Lovely comfy dining experience , so enjoyable !!…read more A really lovely spot for a girlie catch up night out last night. A very attentative Male waiter who gave very good suggestions for meal choices. Also offered 00 wine choice for the drivers. Food is to a very high standard and here is plenty of it too. Presentation is excellent. 5 out of 5 for 3 of 4 mains....the curry was overly salty acc to one diner which was unfortunate. I took his advice for the duck main and it didn't disappoint. Amazing flavours and presentation. We shared 2 starters of garlic mushrooms and spring rolls and they were just scrummy. Dessert was a rasberry roulade and a creme brulle both so tasty. With 2 starters, 4 mains, 4 desserts, 4 tea/coffee , 3 glasses of wine and a pint of 00 Guinness our bill was €200 before tip. Good value ! The whole place has a fab atmosphere, the toilets are spotless and we had a really fab evening. We will be back again very soon

AMAZING! DELICIOUS! When I take my kids to Ireland to visit family we make a point to eat at The…read moreThatched Cottage. I ate here as a child and loved it and my kids love it also. It is a great place for a meal or a drink. The staff is very friendly, the food is delicious and the atmosphere is charming. We absolutely love this place and would highly recommend it to anyone in the area.

Tour cost: 5 Euros (includes tea and scones)…read more Full disclosure: I usually run in the opposite direction from anything in Ireland that has even a whiff of "tourist trap" to it. If there's even a chance that someone is going to be getting off a tour bus with a fanny pack singing Danny Boy, it's a hard no for me. Such was my initial concern when hearing about the Claddagh Arts Centre. As much as I longed to visit the place where Claddagh rings originated (quite literally, they were first made during the 17th century in the village where the Centre now stands as the sole remaining dwelling), I had visions of when I visited Amsterdam and got swarmed by merchants hocking diamonds. I assumed this was a touristy spot where the sole purpose was to get you to buy a new ring. I couldn't be happier that I did a bit of research instead of discounting it. The Centre- and the people who run it- have "sales" as the very last thing on their minds. Their true purpose is to educate visitors on the little-known history of how this once-thriving, rural village on the outskirts of the city was forced to abandon its beautiful, traditional, simple life as modernization and the trawler industry in the bay took over. All that is now left of Claddagh village is the one thatch cottage and outbuilding/cafe that houses the Centre. Once inside, you are transported to another century in Ireland. Far from kitschy knick knacks, each item within is an authentic antique from the era, demonstrating exactly what it was like to live in another time. Anna, who gave us our tour, offered a poignant, powerful and thorough recounting of the trials and triumphs of the villagers, instilling in me a new respect for the rings I have worn since my youth. In my many visits to Galway over the years, I had never before had an inkling of this part of its past. After the voyage back in time, we made our way to the art studio and cafe behind the cottage. Wow. It was filled with the most gorgeous work in various mediums from local craftsmen, using materials found around Connemara. Spectacular stuff. And no sales pitch. In fact, Anna seemed surprised that I even inquired about pricing. Her main concern was kitting out the wood table with a feast of tea and scones. By this stage, the latest Claddagh ring I've been wearing for the last few years, one purchased at some point from some random place, seemed almost like an imposter. Expecting to see rows and rows of rings for sale, I was instead shocked (pleasantly) to find just a humble little tray with a dozen or two. There was no fanfare around it. Sales were truly an afterthought to the people here who are so intent on keeping the Claddagh village story alive. Anna apologized for the small selection and explained that they only carry authentic, vintage rings- as in real, historic Claddaghs. Thus, their inventory was sparse. Figuring that meant I would be priced out of owning one of these treasures, I cast a glance at them just for a chance to see what a "real" Claddagh looked like. And immediately fell in love with one. Its simplicity was so perfectly attuned to its heritage. I checked the price tag. 57 Euros. About $64. Otherwise stated: half the price for this antique than what I had paid for the random one on my finger. It came home with me. I honestly cannot put into words the joy it brings me the twenty times a day I glance down at it. The hour or so spent at the Claddagh Village was a vacation highlight for me in a city where I thought I already knew the best spots. Located just a five minute stroll from the Spanish Arch, it took us on a journey of a hundred+ years. Oh. And it's only 5 Euro per person for the tour, tea and scones. I know. Right? Go visit them when you find yourself in Galway. If you're there in the off-season and hours are limited, ask for a private tour (same cost) as we did. Claddagh Arts Centre & Katie's Claddagh Cottage 26 Fairhill Road Upper, The Claddagh Galway, Ireland Web: https://claddaghdesigns.ie Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CladdaghArtsCentre/

