If Ireland has surprised me in any way, it is that the coffee here is actually pretty damn good (as opposed to Scotland, where the brew still tastes a bit like it's been mixed with gasoline).
Even more surprising is that a small city like Galway has so many coffee shops. Quality and atmosphere vary - but mainly according to your own personal taste: whether you just need a dive for a quick caffeine fix or if, like me, you want the whole coffee shop 'experience' (which for me includes the scent of espresso, music - big band, acid jazz and fusions of traditional African rhythms - and a twinge of intellectualism/philosophizing about the place, i.e. people reading Hermann Hesse or the Tao Te Ching.
Many of these coffee shops also serve meals, and some are also backpacker friendly as far as temporary employment goes. There are plenty of other coffee houses/cafes in the area, but these are some of the ones that I've gotten jittery in:
Apostasy - Lower Dominick Street.
Did I mention pretentiousness? While Apostasy is kinda cool, it does have a turned-up-nose feeling about it that really puts me off. Still, it's one of Galway's most popular coffee houses, and it's open until 4 a.m., so it's at least worth checking out.
Barcuba - Eyre Square.
Cuba is its own dynasty, really, and seems to do just about everything. While I think of Barcuba as more of a pub than a coffee house, they claim to serve up some good caffeination. Besides, there's a lot to be said about a place where you can go for coffee in the afternoon, and stick around until evening when you want to switch to pints (and then, once the bar shuts, go through the door and dance in the Cuba club).
Java's - Upper Abbeygate Street.
I'm biased here, but mainly because I'm lazy. I live on Lower Abbeygate Street, and heaven knows there are few things better than having a coffee shop three blocks up from your front door. Open late, great atmosphere and kickass music; Java's is brilliant for relaxing over a cuppa, reading a novel, or yacking away with friends. Add a great food menu (I highly recommend the Hot Chicken sandwich, the double-decker Javanormous, and the Furbo Special - a bagel filled with pesto, sun-dried tomato and cream cheese.)
Mocha Beans - Cross Street.
Open 8-8, this is a good place to start the morning - or to start looking for work, as Mocha Beans has a reputation for being kind to foreigners. They also roast their own house blends, which are pretty nice, and the food menu is extensive, filling and cheap. The only drawback is that it's quite popular yet very small, and may leave you feeling a little crammed.
Ty Breizh Coffee Shop & Creperie - St. Augustine Street.
More a cafe than a coffee house, but still a good place to sit back and sip. As it's also across from the library, Ty Breizh is great for bringing over your just-checked-out books, and it's not as dear as other places - 90p for a pot of tea, as opposed to the average Pound a cup. Ty Breizh also serves up Irish breakfasts all day, along with omelettes, sandwiches, vegetarian dishes and good desserts. Open 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
The Cobblestone Cafe - Kirwan's Lane (behind Cross & Quay streets).
Good coffee and excellent variety of food, including homemade confections, daily soups and extensive vegetarian selections and specials. Also has outside seating. Bring along a paper or book as well; as Cobblestone is secluded in a back lane, you'll get some peace and quiet along with your lunch.
Culture Cafe - Market Street.
Decent coffee, good smoothies, and large menu, serving up paninis, bagels, wraps, sandwiches and salads. Bright decour, with natural wood tables and chairs that are very popular nowadays. Hours: Mon-Sat, 8 a.m.-11 p.m. (food 8-8); Sun (with all-day brekky), 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Mocha Mania - Mainguard Street.
Bright colors and a vibrant staff, but prices are a smidgen higher than in other shops. Outdoor seating. True to its name, I recommend the mocha: it's made with Cadbury's chocolate, and comes with marshmallows. Also available are desserts, panini and bagels, many of which are low-fat, healthy and environmentally friendly (such as the "dolphin friendly tuna" on the Neptune panini). Hours: Mon-Thur, 8:30 a.m.-7 p.m.; Fri-Sat, 8:30 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sun, 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
Questions?
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