Looking for the best pubs in Galway for live Irish music?
Check out what is recommended most by Galway Study Abroad Alumni!
Monroe's Tavern: https://monroes.ie/
Monroe's is a cozy pub just outside the city center (about 10 min walk) behind the beautiful Galway Cathedral. There is live music 7 days a week starting at 9:30 pm, with the Irish trad sessions starting at 5 pm everyday. They also serve great food everyday from 11 am to 9:00 pm. You will get the true Irish experience here.
Taaffes Bar: https://taaffesbar.ie/
This bar is one of the best for Irish trad sessions in all of Galway. It sits right in the middle of the hopping Latin Quarter of Galway city, which makes it easy to access. They host trad sessions 7 days a week at 5:30 pm and 9:30 pm. Food is served everyday until 5:00 pm. I highly recommend their lunch, it is great food for cheap. Get here early for the music sessions as it is a smaller pub and fills in very quickly!
Tig Choili: https://www.tigchoiligalway.com/
Tig Choili is also know as one of the best for Irish trad sessions in all of Galway. It is right across the street from Taaffes and is a very traditional pub experience. They pride themselves being "a country pub in the heart of the city." There are no TVs in this establishment as they want you to focus on being community with each other and enjoying the music. A true gem, great music, and a great "craic" (fun) as the Irish call it!
The Kings Head: https://thekingshead.ie/
This 800-year-old pub transports you back to medieval times with its ambiance and decor. Sitting right next to Taaffes and Tig Choili, it is another great option inside of the Latin Quarter in Galway city. It's 3 floors provides plenty of places to sit and enjoy the setting. There is live music on their big stage on the bottom floor, along with Irish trad sessions 7 days a week. If you want to visit during the day, they have a big restaurant attached with some great food.
O’Connell’s Bar: https://oconnellsgalway.ie/
O'Connell's has a lot to offer. It is right next to the city center which makes accessing this establishment east. There is a traditional pub setting when you walk in the door, but if you walk to the back and pass through a secret door, you enter into their massive outdoor entertainment space! this outdoor garden type area offers great live music 7 days a week and top tier food. They even have their own Dough Bros pizza shop, which is the best pizza in Galway.
An Púcán: https://anpucan.ie/
This pub follows a similar style to O'Connell's, with a traditional pub setting in the front and an covered outdoor space in the back. They pride themselves as being the home of Connacht Rugby, the home rugby team, and home to some of the best traditional Irish music in Galway. With their massive projector movie screen you can catch your favorite team's game and listen to music too . The live music happens 7 days a week and they serve food until 7:45 pm.
It is cozy inside Taaffes Bar
Outdoor space inside O'Connell's Bar
Monroe's Tavern
Monroe's Tavern stage, where all the great music is played!
The Dough Bros Pizza Shop inside O'Connell's Bar
Outside The Kings Head
Outside Taaffes Bar
The Main Stage inside The Kings Head
Irish Music from a pub in County Limerick
Traditional Irish Music being played to the fullest at Monroe's Tavern!
Live music from Monroe's Tavern
Traditional Irish Music being played at An Pucan in Galway
