Bars & Pubs / Restaurants
Tom Sheridan's
Select Bar & Restaurant
Located just off the Clybaun Road and nestled behind the shops and chemist, the most prominent pub in Knocknacarra is Tom Sheridan's. Opened in 2004, the pub has a large bar area, a restaurant, and a beer garden.
The local bar also does good work in the community, providing support and sponsorship of a number of Knocknacarra sports teams. Photos of the likes of SKGAA with their All-Ireland trophies can be seen on the walls. They also run a small golf society and rugby supporters club if you want to get out yourself.
As a pub they obviously serve a selection of cocktails, wines, and craft beers. However, Sheridan's should also be commended for its really good food options. You can get everything from soup to pizzas to a ribeye steak, so in some ways it is more of a restaurant than a bar. It is also family friendly any time I've been in, with a kids menu and crayons available for the little ones.
Live music is regularly on offer and the bar does get busy so it's advised to make a booking in advance if you can. If the downstairs is very busy, you might find a quieter spot up the stairs in the balcony area.
An interesting fact, at least according to the Galway City Pub Guide, is that the fireplace in the pub was originally in Paul McCartney's house in Abbey Road!
See the menu and more on the Tom Sheridan's website.
Capone's
Bar and Restaurant
Al Capone was a famous gangster in Chicago in the 1920s, and did his best to keep his activities below the radar. In a similar way, Capones in Knocknacarra is a bit of a hidden gem.
Located on the Barna Road across from Tesco, Capones is definitely under-appreciated. Their pizzas and cocktails are really excellent. For a sense of prices, their Penne Arrabbiata is €15 and a classic cocktail costs €11. The kitchen stays open until 10pm during the week.
The Speakeasy Bar in Capones is a really lovely option for a quiet drink. The atmosphere is quite relaxed, very modern, and chic. With twelve beers on tap, you'll always find something you'll like.
Founded back in 2009, Capones usually have live music on Friday nights, have some good deals off-peak, and it's a good spot for watching sports. The outdoor seating area is an option when the weather cooperates.
They also do takeaway. You can see their website at capones.ie.
The Clybaun Hotel
Bar / Restaurant / Carvery
While principally a hotel, the Clybaun has a lot to offer in terms of food and drink. Ranging from bar food to "white linen" dining, there are a variety options to suit guests.
To the credit of the staff, the Clybaun team have put a lot of effort keeping the place fresh and up-to-date in recent years. The recently refurbished outdoor dining area is very chic.
The Bar & Bistro is our recommendation, serving lunch daily from 12pm. I would classify the atmosphere as up-market but accessible. For a sense of prices, the 8oz beef burger (with chips) costs €18. They sometimes offer good burger and a pint deals during the week. The Maritime Bar also offers a Sunday Carvery menu that is very popular.
The recently refurbished Conservatory part of the business is very swanky, and offers an impressive array of coffees, teas, and pastries. So it is not just a hotel or restaurant, it is also a good spot to watch a match with a quiet pint.
You can view full menus on their website, clybaunhotel.ie.
Cafés and Coffee Shops
Seacrest Kafé
Coffee Shop
Located next to a pharmacy and an opticians (and a bookies, but don't mind that), the Seacrest Kafé is a gorgeous option for coffee, cake, or sandwiches. In particular, the Kafé is on the Shangort Road, immediately next to the bus stop for the 402, 410, and 411 buses into town.
The atmosphere is warm and inviting, and the staff also have the time of day for you. They do a range of excellent breakfast/brunch sandwiches and salads, with the menu having a slight focus on healthier food like wraps and smoothies. There are always good vegetarian and vegan options available. For those with a sweet tooth, they are never short of scones and cakes.
Seacrest Kafe is also just across the road from McGrath's Field playground, so it is a good spot to stop in while the kids go wild. They also sell a nice selection of birthday cards and locally produced foods.
They don't have a really conventional website, but you can check out their Facebook page or their Instagram for more information.
Open at 8am during the week, and 9am on weekends. They close at 5pm.
Ground and Co
Coffee Shop
A real local business, Ground and Co were founded by Kevin Nugent with branches in Knocknacarra, Salthill, and Barna.
Opening up at 8am seven days a week, they have been serving the Knocknacarra community since 2018. They are located next to Tesco (previously Joyce's) on Shangort Road. Very popular spot for breakfast and lunch, with queues reaching out the door at weekends! The coffee shop is also a good place to pickup a birthday card or gift. The selection of cards and gifts are a bit off-beat and usually done by local artists. Rather than the mass-produced you might find elsewhere, they provide sometthing a little bit more unique.
Fun fact, Ground and Co is run by the same team behind the absolutely delicious Mr Waffle restaurant near UHG!
You can access the website groundandco.ie.
Synge & Byrne
Cafe / Restaurant
Synge and Byrne is a chain of cafés that originated up north and have been expanding further south in recent years. The Knocknacarra location is the only one in Galway. The website is syngeandbyrne.com.
This cafe offers an extensive menu. As well as the full range of coffees and sweet treats, you can also get a full Irish breakfast, a range of sandwiches, and a variety of hot meals.
The location is a little bit challenging. The important thing to remember is that they are located physically inside Harvey Norman at the Gateway Shopping Centre. Once in the front door, go up the escalator. You'll find Synge & Byrne about 50 metres to your left.
Open at 9:30am most days, but they give themselves a lie-in until 11am on Sundays. For a sense of prices, they offer a Soup & Sandwich for €11.90.
You might want to read the TripAdvisor reviews before you go... they are a bit of a mixed bag.
Insomnia Coffee
Cafe
Insomnia Coffee have a relatively new location in Knocknacarra, as well as a second location next to the Dunnes/Maxol on the Westside closer to the city. This new café is located close to the Western Distributor Road, in the same structure as Lidl.
Prices at this location are perhaps a little bit steeper than some other nearby options, but they are not exorbitant and they have a very swish seating area. Kids are also well-catered for with a number of ice-cream options for sale.
The branch opens at 7:30am, Monday to Saturday. They have a lie-on until 9:30 on Sundays. They close at 6pm each day.
Takeaways / Fast Food
Wokbaba
Asian cuisine
As mentioned above, Capones will take your order online for either pickup or delivery.
If you're more interested in a "traditional takeaway", the best local option is Wokbaba. Located behind the Cappagh Stores in Ros Ard, Wokbaba is a Chinese and Thai takeaway that has recently undergone renovation. They were previously called Cappagh Asian, and Cappagh Chinese before that./p>
They have a good selection of dishes. There is a lot of variety in the options, from curries and burritos to more traditional Thai options. They offer their own spin on the spice box, but they call it a spicy bag.
The website is wokbabacappagh.ie. You can get 10% off your first order. The Meal Deals are very good value.
Wokbaba start taking orders at 4pm every day, and stay open until 11pm if you can collect it yourself. There are also a few tables there if you want to have a sitdown meal. They have a good selection of options for vegetarians in your house. That said, we recommend the chicken balls and really like the chips!
