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THE FIRST DATE is a constant concern for many single people out there.
So, we thought we’d take the hassle out of that all important decision – picking a location. This time, in Galway:
The Crane Bar
Google Street View
Google Street View
A small bar in the West of the city, The Crane Bar is the perfectly quiet spot for a first date, with regular trad music and a lively atmosphere to help you get past any of the less exhilarating opening date chatter.
Again on the West side, this is just a minute’s walk from The Crane, and offers up a serious selection of craft beers in a very cool setting. If the night is really turning into a bit of a session, the Róisín Dubh is right beside The Crane and BierHaus to turn it into a mini West side pub crawl of epic first date proportions.
Another quiet enough spot with good music every night of the week and separate tables all over the bar to get yourself your own spot. Also, it’s on the West side of the river, so it can easily be incorporated into any mini crawl you’re planning over that direction.
Murphy’s
Google Street View
Google Street View
The perfect starting point to any midweek date – Murphy’s provides a good pint and is situated on High Street in a great location. It’s never absolutely packed and is unlikely to be full to the brim with tourists during the summer – which is rare for a pub in such a good location.
Tigh Neachtain
Google Street View
Google Street View
Yes, it might just be one of Galway’s most famous pubs – but it got that reputation for a reason. Given its location and prestige, you will find all sorts in Naughtons – making for the perfect first date craic.
This place serves food, but that really shouldn’t be your concern on a first date. Massimo is a pretty cool spot, with unique interiors and it’s always guaranteed to have a bit of a buzz to it. A step up in terms of bustle compared to some of the places on this list, but if that’s the kind of date you’re after, this could be the spot for you.
Blue Note
Google Street View
Google Street View
If you want to get a little more eclectic with your date night choice, the Blue Note in the West End is exactly what you need. Expect all sorts of music in a very cool atmosphere down on William Street West.
Combined with Sonny’s, this place has a cracking atmosphere and the perfect lighting to make any first date the most comfortable it can be. It’s big enough – over two floors – and kind of like a cave so you should get a seat all to yourself.
Another one of the legendary bars in Galway city, this also deserves its reputation as one of the city’s finest spots. If it’s nice and you can get a seat outside you can watch the city pass you by on Quay Street – or just brave it anyway underneath the heat lamps. It’s central and always lively – the combination all first date locations should have.
Incorporating An Tobar right beside it, The Dew Drop Inn (known to some as Myles Lee) is a famous haunt in Galway’s Latin Quarter. It can get pretty busy, but it could be a great spot to take the date in a bit more of a lively direction. It’s just a short stroll down to McDonagh’s for some chips as well. Certainly a romantic end to any date.
Another central location (a key factor of any first date location) you’re guaranteed a crowd in here even on a weeknight which puts it high on the list of desirable spots for drinks on a school night. It also gives ample opportunity to make a political-themed joke about the actual Dáíl bar*.
*not recommended to be done more than once because, you know, repetition.
Monday 23 December, 2024
Monday 23 December, 2024
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11 of the best pubs in Galway for a first date
THE FIRST DATE is a constant concern for many single people out there.
So, we thought we’d take the hassle out of that all important decision – picking a location. This time, in Galway:
The Crane Bar
A small bar in the West of the city, The Crane Bar is the perfectly quiet spot for a first date, with regular trad music and a lively atmosphere to help you get past any of the less exhilarating opening date chatter.
BierHaus
Again on the West side, this is just a minute’s walk from The Crane, and offers up a serious selection of craft beers in a very cool setting. If the night is really turning into a bit of a session, the Róisín Dubh is right beside The Crane and BierHaus to turn it into a mini West side pub crawl of epic first date proportions.
Monroe’s Tavern
Another quiet enough spot with good music every night of the week and separate tables all over the bar to get yourself your own spot. Also, it’s on the West side of the river, so it can easily be incorporated into any mini crawl you’re planning over that direction.
Murphy’s
The perfect starting point to any midweek date – Murphy’s provides a good pint and is situated on High Street in a great location. It’s never absolutely packed and is unlikely to be full to the brim with tourists during the summer – which is rare for a pub in such a good location.
Tigh Neachtain
Yes, it might just be one of Galway’s most famous pubs – but it got that reputation for a reason. Given its location and prestige, you will find all sorts in Naughtons – making for the perfect first date craic.
Massimo
This place serves food, but that really shouldn’t be your concern on a first date. Massimo is a pretty cool spot, with unique interiors and it’s always guaranteed to have a bit of a buzz to it. A step up in terms of bustle compared to some of the places on this list, but if that’s the kind of date you’re after, this could be the spot for you.
Blue Note
If you want to get a little more eclectic with your date night choice, the Blue Note in the West End is exactly what you need. Expect all sorts of music in a very cool atmosphere down on William Street West.
The Front Door
Combined with Sonny’s, this place has a cracking atmosphere and the perfect lighting to make any first date the most comfortable it can be. It’s big enough – over two floors – and kind of like a cave so you should get a seat all to yourself.
The Quays
Another one of the legendary bars in Galway city, this also deserves its reputation as one of the city’s finest spots. If it’s nice and you can get a seat outside you can watch the city pass you by on Quay Street – or just brave it anyway underneath the heat lamps. It’s central and always lively – the combination all first date locations should have.
The Dew Drop Inn
Incorporating An Tobar right beside it, The Dew Drop Inn (known to some as Myles Lee) is a famous haunt in Galway’s Latin Quarter. It can get pretty busy, but it could be a great spot to take the date in a bit more of a lively direction. It’s just a short stroll down to McDonagh’s for some chips as well. Certainly a romantic end to any date.
The Dáil Bar
Another central location (a key factor of any first date location) you’re guaranteed a crowd in here even on a weeknight which puts it high on the list of desirable spots for drinks on a school night. It also gives ample opportunity to make a political-themed joke about the actual Dáíl bar*.
*not recommended to be done more than once because, you know, repetition.
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