Galway - The Ultimate Guide

cooperguy

Well im just after finding out that im moving to Galway in January. Only problem is I dont know much about the city. So how about people give their best and worst of Galway? It would help me out and if the thread worked out it would help out any visitors coming to Galway or other people moving there. So people your best and worst:

Pubs
Restaurant
Fast Food Place
Club
Cinema
Pizza Place
Supermarket
Cafe
Chinese
Gym

Any other categories ye can think of you can add them aswell of coarse!

Aurora Borealis

Pub - Neachtains, great mix of people, cosy atmosphere and pretty much a Galway institution. Róisín Dubh for gigs.
Restaurant - Fancy outside of town Whitte Gables in Moycullen. In town, Oscars or Abalone I believe too though not been yet.
Fast food - Indian, Kashmir, nice for a sit-down too, Chinese, Curry House or Golden Rickshaw, or if you really want to go local good ole Supermacs. I still love it!
Club - Most are pants to be honest. I like the Cellar from time to time on a Saturday night downstairs. Funky house prob best description for it and pretty chilled.
Cinema - I prefer the Eye for comfort and the Town Hall do Art house too, mostly Sunday evenings. Check out the Film Club on their website.
Pizza - Best in town is still imho Monroes though someone else did post here recently saying they were dropping in standard. Great to sit in and have a lovely cold pint with it too.
Supermarket - Chains same as everyelse in Ireland really. For unusual products McCambridges on Shop St are good. Some lovely small specialised shops too. Sheridans on Market st (I think) for cheese is brill. Try the Satuday morning maket too for some yummy home-made produce. The fortifying Potato and Pea Curry is great particularly in this rather inclement weather.
Café - I love Javas on Abbeygate st still. Great wines too and nice to hang in the evening there too.


That's all for now, I'll post back if I think of more...

It's a great town, hope you like it!

spinandscribble

does anyone else miss the french themed cafe in the corn store? oooh almond pancakes.

skelliser

spinandscribble wrote: »

does anyone else miss the french themed cafe in the corn store? oooh almond pancakes.

cafe de paris? is it gone?

citycentre

The cafe is still there, it's the french bakery (Richard McCabe's) thats gone... tragic.
Though I have noticed that the Gourmet Tart Company seem to have filled the gap a bit - their almond croissants are almost identical to the ones you used to get from the French Bakery (they do gorgeous and reasonably priced sandwiches too).

bills

coffee shop is called java i think, definetely not cafe de paris any longer.

Mars Bar

MacDonaghs! I swear by the place for fish, chicken and chips!

ErnieBert

Pubs Myles Lee in city centre. Age 25 to 45. Also, Busker Brownes and O'Connor's in Salthill for trad music that isn't too loud.

Restaurant Asian Tea House is super. Also, Robertos (Italian) in Salthill.

Fast Food Place Kettle of Fish for battered sausies and curry chips. It's only 10 paces from the aforementioned Myles Lee pub. Taxi rank across the road. Perfect for a pissy wet nights in Galway

Club Not tooooo sure. Warwick in Salthill seems to be scaling down. I prefer late night pubs.

Cinema Eye cinema is a bit classier than than any of the Omniplex places.

Pizza Place I can't remeber the name of the place, but the pizza outlet is Westside Shopping Centre is the dogs. I challenge ye all to try it. Yummmmmy.

Supermarket There are about 7 or 8 Dunnes in Galway. For unusual stuff, I like Mortons in Salthill. The Saturday market is well worth checking out.

Cafe Elles Cafe on Shop Strret has is the cleanest cafe ever. Nice coffee too.

Chinese They are all pro MSG so I avoid.

Gym Walk the seafront in Salthill and fill your lungs with the Atlantic breeze. No 12 month Direct Debits to contend with either.

spiritcrusher

Regards cinema the Eye probably is the best. It's cheaper and just as comfortable as the more recently rennovated Omniplex. Stickier floors though, I find.

Favourite club has to be DeBurgo's on a Saturday. Great atmosphere in there and I love the layout of place. Roisin Dubh is pretty good too, as is upstairs in the Quay's.

I find the Chinese's all taste pretty similar but I think the best I've tried is probably The Golden Rickshaw. Still only average.

JohnCleary

ErnieBert wrote: »

Gym Walk the seafront in Salthill and fill your lungs with the Atlantic breeze. No 12 month Direct Debits to contend with either.

Post of the day

skelliser

Myles Lee? were is this place?

rain on

I had a surprise move to Galway a couple of months ago, came up here without knowing anything about the place. (Having a brilliant time btw!)

