THE EFFORTLESS EASE of a good snug or a cosy fireplace is one of the joys of winter. Galway is lucky to have some of the best snugs and cosy fireplaces in all of the land. A wintry day is best finished in one of these.
1. Neachtain’s
There could be no list of snugs in the world, let alone in Ireland without Neachtains. A Galway stalwart, Neachtains is known far and wide for the cosiest snugs and the excellent stout.
2. The Salthouse
The Salthouse has quite possibly the best selection of beers in town as well as one of the best fireplaces. On a cold and rainy day in Galway, a trip in here for a pint and a sit down by a roaring fire is the ultimate in cosiness and comfort.
3. Freeney’s
Freeney’s fireplace is the perfect warm room after a bracing walk in the streets of a wintry Galway. It’s also part of the Irish Whiskey Trail, so you can be assured that you’ll get a pretty decent hot toddy.
4. Barr an Chaladh
Barr an Chaladh in Woodquay is an old-school style pub with a lovely open fire on the right hand side as you go in. Hot enough to warm the coldest bones, it’s ideal if you’re gasping for a pint or a hot port. Regular music sessions will have you tempted to stay in there for the night.
5. Seven Bar
Seven Bar (along with a fairly recent revamp) has snugs perfectly lit and constructed for a date. It’s cool enough that it’ll impress someone but is cosy enough that you can really get to know each other & windows to watch the world go by will help if there are any awkward silences.
6. The Bierhaus
To the right of the door in the Bierhaus is a lovely snug and along the right hand side wall are couches that you literally sink into, they do a mean selection of craft beers and really excellent banhmi style sandwich. You couldn’t ask for a cosier Sunday evening establishment.
7. The Blue Note
The Blue Note’s lovely snugs are the stuff of legend. Want to solve the world’s problems? Get in there with a pint and get plotting in the little pocket-sized snugs to the right of the door.
8. Garavan’s
Does it break the rules to squeeze a gang into a snug? Probably, but what harm? Garavan’s busy pub on Shop Street is just the place. In the door on the left, you’ll find a big snug, which will comfortably sit a few of ye for pints or a little snifter of whiskey (which it’s famous for.)
