IMAGE Weekender: The café, cocktail bar & flavour school with its very own distillery in the heart of Galway

Galway City Distillery is a new addition to the City of Tribes, and it’s been drawing quite the crowd.

Where is it?

Located on Merchants Road, right around the corner from Eyre Square, Galway City Distillery is housed in the building formerly occupied by Tribeton.

What is it?

Comprising a bar, café, distillery and flavour school all under one roof, the spirit of Galway City Distillery —‘of here, made here, for here’ — can be seen across every element of the business.

Showcasing locally sourced ingredients at their finest, the cocktail menu takes inspiration from Galway’s rugged landscape and astrological cycles in order to curate a holistic, ecological and ethical selection that is inherently Irish.

The menu diversifies with each lunar cycle, which means that the cocktail offering is ever-evolving, encompassing only the freshest of flavours. Crafting as many elements as possible in house, each of these inventive concoctions make good use of what’s grown in the area, speaking to their ethos of locality and sustainability.

While it’s all well and good to sip a tasty cocktail, in order to truly enjoy a quality mixed drink, you’ve got to know what’s gone into it. Providing customers with the knowledge of how taste and flavour are built into their drinks, Galway City Distillery will teach customers to make a spirit based drink that speaks to their very own flavour preferences with an education at An Scoil.

Who to bring

Whether it’s to celebrate something special, for a romantic date night, or a catch up with old friends, Galway City Distillery is a superb option for any and all occasions. An open-plan space perfect for larger groups, the location has plenty of cosy corners that offer a more intimate appeal.

What to order

While the cocktail menu is in a constant state of flux, I’m going to have to urge you to order the Roideóg. Described as the quintessential ‘taste of Galway’ cocktail, this one features bog myrtle, a shrub found in the ancient bog lands and lakeshores of Galway. Combined with a good glug of their very own gin and Ireland’s only Vermouth, this is an extremely elegant take on a martini that you’ll absolutely love.

The vibe

While the café offers a more laid back appeal that’s perfect for enjoying an afternoon coffee break, trust us when we say that you’ll never want to leave the bar. The staff are lovely and quick to lend a hand if you’re in need of a recommendation, the music builds a fantastic ambiance, and the décor is absolutely stunning. From the wordy map of the city to the little details you might even miss, it’s clear that a great deal of thought went into all aspects of Galway City Distillery.

Opening hours

An Caifé — the café — is open from 8am to 4pm, seven days a week, while An Sconna — the tap — is open from 5pm to 11pm all week long.

You can book a table, or a space in the gin school, on the Galway City Distillery website.

Imagery courtesy of Galway City Distillery.