My favourite places so far are:
-Bierhaus for beer
-Zatsuma for really nice crepes in the middle of the night.. I don't know what time they close but any time I'm stumbling home langers and hungry they're always open
-Milano's for fancy expensive pizza
-The sushi place in the Saturday market for sushi
-The Saturday market generally for all my fancy olive/bread/cheese needs
-Roisin Dubh for gigs
-O'Connor's in Salthill for old man pub goodness

Zzippy

skelliser wrote: »

Myles Lee? were is this place?

The Dew Drop is the other name for it

cL0h

I'll second your pizza recommendation. Excellent!
There's also a really good Indian beside the Aldi in Westside.
BTW the Asian Tea House on Mary St. doesn't use MSG.

As for the Warwick for clubbing!!! OK so you said you prefer late bars but I can't believe you said that after all your fine recommendations.

ErnieBert wrote: »

Pubs Myles Lee in city centre. Age 25 to 45. Also, Busker Brownes and O'Connor's in Salthill for trad music that isn't too loud.

Restaurant Asian Tea House is super. Also, Robertos (Italian) in Salthill.

Fast Food Place Kettle of Fish for battered sausies and curry chips. It's only 10 paces from the aforementioned Myles Lee pub. Taxi rank across the road. Perfect for a pissy wet nights in Galway

Club Not tooooo sure. Warwick in Salthill seems to be scaling down. I prefer late night pubs.

Cinema Eye cinema is a bit classier than than any of the Omniplex places.

Pizza Place I can't remeber the name of the place, but the pizza outlet is Westside Shopping Centre is the dogs. I challenge ye all to try it. Yummmmmy.

Supermarket There are about 7 or 8 Dunnes in Galway. For unusual stuff, I like Mortons in Salthill. The Saturday market is well worth checking out.

Cafe Elles Cafe on Shop Strret has is the cleanest cafe ever. Nice coffee too.

Chinese They are all pro MSG so I avoid.

Gym Walk the seafront in Salthill and fill your lungs with the Atlantic breeze. No 12 month Direct Debits to contend with either.

ErnieBert

cL0h wrote: »

BTW the Asian Tea House on Mary St. doesn't use MSG.
.

I know. It isn't a traditional Chinese restaurant as you can tell from it's name. They sell Maylasian, Thai and Japanese food too.

extraice

skelliser wrote: »

Myles Lee? were is this place?

here there website http://www.thedewdrop.net/

corren off Cross st and Mainguard st

banshee_bones

Pubs- The Front Door, Neachtains

Late Bar/Gigs- Roisin Dubh

Cinema- Eye

Restaurant- The Huntsman, Da Robertas, Milanos, Thai garden

Fast Food- Charcoal Grill

And a visit to the market on a saturday is a must!

Black_Knight

There was a 10 ten pubs in galway thread a while back. Results were as follows:

Black_Knight wrote: »

Ok, so ive taken everyones top pubs in Galway and tallyed them up to give a list of the top voted for pubs.

Here goes:

12 recommendations
Roisin Dubh
10 recommendations
Blue note
8 recommendations
Freeneys
Front Door
7 recommendations
Beirhaus
Dew Drop
Monroes
Neactains
6 recommendations
Bazaar
O' Connells
5 recommendations
Quays
Taffees
The cottage
4 recommendations
Bar 903
The Kings Head
Massimos
Sally Longs
3 recommendations
Aras Na Gael
Cellar
Mc Swiggans
2 recommendations
Busker Browns
Cookes
De Burgos
Murphys
Sheridans
Skeff
The Crane
Tig Colli
Only 1 recommendation
An Pucan
Bunch of Grapes
Garavans
Hughes
Kelihans
Living Room
Murty Rabbits
Number 8
PJs
Red Square
The Spanish Arch
Tonerys
The office

SimpleSam06

ErnieBert wrote: »

Chinese They are all pro MSG so I avoid.

MSG is viewed as a tasty seasoning in a lot of Asian countries, they call it yami-yami, so if you're getting it in your food, that actually is traditional Asian grub, just like you'd find over there. I have to keep throwing the stuff out as my wife is from those parts.

big b

cL0h wrote: »

As for the Warwick for clubbing!!! OK so you said you prefer late bars but I can't believe you said that after all your fine recommendations.

Just curious - what's wrong with The Warwick? (never been)

Bonzodog

Wheres "Kettle of fish?"

I know I have passed the place before, just cannot remember where.

I'm a Brit living here in Galway, and the only English thing I miss is a proper UK style chippy.

Up to now, when i wanted a good chippy, I went to McDonaghs.

Aurora Borealis

It's across from Buskers on Cross St.
Haven't tried it though it does look nice.
Report back if ya do....

buzz55

Pub - Neachtains, PJ's in Salthill, Freeneys - haven't been to the Dail yet so can't comment.