This is a rather unconventional place as far as lodging goes, but if they have a room available,…read moreyou're well advised to stay here. For a very reasonable price I got an ensuite with two beds (only used the double - yes, a double! PLUS another bed! this is European luxury), and there was even soap/shampoo inside - they advertise that you need to bring your own. I had no trouble with the allowable hours of hot water or limited check-in - their primary function is a yoga/spiritual centre and they focus on being green, so just know that you're signing on to that ideology by booking here. You will be happy with the accommodations, though. Being a bit off the main road, it is very quiet, the staff is friendly, the beds are comfy, and they'll give you a heater to make sure your room is the temperature you like. Very oriented toward their users, whether for a class or a stay. A short walk into town as well. If you like a quiet place in a vibrant town, this is your ideal.

Came here on a bit of a hanger emergency, so our expectations were suitably low, and yet I still…read morewas a little underwhelmed by the experience. The interior is like two things mashed together; a stylist, neon-lit cocktail bar, and a dingy unclean diner. It's quite a weird ambience. The music was loud and chart-based, which was fine by me, but infuriated my SO. The food on my side was also fine, I had the Bangers & Mash and aside from the portion being 1/3 too much for any human to consume, the garlic & herb sausages were really nice. The gravy served tasted a little packety, which I wasn't a fan of. Service was fine, but nothing amazing, though perhaps that was our grumpy faces uninviting any kind of small talk. My SO had the burger and said it was only meh. It was fine for the fill when it was desperately needed, but there was nothing about the place that would have me rushing back.

I attended a wedding for a dear colleague with my 10year old daughter at the site and had a…read morewonderful time. In the early morning (3am) I began to feel very I'll and started to vomit. It wouldn't stop. At about noon, I realized that I couldn't drive and needed a hospital and help getting there. I sent my daughter to have reception call me an ambulance. At this point I was having problems with consciousness. She returned promptly with a man who came into the room and said he needed me to clear out straight away, because he had another wedding to prepare for that day. I understood and told him that I needed an ambulance. He refused to call one, noting that it would cost €800 to have one come. I have insurance and, regardless, would have been able to pay for the trip. I am not destitute. Far from it. But he still refused, and said that he was going to contact the wedding party to come and get me and my daughter. He then left to make his calls. The wedding party was already gone, but some local family was still on site and they came to my room. When he got ahold of those family members, he communicated that one of their guests would not leave. He called me a uncooperative drunk and told them they had to get me out. They came to my room, but by then I had passed out from dehydration. The implored the manager to call an ambulance. When he finally did he told the dispatcher that he had a belligerent drunk on his hands and that she was insisting on an ambulance. I was labeled low priority. After about 1.5 hours my friends had one of the receptionist call dispatch again. They explained that I was labeled low priority because of the initial explanation of it condition. I had begun to change colors by then and was I and put of consciousness. They dispatch had the hotel team get the defibrillator on site in case I lost consciousness. It took another hour for the ambulance to get to me and when they got there, their attitude had been shaped by the not-so-gentleman that aimed at my human dignity. It wasn't until the medics began to assed me that they realized how serious my condition was. They stabilized me on site and then drove me to the hospital. Three days later I'm still here being treated for my appendix, which they want to remove. Obviously I want to get back to New York where I will feel safe and comfortable, and hope that I will be released in a few days and able to continue treatment in NY. I was told that o was so dehydrated that my kidneys had begun to fail. Time was of the essence. You manager almost cost me my life. His assumptions were likely due to me being American and brown. His refusal to help me, or to even to call for help endangered my health.