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$$$$ | Center |
JP McMahon has caused quite a stir in the Galway dining scene with his tapas at Cava Bodega and the recently opened casual spot Tartare, but award-winning Aniar (meaning "from the west") is his flagship restaurant. A minimalist Nordic decor provides an unfussy backdrop for the chef's equally unfussy approach to food. Each course in the daily menu, ranging from 6 to 10 dishes, is designed to either complement or contrast with the local produce. For those brave enough, try a dillisk starter with its overwhelmingly briny flavor, while awaiting monkfish in a bed of lush foraged salad.
53 Lower Dominick St., Galway City, Co. Galway, Ireland
Known For
- Seaweed ice cream
- Minimalist furnishings
- Locally sourced food
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon., Reservations recommended.
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It doesn't get much better than this 300-year-old, slated, whitewashed cottage with a turf fire and full-length windows that open out onto a terrace overlooking Galway Bay. The specialty is seafood; clams, scallops, salmon, crab claws, and lobster—the restaurant's cornerstone dish. Chicken and beef make the occasional guest appearance. Seat yourself in the conservatory to keep one eye on your crab cakes and Guinness, and another on the crystal clear waters of the bay.
Cartron, Oughtmama, Co. Clare, Ireland
Known For
- Crab claws with butter sauce
- Great wine list
- Live music in the evenings
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.--Thurs. Nov.--Mar.
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$$$$ | Center |
The industrial facade and simply furnished interior of this Michelin-starred restaurant and wine bar just off Eyre Square betray nothing of head chef Enda McEvoy's daily creations; he scours, forages, and travels the coast for the finest and most offbeat indigenous ingredients like reindeer moss or trout caviar. Plates are imaginatively presented, and the tasting menu has a cult following across the country (but is fairly priced at from €85 for seven courses).
Geata na Cathrach, Fairgreen, Galway City, Co. Galway, Ireland
Known For
- Multi-award-winning chef
- Mostly organic, biodynamic wines
- Foraged local and all-Irish ingredients
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon.
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This small thatched cottage is just upstream from where the Dunkellin River flows into Dunbulcaun Bay, the epicenter of Ireland's fresh oyster trade. The local oysters make a regular appearance, straight from bay to plate, though smoked salmon, crab claws fried in garlic butter, seafood cocktail, lobster with boiled potatoes and garlic butter, and fresh crab salad are also on offer. The front bar has been preserved in the "old style," which means it's small and cramped, but very interesting if you want to get an idea of what most pubs around here were like 50 years ago.
Kilcolgan, Co. Galway, Ireland
Known For
- Excellent fish-and-chips
- Seafood chowder from a recipe passed down seven generations
- Landmark restaurant for generations
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Stationed on the grounds of Glenlo Abbey Hotel, overlooking Lough Corrib in the outskirts of Galway, is Ireland's most unique restaurant: two intricately restored train carriages that starred in Sidney Lumet's 1974 film, Murder on the Orient Express, starring Ingrid Bergman. Fully equipped with brass luggage racks and mahogany paneling, the carriages are as impressive as the menu, which highlights wild game, fish, and beef. The origins of all ingredients, from the goat cheese starter to venison, are fully traceable. Diners opt for a two or three-course set menu, priced at €63 or €72.
Kentfield Bushy Park, Galway City, Co. Galway, Ireland
Known For
- Great venue for a romantic dinner
- Lake views
- Excellent levels of service
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed weekdays Nov.--Feb.
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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Slate flooring, rich timber fixtures, a large bay window, and whitewashed walls hark back to an earlier time of midmorning scones and cakes with afternoon tea---both of which are available at this gorgeous former town hall, a local landmark right on the southern corner of O'Connell Street. Lunch and evening meals are special too, making use of the rich County Clare produce like artisanal cheese or sea catch. Try grilled halibut with crab meat or a ravioli made from mushroom, courgette, spinach, and basil.
