Eating out in Galway - Elaine Feeney - Best of Ireland

I tend to put a lot of food into my novels.Eating’s really important and I love doing it - that’s clearly obvious if you’ve ever seen any photos of me! Galway is an absolute foodie heaven, especially if you go off the beaten track.

When I was growing up, Athenry wasn’t known for its culinary delights, but it’s really come on in the last few years. There’s a lovely bistro called The Old Barracks, which is situated, as the name suggests, in an old barracks. It’s a really nice, vibey place and it’s always packed.

Stonehouse Pizza Bar

Across the road, they’ve extended and opened up the Stonehouse pizza bar. It’s gorgeous - they have a special Spuds N Stuff pizza covered with crispy potato and black pudding, which is the best I’ve ever had.

Galway is famous for its seafood and we get ours at Gannet Fishmongers, owned by Stefan Griesbach, who runs the market each Saturday. He’s French but lives in Athenry, so we’ve totally adopted him as one of our own.

Gannet Fishmongers

“There’s always lovely fish
or crab and they do amazing fish fingers. It’s a total re-imagining of what we would have had as kids.”

Kai on Sea Road is my top brunch spot in the city. You can’t book and so you have to queue, which adds to the whole scene. The menu is written on a big chalkboard and changes regularly. There’s always lovely fish or crab and they do amazing fish fingers. It’s a total re-imagining of what we would have had as kids - they’re fantastic, especially when I’m hungover!  They also do a pistachio cake that’s so good people just go in to get a slice and leave without even sitting down.

Kai Restaurant

The best coffee place is in the university - it’s called Smokey’s and they’re the happiest baristas in the whole city. They work so hard and they’re really into sustainability. It’s my happy place for sure.

Cava Bodega is the ultimate place for tapas, music and really nice vibes, their pork dishes are amazing. Ean is sustainable and incredible too, it’s owned by the same guys who have the Michelin-starred Loam restaurant.

For a fancy dinner, I really like the Owenmore restaurant in Ballinahinch Castle in Connemara. It’s all locally sourced produce with lots of delicious seafood and the staff are so lovely. It’s a real splurge treat.

• Elaine Feeney’s latest collection of poetry, All The Good Things You Deserve, is out now.