Restaurant - Asian tea house is lovely IMO, Kappa-ya Japanese place on Middle St. also good, and Mustard on same street do lovely pizzas. The Cottage in Salthill is pretty good for food. Cava on Dominick St. is a tapas bar, good but v expensive for what you get.

The pizza place in Westside mentioned below is called Bistro Bianconi - google it & you'll get a menu.

I'm starving now after reading this post

SimpleSam06

Aurora Borealis wrote: »

It's across from Buskers on Cross St.
Haven't tried it though it does look nice.
Report back if ya do....

Tried it, not impressed...

spinandscribble

My fave restaurant is the malt house, pricey but worth it though. a close second is thai gardens.

cL0h

SimpleSam06 wrote: »

MSG is viewed as a tasty seasoning in a lot of Asian countries, they call it yami-yami, so if you're getting it in your food, that actually is traditional Asian grub, just like you'd find over there. I have to keep throwing the stuff out as my wife is from those parts.

In China it is put on the table like salt which means you can choose to put it in your food or not.

happyoutscan

buzz55 wrote: »

The pizza place in Westside mentioned below is called Bistro Bianconi - google it & you'll get a menu.

Easily the best pizza in Galway, think they've won Best Irish Pizza couple times or something.

cooperguy

Thanks everyone some great stuff there. Will definatly be checking some of it out. Any suggestion for a good butcher. A boring topic I know but its always good to know!

SimpleSam06

cL0h wrote: »

In China it is put on the table like salt which means you can choose to put it in your food or not.

I didn't eat in many restaurants...

rkevin

went to buskers brown pub in galway and they could not be bothered in getting a dj and did no count down to the newyear.
what a crap bar one to be avoided in 2009

pointofnoreturn

Would this help abit?
http://wikitravel.org/en/Galway
Very handy place to get info when travelling

happyoutscan

rkevin wrote: »

went to buskers brown pub in galway and they could not be bothered in getting a dj and did no count down to the newyear.
what a crap bar one to be avoided in 2009

A pure waste of a place, have absolutely no idea why anyone goes near it.

cooperguy

I was in there for the races in 2007 and had a brilliant night. I suppose it might be different on an average night

cooperguy

I have another question! Is there anywhere that does poker nights? Is there a casino or anything around?

fatleomessi

There's 2 casinos... one on eglinton st above conlons seafood grill called the eglinton casino, and 1 on dominick st opposite roisin dubh called 4 aces.

Just your bog standard roulette, blackjack, holdem etc. However, occasionally you do see satellite poker events advertised for hotels throughout the city, with big(ish) prizes..

camo

Looking for good places to go for 20-25 year olds. Specifically for pulling and having the craic.

galah

cooperguy wrote: »

Thanks everyone some great stuff there. Will definatly be checking some of it out. Any suggestion for a good butcher. A boring topic I know but its always good to know!

Divilly's in Westside.


What happened to Richard McCabe?
Seriously, one goes away for 3 weeks, and all has changed in this town - Holywell gone, Bakery gone, anything else I should know? :P

cson

camo wrote: »

Looking for good places to go for 20-25 year olds. Specifically for pulling and having the craic.

The Gyppo would cater to your needs on the face of it.

plonk

One thing I loved about galway was that book shop on middle street, I could kill a couple of hours during a boring afternoon just looking then make my way down to the spainish arch and read the book I just purchased with a coffee from the java cafe and an almond croissant from the bakery.

cookingupastorm

:DIn fairness Galways got to be the best city in the world

charkiestar

My friend and I are moving to Galway from London tomorrow! Were kiwi gals and were pretty clueless on where to live . . .any ideas?

Were both looking for jobs also so let me know if anyone has anything going - both fast learners and currently working for public sector in London.

Thanks!!!:)

Mrs OBumble

Kia ora and welcome.

Lots of flatmates wanted in the Advertiser .. local paper comes on on Thursdays. Or google Galway Advertiser, and you'll see it on-line.

Central city, Woodquay, Newcastle, Shantalla ... all good.

Rahoon, Westside, Ballybane, Castlepark, Tirellan ... maybe not so good. (I know that statement will offend some of ye here, yes there are some good streets in all of these, but you know full well there are bad ones too, and it will be hard for outsiders to know what's what.)

Ballybrit, Doughiska, Merlin Park, Roscam, even Renmore ... some bits better than others, some bits absolutely fine. But a bit far from the city centre if you're coming for the party lifestyle.

Job market is pretty tight. Don't expect office work here. Sandwich place on Abbeygate St has a sign up for night staff at the moment.

Good luck.

AMHRASACH

. . the Charcoal Grill, Cross St., for large Kofte E7.90, worra feed!

Overblood

plonk wrote: »

One thing I loved about galway was that book shop on middle street, I could kill a couple of hours during a boring afternoon just looking then make my way down to the spainish arch and read the book I just purchased with a coffee from the java cafe and an almond croissant from the bakery.

