving breakfast and a weekend brunch with North African plates.
Signature drink: Filter coffee
Tip: The riverside garden opens in warm weather; arrive early on weekend mornings to secure a table.
Corrib House Cafe in Galway is a restored Georgian townhouse on the Corrib riverbank serving freshly baked scones, cakes and light plates in a serene setting.
Signature drink: Loose-leaf tea selection
Tip: The garden in summer is Galway's quietest outdoor eating spot; closed Mondays.
Ard Bia at Nimmos on Spanish Arch Galway bakes soda bread and seasonal loaves daily; the bread basket with cultured butter is a defining Galway lunch ritual.
Worth the queue: House-baked brown soda bread served at every table
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.
Signature pour: Orange wine by the glass on the riverside terrace
Wine focus: Biodynamic and natural European wines, Irish farmhouse cider
Food: Full kitchen: seasonal Irish cooking alongside the wine list
Ruibin on Dock Road overlooks Galway's harbour, pouring French, Italian and Irish low-intervention wines alongside a seasonal small-plates menu.
Signature pour: Puffin Wines natural Irish cider alongside a board of Gubbeen
Wine focus: Natural and biodynamic wines from small European producers
Food: Seasonal Irish small plates and shared boards
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.
Signature drink: Atlantic Sour with Connemara whiskey, lemon and sea-salt foam
Food: Seafood boards, oysters and sharing plates
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.
Signature drink: Galway Bay cocktail: Connemara gin, elderflower, tonic
Food: Light bar menu and charcuterie boards until 23:00
Corrib House Tea Rooms on Waterside Galway offers afternoon tea from €10; homemade scones and sandwiches in a canal-side room are the best budget treat.
Try: Traditional Irish tea and scones, soup and sandwiches
Order: Scone with Connacht butter and local honey: the city's best-value afternoon tea ritual
Ard Bia at Nimmos on Spanish Arch Galway serves brunch in a medieval stone room; the organic egg dishes and seasonal salads make it the most scenic brunch.
Order: Wild Atlantic smoked salmon on house soda bread with creme fraiche on the river terrace
Corrib House Tea Rooms on Waterside Galway serves brunch beside the canal; homemade granola and eggs on sourdough in a waterside room is the most relaxing.
Order: Full Irish breakfast with Connacht sausages, black pudding and house-baked soda bread