Galway

It’s hard to believe that we got back from Ireland three weeks ago. The trip completely flew by and was incredibly fun and restful, even though we were traveling with a very busy toddler. We luckily had lots of help from family and got to sneak away for some delicious dates, in addition to having some family meals out. Here are just a few of the delicious bites and sips we enjoyed during our Galway travels. Take me back!

I was sick before we left, and air travel did not do me any favors. For our first lunch out, we went to Papa Rich Street Food Kitchen, where we took in views of the Rivrr Corrib and Galway Cathedral while sipping Prosecco and devouring gigantic steaming, spicy bowls of soup. I love Papa Rich and could easily eat their fresh, bright meals every day.

And then there was Il Vicolo. Our little guy was sleeping as we walked the streets of my favorite town, so we decided to take advantage of the quiet and the warm October day with patio seats at Il Vicolo, which has some of the best seats in Galway. Check out that view!

We feasted on bruschetta and  beet salad with goat cheese to start.

And then we moved on to meatballs and Bolognese. .  . incredible, comforting dishes!

We finished with affogato, perfectly sweet gelato topped with rich espresso. This was one of my favorite meals in recent memory. It was nice to have a quiet lunch!

We spent a few days out in Roundstone, a beautiful little town in Connemara, and we spent a lot of time at O’Dowd’s Seafood Bar, which is one of the best restaurants I have ever eaten at.

Everything at O’Dowd’s is super fresh, and the seafood is deliciously local. One night I had a pile of mussels with a big glass of cold white wine. Heaven.

We had our fair share of Irish coffees while gazing out the window at the beauty of Roundstone Harbor and mountains of Connemara.

Local crab claws in garlic butter and a massive seafood platter were dinner another night. When seafood is that fresh, there is simply nothing like it.

Back in town, I made it to my favorite Galway wine bar, Sheridan’s for a glass and to duck out of the rain during the Saturday market.

Thanks to my husband’s cousin, we also had time for a lunch date at another Galway favorite, Ard Bia. If you are in Galway, you have to eat here! I was craving something comforting and healthy. This pumpkin curry dish was sublime!

Ard Bia is where the river empties into the sea, and the views here are also spectacular. The menu is all local, all the time, the wine list is delightful, and the setting is super cozy. I am always looking to find restaurants with a similar vibe at home, and they just don’t exist.

Perhaps it’s the age of the city and its buildings, but there is just something special about every spot we visit in Galway, and I always miss it. I can’t wait to be back again!