Is there anything like the smell of freshly ground coffee beans?
It’s hard to pinpoint when exactly coffee made its way into our diet but it is believed to have been discovered by Kaldi, a goat herder in 800 AD in Ethiopia. It would be nearly 1,000 years later before coffee made its way to Ireland, with the first coffee house opened in Dublin around 1664 before making its way to Galway by 1700.
With over 1 million visitors every year, Galway is the 2nd most visited city in Ireland. If you’re anything like us, you’ll love a cup of coffee while you’re out for a walk. Whether you’re a local or visiting, we’ve put this 3-minute blog together to answer the best coffee in Galway.
Where Has the Best Coffee in Galway?
Galway, with its vibrant atmosphere and rich cultural heritage, also boasts a thriving coffee scene that could rival any European city. There are hundreds of coffee shops in Galway to choose from and so we could literally write a book about where has the best coffee in Galway. We narrowed them down 7 in no particular order.
Slow Roast on Main Street Loughrea is an award-winning spot, winning the Greatest Coffee category in Galway’s Greatest awards. Opened in 2021 and known for their unique toasties like the Sunday Roast Sandwich and fantastic coffee, Sarah and Conor have turned this place into a favourite with locals and visitors.
Calendar Coffee in Oughterard has been voted in the top 10 best tasting coffee in the world by Roastful in 2023. Opened in 2018 by Zarah and Dan, their obsession with coffee is obvious from the moment you walk in the door. What’s special about Calendar Coffee is not just their wonderful tasting coffee but they also stock all the equipment you need to brew your own cup of heaven at home.
Next on our list is The Old Barracks in Athenry. Just look at this for coffee art! 😊 Not only are their barista’s talented coffee artists but their food is some of the nicest you will find in Galway with nearly 500 excellent reviews on Tripadvisor.
Coffee in Galway: TripAdvisor's Top Picks
Speaking of TripAdvisor, we wanted to give you their top picks for the best coffee in Galway. No.1 on their list is Esquires Coffee, located in the heart of the city at Eyre Square. Known for their exceptional hospitality and mugs of coffee, you need to visit when you’re in town.
Best Coffee in Galway City
It’s so hard to mention coffee without mentioning food and next on our list is Pascal Coffee House. Their website states they have the best pancakes in town so that means you gotta try them and see if they pass the test. And while you’re in the city if you’re craving authentic Italian coffee, there’s only one place to go… Ciarlatini on High Street. Sure, just across the street you’ll find Portwest – The Outdoor Shop so come say hi if you’re passing.
And you can’t visit Galway City and not take a spin to Salthill. Of course, you have the infamous diving board and the promenade, but you also have the gem that is The Creamery right on the prom across from the Atlantic Ocean. Not only do they serve fantastic coffee but their food is phenomenal with mouthwatering ice cream for dessert.
We’d love to know, what are your favourite coffee spots in Galway that you think we need to try?
