Three of Galway’s best-known pubs have been named among Ireland’s Top 50 Bars by The Sunday Times, cementing the county’s well-earned reputation for world class hospitality, character and craic.
The Kings Head on High Street, The Crane Bar in Galway’s Westend and Tigh Neachtain on Cross Street have all secured their places on the list for 2025.
Galway has long been celebrated as a city of conversation, music and community, and its pubs have always played a central role in drawing people together.
This latest recognition reinforces what locals have always known, that some of the very best bars are right here in Galway.
The Kings Head, a landmark steeped in history, continues to thrive under the stewardship of the Grealish family.
With roots going back over 800 years, the bar takes its name from Colonel Peter Stubbers, a former resident and the man believed to have executed King Charles I.
Today, it is a far more welcoming place, a warm and lively venue known for serving some of the most distinctive west coast gastropub fare and offering a space where every kind of gathering finds a home.
The Crane Bar, across in the Westend, has long been a haven for traditional music lovers.
The Crane is the sort of place where the pints are creamy, the welcome is genuine and the tunes are taken seriously. If you are lucky enough to get a seat, settle in and take it all in.
Tigh Neachtain, on the corner of Cross Street and Quay Street, remains one of the most iconic spots in the city.
With its colourful façade and labyrinth of snug corners, it is a place where stories are swapped and pints are savoured. It is pure Galway through and through.
This accolade from The Sunday Times is a celebration of the culture and spirit of Galway pubs.
