Walking down the High Street to the Quay can feel almost overwhelming, as every second building is a pub, and they all look as tempting as the next. It’s not just their vibrant exteriors — pubs in Galway painted in vibrant colours to compensate for the perennially grey weather — as tourists, Josh and I are always eager to try something “authentic”. While we acknowledge that this term is vague at best and useless at worst, it’s hard to ignore the traveller’s fear that you will be hoodwinked into taking at face value what is actually a constructed and sanitised façade. This is all to say we had a difficult time choosing in which pubs we should spend our limited time in Galway. After sampling a few at random, we left feeling like we had a wonderful amuse bouche, which satisfied while leaving us wanting more.
Tigh Neachtain: Probably the most colourful of a flamboyant bunch, Tigh Neachtain’s blue and yellow exterior belied a warren-like interior, packed with some of the cosiest snugs I’ve ever seen. Tigh Neachtain has perfected eclectic interior design, and there were several spots where you could tuck yourself into a corner and play ‘I Spy’. The bar offered a wide selection, and I opted for a local stout, just to take a break from Guinness. Unfortunately, we missed the live music for which Tigh Neachtain is known, but nonetheless they were playing a few Certified Bangers over their soundsystem, making for a great atmosphere. Overall score: 78.57
The Bunch of Grapes: Another pub with an attractive exterior, the Bunch of Grapes features a gorgeous painted sign that drew us in immediately. Inside we were greeted by the heavenly smell of a large fireplace, filling the room with a cosy atmosphere. Though less lively than Tigh Neactain and offering significantly less selection at the bar, the Bunch of Grapes is not to be discounted on a trip to Galway. If anything, they deserve credit for being the only pub I’ve ever seen outside of Germany to serve a Nürnberger Lager. Overall score: 66.07
Taaffes Bar: Rather than enticing us with a colourful exterior, the Taaffes Bar lured us in with a siren song. Though it might not be for everyone, Josh and I figured listening to live trad music was something we should tick off our list while in Ireland, so when we heard some wafting out the open doors, we wandered right in. The music was fantastic and lent a lively atmosphere to the pub, making it hard to find fault with the Taaffes Bar. We ended up sharing a snug with an American couple who shared with us their stories of travelling around Ireland and Scotland, capping off a lovely evening with some friendly chatter. Overall score: 68.75
Great color commentary. I want to try them all!