Ard Bia was one of the absolute highlights of our time in Galway. The staff here are incredible --…read moregenuinely warm, friendly, and so welcoming from the moment you walk in. The space itself is small and cozy, with just a handful of tables and a private room, which gives it that intimate, tucked‑away feel. I'd 100% go back.
They offer two specialty cocktails and a wine list, and while the cocktail selection is limited, the wines are unique and fantastic -- definitely worth exploring.
The food was outstanding across the board. The monkfish scampi isn't what you might picture, but it's fantastic -- super crispy and full of flavor. And you have to get the bread: tomato focaccia or brown bread, then topped with the fennel, thyme, and maple butter were all unforgettable. The bavette steak was delicious, and the mashed potatoes were truly out of this world. The sea trout was incredibly fresh; just a heads‑up that the gremolata is spread over the whole dish, so it ends up almost poached in olive oil -- worth noting for anyone sensitive to that, but the flavor itself was excellent.
Definitely end the night with the affogato and the shortbread cookies (chef's kiss). Who doesn't like to dunk their dessert? Highly recommend, would absolutely come back.
