cocktail

It seems that St. Patrick’s Day week is the perfect time to look back on our most recent trip to Ireland and to share some of the incredible food we ate while in Galway. Our eating (and drinking!) included a mix of old favorites and places that we hadn’t tried before. I am currently craving all of the below!

Curious about our past travels to Ireland? Visit my travel posts page!

We visited Galway during the annual Christmas market, one of my favorite times of year to go. The market features shopping, entertainment, rides, and of course food and drink. Mulled wine and hot dogs made on a massive round grill, topped with onions and mustard, are two market favorites we indulged in more than once!

We got away for a date night in Galway, and we decided on Ard Bia, an old favorite, cozy and romantic, with the wild River Corrib emptying into the sea alongside it.

The menu is focused on Irish ingredients, and we indulged in dishes like potato and tarragon gnocchi, Burren smoked haddock bake, local salad with Galway goat cheese, and a beautiful trio of dips, including a vibrant beetroot one.

Ard Bia is simply beautiful, bathed in candlelight, and adorned with dried flowers and greens. The walls are lined with Irish treats for purchase, including the Achill sea salt I bought to brine our Thanksgiving turkey!

One of the spots that was new-to-us, but a Galway favorite, was Papa Rich, which has several Galway locations. We ate at the Newtownsmith location which had beautiful river and cathedral views and incredible street food style meals.

Spicy Sambal Goreng and a crisp beer made especially for Papa Rich made for the perfect lunch. I wish we had Papa Rich in Boston!

Also new-to-us was Xi’an Street Food, where we shared some incredible dishes including Amber Fire Szchuan Style (With chips! I love that this is an option in Ireland!) and a hand-ripped noodle dish, which they are known for.

We celebrated my in-law’s anniversary at a beautiful special occasion spot the Park House Hotel. A long and lovely lunch included the smoked salmon platter, complete with veggies, salads, mashed potatoes and bread, and a to-die-for Toblerone cheesecake for dessert.

Last but certainly not least, we made it a point to visit one of my favorite cocktail spots, Tribeton, for a couple of their beautiful gin drinks in their stunning setting. Tribeton is also a great date spot, though we went early enough that it was baby-friendly as well!

We’re looking at our travel calendars to see when our next trip to Ireland makes the most sense. . . baby flies free until he is two, and we plan to make the most of it!