In search of the best breakfast in Galway? Or looking to find a spot for brunch in Galway City for today?
You’re in luck – there’s a heap of great Galway brunch and breakfast spots. The only trouble is, you’re spoiled for choice.
We’ve spent many a morning in Galway over the last 2 years. The result, aside from a bulkier waistline, is that we’ve established a mix of ‘go-tos’.
Below, you’ll find where we think does the best breakfast and brunch in Galway in 2024. Dive on in!
The finest breakfasts and the best brunch in Galway
Photos via The Lighthouse Cafe on FB
This guide contains a mix of chilled spots for brunch in Galway that offer all of the old-reliables, like Eggs Benedict.
It also has plenty of great places for breakfast in Galway for those of you looking for a hearty feed after a night spent in some of the best pubs in Galway
1. Dela Restaurant
Photos via Dela on FB
Located in the heart of Galway City’s West End, Dela dishes up, in our opinion, the best brunch in Galway City.
It boasts an intimate and friendly vibe where Ireland’s warmth meets the cool and sleek sophistication of Scandinavia.
Pioneering the ‘plot to plate’ movement in Galway, a lot of the ingredients, including vegetables and eggs, are grown on their own ever-expanding farm, located just minutes away.
The menu is varied, plus there are plenty of seasonal specials and even a daily fish dish, as well as vegan and gluten-free options.
There’s a varied menu on offer at Dela but the winner is the Herterich’s Breakfast Burger, packed with black pudding, sausage meat and smoked bacon.
2. Upstairs at McCambridge’s
Photos via McCambridge’s on FB
Situated on the bustling Shop Street, McCambridge’s has been a purveyor of fine artisan goods and fresh fruit and vegetables for many years.
The best of the action takes place upstairs, in McCambridge’s famous restaurant, and it’s here that you’ll grab some of the best breakfast in Galway City.
They whip up some fantastic treats for breakfast, and it’s an excellent place to start your day off right.
You can enjoy a great cup of tea or coffee with a slice of freshly baked cake or a warm pastry or take things up a notch with a full fry-up.
There’s much more in between, including a range of sandwiches, french toast and bacon, pancakes, and scrambled eggs on toast, to name a few.
Always a vibrant atmosphere, it’s a top spot to watch the busy street below as you relax and enjoy.
3. Esquires – The Organic Coffee Co (Eyre Square)
Photos via Esquires on FB
Sitting on the edge of the iconic Eyre Square, Esquires is the home of great coffee in Galway City.
Besides an exquisite range of coffee styles to choose from, they also offer up an array of fair-trade teas and milkshakes. That’s your beverages sorted out. Now on to the food!
Esquires runs an excellent all-day breakfast menu, full of choice and with gluten-free, vegan, and kids options, there’s something for everyone.
From a full Irish fry-up and fluffy pancakes to porridge and toasties, you’ll need a few visits to work your way through everything you want to try!
4. Frends Restaurant
Photos via Frends on FB
This friendly and informal little cafe is just outside of the main hustle and bustle of the town centre.
Instead, it’s ideally placed within the Town Park Centre shopping district, perfect for getting ready for a day of shopping.
With a focus on using the finest local ingredients, it’s a great place for a top-quality, no-nonsense feed.
The breakfast menu has all the classics, including one of the heftiest full Irish breakfasts in the city, bowls of porridge or granola, fresh pancakes, smoked salmon and scrambled eggs, omelettes, and much more.
A good cup of coffee or tea to wash it all down, and you’ll be more than ready to face the shops!
5. The Lighthouse Cafe
Photos via The Lighthouse Cafe on FB
The Lighthouse Cafe is one of the best vegetarian and vegan joints in the city, boasting a small but tasty daily breakfast menu.
Small and cosy, it has a friendly atmosphere and a definite nautical vibe. There are several small tables inside, as well as a few outdoor ones, great for watching life go by on the bustling Abbeygate Street Upper.
On the menu, you’ll find a vegan fry-up, granola bowls, porridge, and freshly baked fruit scones.
There are also plenty of tasty homemade cakes and pastries to try out, so if you’re looking for coffee and cake to start the day, the Lighthouse Cafe is a top choice.
6. Grind Coffee & Food Hub
Photos via Grind Coffee on FB
Another spot widely reputed to dish up some of the best breakfast in Galway City is located just behind the docks in the centre of town.
Grind Coffee a solid place to start the day, and you’ll find a decent menu to peruse.
The breakfast burritos are great, but if you fancy something a little lighter, the bowls of porridge and granola are also tasty. It’s great for vegans too, and you’ll find a number of daily specials to enjoy.