Station Rd., Ennis, Co. Clare, Ireland
Known For
- Child-friendly atmosphere
- Delicious lamb shank
- Great desserts
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Casual
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Owner-chef Aidan McGrath and Kate Sweeney's modest Victorian premises on the outskirts of Lisdoonvarna have become something of a culinary landmark by being Ireland's first pub to be awarded a Michelin star in 2017. A brief, well-thought-out menu showcases the best of local produce, which includes hake, lamb, rib-eye steak, and pork. Food is served in the bar, which is warm and welcoming, with an upright piano, original painted-wood cladding, assorted wooden tables and bentwood chairs, cheerful cotton-check blinds, and a random selection of bric-a-brac. Guest rooms (doubles from €120) are spacious and stylishly decorated in neutral tones with nice Victorian touches such as brass bedside lamps, and peaceful views of the countryside.
Kincora Rd., Lisdoonvarna, Co. Clare, Ireland
Known For
- Perfectly presented and executed dishes
- Friendly and attentive staff
- Inn is a good base for Burren
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Nov.--Feb.
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$$$ | Spanish Arch |
Expect to wait in line at this city-center restaurant set in an old stone house, with tables overlooking the Corrib. Ard Bia serves budget-conscious, freshly baked and sourced food, with a menu that changes according to what is in season. Jumbled furnishings from dressers to crockery in a casual setting contrasts the more spacious, timber-floored restaurant upstairs. Here the menu is concise with offerings from sea and land with monkfish, rib eye, and lentil cakes.
Galway City, Co. Galway, Ireland
Known For
- All-day brunch
- River views
- Seasonal menu
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations required for dinner.
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Tapping into Galway's past as a major trading post for Spain, chef--owners JP McMahon and Drigin Gaffey bring all the favorite aspects of authentic Spanish cuisine and wine while also serving excellent local produce in this vibrant and warm Galway hot spot. More than 50 regional tapas served family-style at large, wooden communal tables are the heart of this restaurant filled with Spanish flavors and Irish produce and heart. There is an impressive craft beer and wine menu to accompany the food choices. For groups of eight or more, there's a tasting menu (€29 per person) that includes a sweeping selection of tapas.
Middle Street Mews, Galway City, Co. Galway, Ireland
Known For
- Offers tasty traditional and vegetarian paellas
- Superb desserts
- Carefully sourced Spanish wines and sherries
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch weekdays
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This lakeside restaurant, convenient for a bite before or after a River Shannon cruise, serves international fare with a breezy service. Locally produced standard fare like beef-and-Guinness pie as well as its reputable hamburgers, are favorites, but the restaurant also offers a good selection of vegetarian and gluten-free options. Its location on the Ballina side of the Killaloe Bridge puts it right across from the Shannon Cruise docking point.
Ballina Quay, Killaloe, Co. Clare, Ireland
Known For
- Occasionally hosts whiskey-tasting tours
- Summer barbecues
- Lakeside setting
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A chilled-out café in the middle of town, Gallery Cafe has heaps of character with local artist exhibitions and the occasional live performance providing an ever-changing setting. The seasonal menu often features local catch, stews, and braised venison as well as pizza and sandwiches.
The Square, Gort, Co. Galway, Ireland
Known For
- Hearty and healthy breakfast menu
- Fantastic coffee
- Town-square setting
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues.
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One of the most famous landmarks in town, complete with thatched roof, turf fire, and stone flooring, this classic Irish pub is a cozy retreat from the lake in winter and a popular spot for alfresco dining in summer. Goosers is directly across the lake from St. Flannan's Cathedral and close to the town bridge that links County Tipperary to County Clare (Goosers is technically on the Tipperary side, but just barely), and serves traditional fare like Irish stew, seafood chowder, and bacon and cabbage.
Ballina Rd., Killaloe, Co. Clare, Ireland
Known For
- Lakeside setting
- Traditional Irish fare
- Lively weekend trade
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues. and Wed.
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Adjoining the village's only thatched cottage that isn't in the folk park, gastropub JP Clarke's has an airy, mountain-lodge style interior with a brightly painted, vernacular exterior. On a sunny day, diners eat in the front garden space or can request seating under a glass roof. The menu is reasonably priced and straightforward---and the highlights are the daily specials listed on chalkboards throughout the premises. It's popular with locals so reservations are recommended.
