Forget the Ed Sheeran song, Galway has more to offer than annoyingly catchy ditties.

Here’s 6 reasons why a #CocoCityBreak in this vibrant city is the one for us.

1.The city’s colourful cobbled streets

Galway has got to be one of Ireland’s most beautiful cities. Full of cobbled streets, colourful building and history, just taking a walk is enough to lift off the stress of the week and transport you back in time. Start your exploration at Coffeewerk + Press (@coffeewerkandpress, 4 Quay Street) , get caffeinated and amble from there.

2. The foodie scene

In addition to delicious pub grub, the city’s brimming with creative small businesses serving up great food. The Dough Bros pizza parlour spot (@thedoughbros, 1 Middle Street) is not only delicious but brings their entrepreneurial journey to life with a timeline of the shop build splashed across the walls. The city’s West End won’t disappoint if you are hungry with popular new street-food-done-good burger spot Handsome Burgers (@handsomeburgergalway , 49 Dominick Street) and the ingeniously named Crust Bucket pizza bus located in the beer garden of charming pub Carroll’s (@crust_bucket_galway, 39 Dominick Street).

For something a little more upmarket, you’ll want to keep walking in Galway’s West End to the endearing Kai (@kai_galway , 22 Sea Road) for their rustic, seasonal fare.

3. Welcoming pubs

I’m not going to lie to you, when we were in Galway it was wet! But somehow, the city’s charm overcame our soggy shoes and saw us bouncing from cosy pub, to cosy pub and Galway has so many that you won’t get bored. For Irish Coffees we popped into the quirky The Quays surrounded by the inlaid wood, pews and stained glass windows (Quay Lane). Then for our first daily dose of trad music, the nook filled Tig Neachtain (@tighneachtain, 17 Cross Street) followed swifty by more live music at Tig Coili (Mainguard Street).

4. Hidden cocktail bars

After all that beer, you might need something a little lighter. Back in the West End, we fell head over hills for the retro tinged, slice of LA, America Village Apothecary tasting room (@americavillage_galway, 31 Dominick Street). America Village is the brainchild of #GirlBoss Claire Davey and they craft syrups, tinctures and bitters from locally foraged ingredients; bringing the cocktail drinker closer to nature.

Near Kai (see above) you’ll find the delightful The Universal (@universal.the, 9 William St West) with craft cocktails, beers and delicious small plates.

5. Hazel Mountain Chocolate

On the way to number 6, 35 minutes from Galway, deep in a remote, windswept part of Ireland you will find Hazel Mountain Chocolate bean to bar chocolate factory (@hazelmountainchocolate, Bellharbour, Co Clare). A fairytale come to life, you can visit the factory and cafe nestled in The Burren 7 days a week to sample fair trade, small batch chocolate made with inordinate amounts of love. Keep your eyes peeled for upcoming chocolate factory tours for your own rustic Wonka experience.

Not heading out that way? Don’t worry, Hazel Mountain have a shop in Galway City Centre (9 Middle Street)

6. The Cliffs of Moher

The Cliffs of Moher are so popular that we were actually advised not to go there by tourism colleagues but, with the impressive cliffs gracing our screens in films like Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, their draw is to hard to ignore. A stunning natural sight with a great interactive museum and cafe for when the unpredictable Irish weather turns for the worst – we cried with laughter about how wet and windswept we got, but when the mist lifted for all of 5 minutes, the view was breathtaking.

Author

Living on the sunny Kent coast you'll find Anna tracking down the best new coffee shops and craft beer dens. With a penchant for vintage, she's more likely to be exploring thrift stores than Bond Street but she'll never say no to a little touch of creative luxury.

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