Fresh, locally sourced ingredients, including free-range eggs, ensure fresh flavours every time.
The coffee is also sublime, with a team of well-trained baristas steaming the milk to perfection and making sure your espresso is never burnt.
7. Ard Bia at Nimmos
Photos via Ard Bia at Nimmo’s on IG
Enjoying an idyllic location at the end of the Long Walk and nestled pretty much under the iconic Spanish Arch, Ard Bia is a top spot for brunch by the water’s edge.
It’s a gorgeous little restaurant cafe with a homely vibe, full of mindful little touches. The friendly staff ensure every visit is a joy, and on a fine day, you can enjoy the quirky outdoor seating area.
The brunch menu is stunning, with offerings such as smoked haddock and poached eggs, artisan hot dogs, buttermilk pancakes, and much more.
There are plenty of vegan, gluten-free, and vegetarian options too, and you’ll find a range of teas, coffees, and soft drinks to wash it all down.
Nimmo’s is known and loved by locals and tourists alike, and for good reason – this place boasts some of the best brunch Galway has to offer!
8. Harry’s Bar
Photos via Harry’s Bar on FB
Harry’s Bar is a great place to start the day after a late night. After all, isn’t brunch just breakfast without an alarm clock?
The pub has plenty of seating and enjoys sleek yet classic pub decor. The friendly staff will ensure a warm welcome, allowing you to relax and enjoy.
The menu is fairly extensive, with a range of healthy and not-so-healthy brunch treats to choose from.
They do some great waffles and hashes, as well as full fry-ups, avocado smash, pancakes, and classics like eggs Benedict.
There are also plenty of sides to choose from, so you can really go to town. Wash it all down with a tasty coffee, tea, or smoothie.
9. Urban Grind
Photos via Urban Grind on FB
These guys are passionate about what they do, making Urban Grind one of the best independent specialty cafes in Galway.
The friendly, knowledgeable staff will ensure you get the ideal cup of coffee each time, and if you’re up for it can even introduce you to new styles and blends.
They also boast a fantastic daily brunch menu packed full of amazing dishes.Using locally sourced ingredients, they offer a core menu as well as seasonal and weekly specials.
There’s something for everyone, whether you’re looking for a tasty vegan bowl, a superfood salad, or a bacon and egg roll.
Of course, there are plenty of choices when it comes to coffee, but you’ll also find a decent range of tea, juices, smoothies, soft drinks, and hot chocolate. Plus, the homemade pastries are well worth saving space for!
10. Hyde Bar
Photos via Hyde Bar on FB
Next up is one of the funkier spots for brunch in Galway City. The weekend brunch menu at Hyde Bar is a must if you’re looking for a hearty brunch to take your time over, perhaps followed by a pint of local beer, a glass of prosecco, or even a cheeky cocktail.
Sitting in the centre of town, Hyde Bar boasts amazing decor and a friendly atmosphere, with colourful murals on the walls and friendly staff.
The brunch menu is extensive and full of things to suit every taste and dietary requirement, including gluten-free. Steak and eggs? Why not! Or maybe a vegan super salad? It’s all good at Hyde Bar.
All of the dishes are beautifully presented and made with care and attention, using the finest local ingredients.
What Galway brunch spots have we missed?
I’ve no doubt that we’ve unintentionally left out some brilliant places for brunch in Galway City from the guide above.
If you know a place that you think does the best breakfast in Galway City, let me know in the comments below and I’ll check it out! Or, nip into one of our many other Galway food guides:
- 7 Of The Best Indian Restaurants In Galway In 2024
- 10 Places Pouring The Best Cocktails In Galway In 2024
- 10 Places Dishing Up The Best Pizza In Galway City And Beyond
- 10 Of The Best Seafood Restaurants In Galway In 2024
- The Best Lunch In Galway City: 12 Tasty Spots To Try
- 9 Of The Best Italian Restaurants In Galway In 2024
- 7 Best Places To Eat In Galway For Sushi
FAQs about the best breakfast in Galway City
We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from where to grab bottomless brunch in Galway to where to get the best fry,
In the section below, we’ve popped in the most FAQs that we’ve received. If you have a question that we haven’t tackled, ask away in the comments section below.
What is the best breakfast Galway has to offer?
Where does the best brunch in Galway?
Keith O’Hara has lived in Ireland for 35 years and has spent most of the last 10 creating what is now The Irish Road Trip guide. Over the years, the website has published thousands of meticulously researched Ireland travel guides, welcoming 30 million+ visitors along the way. In 2022, the Irish Road Trip team published the world’s largest collection of Irish Road Trip itineraries. Keith lives in Dublin with his dog Toby and finds writing in the 3rd person minus craic altogether.