Old Bunratty Rd., Bunratty, Co. Clare, Ireland
Known For
- Lunchtime and evening meals
- Country setting close to Bunratty Castle
- Nightly specials
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations recommended
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$$ | Center |
Tucked inside a renovated cottage in the shadow of St. Ignatius's limestone belfry is one of Galway's best restaurants. The bare stone walls and floors are brightened by a pop of color from thrifted chairs and a skylight that draws in natural light, but what really shines is the reasonably priced and locally sourced organic food. The menu changes daily, but offerings are always excellent, local, and pulled together with intelligence and creativity.
20 Sea Rd., Galway City, Co. Galway, Ireland
Known For
- Amazing desserts
- Excellent wine list
- Reservations in demand
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon., Dinner reservations essential, no reservations taken for lunch
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$ | Spanish Arch |
The humble fish-and-chip is king at this stalwart restaurant, serving deep-fried cod, whiting, haddock, and hake for decades. The reasonably priced fish is served with a heap of fabulous, freshly cooked chips (which have won a nationwide competition for the best in Ireland) and eaten at communal tables—a great way to meet the locals.
22 Quay St., Galway City, Co. Galway, Ireland
Known For
- Fast and friendly service
- Amazing fish soup
- Local oysters
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This landmark dining pub a stone's throw from Ballyvaughan Pier has changed hands and fortunes over the past few years, but all you need to know is that it is back on its game with a freshly renovated interior and menu. The welcoming fire and friendly service remain, as does the signature seafood chowder that lures locals and visitors from miles around. Galway oysters feature prominently on the menu along with Hereford steak and salmon. The addition of new luxury bedrooms (from €115) means that you can now stay overnight.
Ballyvaughan, Co. Clare, Ireland
Known For
- Live music during the summer months
- Decadent desserts
- Excellent fish-and-chips
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Oct.–May. No food Mon.–Thurs.
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Set on a bend in the river a short drive north of Loop Head Peninsula, this unpretentious town house has gained a national reputation. The key to its success is simplicity, with a menu that keeps in season whether it's a heartwarming casserole in winter or fruit crumbles in late summer. The interior is smart and bright, with decking that leads out by the river.
Main St., Doonbeg, Co. Clare, Ireland
Known For
- Homemade scampi and chips
- Crab claws with garlic and herb butter
- Simple, seasonal dishes
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Jan.--Mar. Closed Mon.
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$$$ | |
This fine little eatery packs a punch in the local dining scene, harvesting the best of local produce from the sea and land. Operated by the Wallace family in a modern, stone-and-plaster inn on the western perimeter of the village, the style and presentation of the food comes with five-star finesse. The interior has a horse-themed decor, reflecting a strong segment of the restaurant's clientele. Menu samples include pan-seared scallops, honey-glazed duck, or wild mushroom--and-spinach pappardelle pasta.
Bunratty, Co. Clare, Ireland
Known For
- Delicious seafood chowder
- Great selection of vegan and vegetarian options
- Warm, relaxed atmosphere
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon.
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$$ | Center |
Taking full advantage of Galway's fish-rich waters, Oscar's offers a daily changing menu based on the availability of the straight-from-the-trawler catch at the local market. Its warm interior with a ruby red backdrop, billowing fabric, and pine furnishings in close quarters has the essence of a seafaring vessel, with mackerel from the Aran Islands, and monkfish and scallops.
22 Dominick St. Lower, Galway City, Co. Galway, Ireland
Known For
- Tasty local oysters
- Great-value early-bird meals
- Amazing desserts
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
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Carrigaholt Village, with its crumbling medieval tower house perched on the coast, is home to this 200-year-old pub and restaurant, one of County Clare's great culinary finds. Seafood is sourced from the local pier as ingredients for the famous chowder, as are oysters, mussels, and lobsters---all served in the warm glow of an open-hearth fireplace and Liscannor stone flooring. Non-seafood options are available.
West St., Carrigaholt, Co. Clare, Ireland
Known For
- Ice cream in courtyard out back
- Historical paraphernalia
- Helpful and informative staff
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.--Wed. from Nov.--Mar.
