Food · Galway · Ireland
What to eat in Galway
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define Galway, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Start with Galway Bay oysters, Seafood chowder and Fish and chips. Graze the street-food stalls and pick up local cheese, bread and smoked fish on Church Lane by St Nicholas' Church. Book dinner well ahead during the Arts Festival and Race Week in late July, when the city is packed.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- Galway Bay oysters
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 3
- Tipping
- About 10% is typical in restaurants with table service; some add a service charge for…
- Food experiences
- 4
9 foods to try
Dish
1.Galway Bay oysters
Native flat oysters from Galway Bay are in season from about September to April, while Pacific rock oysters are served all year. They come raw on ice with lemon, brown bread and often a pint of stout.
Where: Seafood bars and pubs in the Latin Quarter and around Clarinbridge and Kilcolgan on the bay south of the city.
Dish
2.Seafood chowder
A creamy soup of smoked and fresh fish, mussels and prawns with potato, served with brown bread. It is the standard pub lunch along the west coast.
Where: Most pubs and seafood restaurants on Quay Street, Dominick Street and in Salthill.
Dish
3.Fish and chips
Battered cod, haddock or hake with thick-cut chips. Galway's long-running chippers on Quay Street also offer local fish depending on the catch.
Where: Chippers on Quay Street and in the Latin Quarter; eat them by the Spanish Arch.
Bakery · Vegetarian
4.Irish brown bread (Wheaten soda bread)
Dense wholemeal soda bread made with buttermilk and bicarbonate of soda, usually served thickly sliced with butter alongside chowder, smoked salmon or oysters.
Where: Served free with soup in most pubs; bakeries and the Saturday market sell loaves.
Dish
5.Smoked salmon
Atlantic salmon smoked over oak or beech by small smokehouses in Galway and Connemara, often served on brown bread with lemon and capers.
Where: Delis and cafés in the Latin Quarter, restaurant starters across the city, and smokehouses on day trips to Connemara.
Dish
6.Connemara lamb
Lamb raised on the hills and salt marshes of Connemara, served roasted or in Irish stew with potatoes, carrots and onions.
Where: Restaurants and gastropubs in Galway city and country-house hotels in Connemara.
Breakfast
7.Full Irish breakfast
Bacon rashers, sausages, black and white pudding, fried eggs, grilled tomato, mushrooms and toast or brown bread, with a pot of strong tea.
Where: Guesthouses and B&Bs include it, and cafés across the city serve it all morning.
Drink · Vegetarian
8.Guinness and local craft beer
A pint of stout is the traditional pub order, and Galway's own breweries, including the Galway Hooker brand, make pale ales and stouts found in many city pubs.
Where: Traditional pubs such as Tigh Neachtain and the Quays, and craft beer bars in the Latin Quarter and West End.
Drink · Vegetarian
9.Irish coffee
Hot coffee with Irish whiskey and brown sugar, topped with a float of lightly whipped cream; the drink was popularised at Foynes, near Shannon, in the 1940s.
Where: Hotel bars and traditional pubs throughout the city, especially welcome on a cold, wet evening.
Food experiences
Saturday at Galway Market
Graze the street-food stalls and pick up local cheese, bread and smoked fish on Church Lane by St Nicholas' Church.
Oysters at the source
Drive or take a tour south to the oyster bars of Clarinbridge and Kilcolgan on Galway Bay, where native oysters are served a few kilometres from the beds.
Pub lunch of chowder and brown bread
Almost every Galway pub serves seafood chowder at lunchtime; it is the quickest, most local meal in the city.
Galway International Oyster and Seafood Festival
Usually held in late September, the festival includes oyster-opening championships, tastings and seafood events around the city.
Quick bites and street food
- Irish brown bread — Served free with soup in most pubs; bakeries and the Saturday market sell loaves.
- Full Irish breakfast — Guesthouses and B&Bs include it, and cafés across the city serve it all morning.
Vegetarian options
Of the 9 foods in this guide, 3 are usually vegetarian: Irish brown bread, Guinness and local craft beer and Irish coffee. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Book dinner well ahead during the Arts Festival and Race Week in late July, when the city is packed.
- Pubs are often the best-value places to eat at lunchtime; many stop serving food by early evening.
- Tap water is free on request in restaurants.
- Many restaurants offer early-bird menus in the early evening that are cheaper than à la carte.
- Native oysters are best from autumn to spring; ask which kind you are being served.
Tipping
About 10% is typical in restaurants with table service; some add a service charge for larger groups. Tipping is not expected at the bar.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Dia dhuit | Hello (Irish) |
| Go raibh maith agat | Thank you (Irish) |
| Sláinte | Cheers / good health |
| Craic | Fun, chat or a good time |
| Fáilte | Welcome |
Questions travellers ask
+What food is Galway famous for?
Galway Bay oysters, Seafood chowder, Fish and chips and Irish brown bread. Native flat oysters from Galway Bay are in season from about September to April, while Pacific rock oysters are served all year.
+Is Galway good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Irish brown bread, Guinness and local craft beer and Irish coffee.
+Do you tip in restaurants in Galway?
About 10% is typical in restaurants with table service; some add a service charge for larger groups. Tipping is not expected at the bar.