# Best Pubs in Galway City

> Best Pubs in Galway City: food & drink idea in Galway. Galway does pubs better than almost anywhere. Our pick of the Latin Quarter classics, trad bars and local haunts.

- Page: https://ireland360.ie/things-to-do/best-pubs-in-galway
- Section: [Things to Do](https://ireland360.ie/things-to-do)
- Last updated: 2026-10-18

## Key facts

- **Category:** Food & Drink
- **County:** Galway
- **Province:** Connacht
- **Destination:** Galway

## Details

Galway is a small city with a huge pub culture. Most of the best bars are within a ten-minute walk of each other around Shop Street, Quay Street and the Latin Quarter, so you can easily visit three or four in an evening.

### The classics

**Tigh Neachtain** on Cross Street is the city’s best-loved pub: a painted shopfront, snugs and a crowd of locals, artists and visitors. **Tigh Chóilí** on Mainguard Street has sessions twice a day. **Taaffes** on Shop Street is a reliable trad stop in the middle of the action.

### Across the river

Over in the West End, **The Crane Bar** is where serious musicians play upstairs. **Monroe’s Tavern** is good for set dancing nights.

### Beer gardens and big nights

**O’Connell’s** on Eyre Square has one of the best beer gardens in Ireland. **The Quays** and **The King’s Head** are big, lively and good for groups.

### Whiskey and quiet pints

**Garavan’s** has a long whiskey list and tasting platters, which make a good start before dinner.

Make a day of it: a morning walking tour of the city, a day trip to the Cliffs of Moher and the Burren, then the pubs at night.

## Recommended tours and attractions

- [From Galway: Full-Day Cliffs of Moher & Burren Guided Tour](https://ireland360.ie/tours/from-galway-full-day-cliffs-of-moher-burren-guided-tour) (Co. Galway)
- [Galway: Welcome to Galway Walking Tour](https://ireland360.ie/tours/galway-welcome-to-galway-walking-tour) (Co. Galway)
- [Craft Beer Experience](https://ireland360.ie/tours/craft-beer-experience) (Co. Galway)

## Recommended places to stay

- [Ardmore House](https://ireland360.ie/accommodation/ardmore-house-clifden) (Clifden, Co. Galway)
- [The Quay House](https://ireland360.ie/accommodation/the-quay-house-clifden) (Clifden, Co. Galway)

## Recommended pubs and restaurants

- [O’Connor’s Famous Thatched Bar](https://ireland360.ie/food-and-drink/oconnors-thatched-bar-salthill) (Co. Galway)
- [Tigh Neachtain Galway](https://ireland360.ie/food-and-drink/tigh-neachtain-galway) (Co. Galway)
- [An Púcán Galway](https://ireland360.ie/food-and-drink/an-pucan-galway) (Co. Galway)
- [O’Connell’s Bar Galway](https://ireland360.ie/food-and-drink/oconnells-bar-galway) (Co. Galway)
- [Tigh Chóilí Galway](https://ireland360.ie/food-and-drink/tigh-choili-galway) (Co. Galway)
- [The King’s Head Galway](https://ireland360.ie/food-and-drink/the-kings-head-galway) (Co. Galway)
- [Taaffes Bar Galway](https://ireland360.ie/food-and-drink/taaffes-bar-galway) (Co. Galway)
- [Garavan’s Bar Galway](https://ireland360.ie/food-and-drink/garavans-bar-galway) (Co. Galway)
- [The Quays Bar Galway](https://ireland360.ie/food-and-drink/the-quays-bar-galway) (Co. Galway)
- [The Dáil Bar Galway](https://ireland360.ie/food-and-drink/the-dail-bar-galway) (Co. Galway)
- [The Crane Bar Galway](https://ireland360.ie/food-and-drink/the-crane-bar-galway) (Co. Galway)
- [Monroe’s Tavern Galway](https://ireland360.ie/food-and-drink/monroes-tavern-galway) (Co. Galway)

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Source: Ireland360 (https://ireland360.ie), an independent all-Ireland travel guide. Please cite https://ireland360.ie/things-to-do/best-pubs-in-galway when using this information. Some booking links are affiliate links that support Ireland360 at no extra cost to the traveller.