Gin Cocktails And Boozy Brunch: The Ultimate Guide To A Gal’s Weekend In Galway

Mountain walks, sightseeing and trips away are all on my agenda for 2019, so a recent getaway to Galway with my main gal was the perfect way to kickstart my plan.

Rightly known for being one of the buzziest cities in Ireland, Galway has an incredible food scene and its nightlife will make even the best night you’ve had in Dublin look completely shite in comparison.

Plus, the fact that it’s either a train trip or reasonably short drive from Dublin means the inevitable hangover the next day on the journey home won’t be too tough. Unreal.

Thinking of a li’l trip to Galway? Here’s what should be on your to-do list:

Make a detour to the Cliffs of Moher along the way… C’mon, at least see some scenery before you hit the cocktails.

Stretching a huge 14 kilometres along the coast and rising 120 metres above the Atlantic Ocean, it’s a crime the amount of Irish people who haven’t seen these cliffs. Up until last weekend, I was one of them and I can’t believe I’ve lived here for 24 years without seeing the Cliffs of Moher.

Top tip: for the love of God, put your Google Maps on. We were basically in Galway city before we copped that the Cliffs of Moher are in fact a good hour and a half away from G-town. Scenic route, eh?

Where to stay? The House Hotel is a boutique little gem with a buzzy atmosphere that’s ideal for a girlie weekend

Pink sofas, chandeliers and a cocktail bar? The House Hotel is like a grown-up girlie dream. The four-star hotel is smack bang in the Latin Quarter so you’re mere a tip toe from a heap of bars and restaurants.

We stayed in the hotel suite (€149 for B&B) which made getting ready for our night out extra fun: Orla Kiely products in the bathroom, a dressing table with perfect make-up application lighting and a huge cosy bed to fall into later on.

Considering it’s so central, the House Hotel is surprisingly reasonable – they’re currently doing a cocktail getaway package which includes an overnight stay in a deluxe room and a cocktail from €55 per person.

Sharing plates of gorgeous Irish food and a lush bottle of wine at Tartare will kick things off

The little sister of beloved Aniar by JP McMahon, Tartare has become the hot new spot in Galway of late.

A café by day and a hip wine bar night, there’s a tempting wine menu with plates of oysters, Dexter beef, pickled fish and cured meat and artisan cheese boards. The menu is sorta like Irish-style tapas, so there’s a constant rotation of food coming out as you sip on your wine.

We went with the pickled mussels with dillisk and pickled burnt cauliflower with sheep’s yoghurt to begin with (maybe not the best choice to get two pickled dishes at the same time, FYI, as they’re really pickled), followed by a Dexter brisket with onions and sour cream and salt baked beetroot with goat’s curd and hazelnut.

A small meat and charcuterie board to finish ‘cos we are greedy guts came with seaweed crackers – airy little crispy pockets of flavour – Durrus cheese, Cratloe sheep’s cheese, wooded pig salami and Dexter salami.

The staff are SO sound and will answer any questions you might have about what to order. Tartare reminded me of a little wine bar I used to live beside in Brooklyn so I was happy out. Fan of red wine? Get the Roka Blaufraenkisch, a delish cherry-like vino made by an Irish couple living in Slovenia.

Dinner for two came to €89.50 not including tip.