Wow I just got deja vu reading this:pac:

paulhannon

cookingupastorm wrote: »

:DIn fairness Galways got to be the best city in the world

how'd you come to that?

Greaney

There's a little Galway social network site with groups Like "Galways best kept secrets, and fifty things to do in Galway for free"..... All that kinda stuff. It's www.kotalk.com. The groups on facebook aren't so helpful because my beau was moving to Galway, joined them, and couldn't find out much there.

Things like M&S's food deals just before closing, and shortcuts, free contempo gigs and little markets.....

You'll make your way around soon enough though because it ain't a big town and folk are friendly enough

alexiadexia

Pubs - Dew drop Inn is great!! Great music and atmosphere. The Quays is good too. Has good-ish bands at times. The Cellar is good most nights. Music is good at times. Bar no 8 by the docks can be alright too if you fancy a quiet-ish relaxing drink in a diff kind of setting. Avoid the cattle marts like the Front Door & Busker Browns. They're sh*t!!


Restaurant - McSwiggans is nice. Has a lot on the menu for all tastes. Gets a bit jam packed & hot at times though. Brannagans is fab!!! Would thoroughly recommend it.. Buon Appetits great value too it serves Pizza, Pasta & Sandwiches.......


Fast food - McDonaghs mmm yummy chips..

Chinese- Curry House or Golden Rickshaw


Club - Most are crap really... Cuba , the top floors ok at times . DeBurgos is by far the best. Nice crowd & not full of posers like those that go to Halo..Love the music in DeBurgos..


Cinema - the Eye is nice & comfy with secure parking. Think its cheaper than Omniplex..

Pizza - without a doubt Bistro Bianconi in westside. Its so darned tasty!! Cheaper than that other crap Dominos & the staff are so lovely & friendly.


Café - An Tobar Nua is a gem, its a religious place but the foods very cheap & tasty. I like Javas on Abbeygate St too.

I ate in Conlons Oyster bar and Seafood restaurant on Eglington Street last Wednesday and I would recommend that to people. Their food was really nice, service was fantastic, and the actual restaurant itself is kept in good condition.

The waiting staff really know their stuff and was able to make very good recommendations and help when you're stuck between 2 dishes.

Pubs
- This is a hard one. I would have to pick.. Kings Head, Living Room, Blue Note.

Restaurant
- As stated before, I really enjoyed Conlons. Other restaurants that I find are nice are: Quay Street Wine Bar, Quay Street. Cafe Du Jour (I think it's called) on the same street as Quiznos/Subway - they do pretty cheap all day breakfasts. The Cellar's food is alright sometimes. Though the service can be pretty so-and-so, I've found the food is pretty quick.

Fast Food Place
- Charcoal Grill. Any of them. Avoid Eddie Rockets like the plague. Just for the fact that for the amount of money you'll be spending, you're better off just going to a 'proper' restaurant.

Club
- I would have to say Cuba. Just because I can wear a hoodie and shoes going in there.

Cinema
- The fact that I work in the Eye may make it sound biased. But I would have to say that if I weren't, I would still rather it to the Omniplex.

Pizza Place
- Fat Freddies on Quay Street is quality. As is Ed's New York Pizza on Eyre Square.

Supermarket
- Lidl or Aldi. Both are pretty much walking distance of each other. Always love the fact that 20€ worth of shopping would be the equivalent of maybe 60€ in Dunnes.

Cafe
- Javas is good. As is Food For Thought.

Gym
- My only real experience of a gym in Galway is the Galway City Gym out on the Tuam Road near the Lisbon Industrial Estate. It's about a 5-10 minute walk from town. But there's no stupid monthly fees and are really friendly.

moonflower

Pubs - I like the Roisin Dubh for the music and Arus na Geal for really good Guinness and a nice atmosphere. The Bierhaus is pretty good too and The Cellar are Living Room do good cocktails.

Restaurant - Da Robertas in Salthill. Kappa-ya (I think that's what it's called) in town is great too.

Fast Food Place - Zatsuma! It stays open late so it's great for after a night out. Only problem is there's only 5 seats inside so it's not great for rainy days. McDonaghs is great for fish, chips and chowder and La Salsa is nice.

Club - They're pretty rubbish

Cinema - The Eye by far. It's so much nicer than the Omniplex

Pizza Place - New York Pizza at the top of Eyre Square. They sell pizza by the slice which is really handy and their big pizzas are massive

Supermarket - I like Aldi for most things, Dunnes for anything they don't have.

Cafe - Java's because it stays open late. Butlers and the one beside Zatsuma are nice but there's no seats.

Chinese - Emperor City is quite nice, but I'm not a big fan of Chinese really.

Gym - I haven't a clue.