Last Saturday Joey and I were invited to a wedding in Galway, making Sunday the perfect day to recover by grabbing brunch and having a wander around the city. 


I've been to Galway plenty of times, it's a great place for a day trip from Dublin. 2 hours on the train and you're smack dab in the middle of the city center. It's extremely walkable, colorful, and filled with quirk. On the weekend is when it's at it's busiest but also it's finest, and it's nightlife is known to be crackin' (though truthfully, I've never experienced it!)  

What I have experienced is brunch, and my go-to in Galway is an adorable spot on the main street called McCambridges. 


When you enter you're greeted by a wine & food shop with cheese and charcuterie FOR DAYS (perfect place to stock up on picnic supplies when the sun is out) but their restaurant upstairs is where the magic happens. Their menu is delish, I've never had anything I disliked. The staff are super friendly - I spilled an entire jar of milk immediately upon my arrival and they somehow managed to make me feel like I wasn't a total asshole so, major kudos to this place. They also have a tea & coffee station downstairs that is a real treat to stop at before you head out into the city again. I grabbed an elderflower and lemon iced tea and it was just what the doctor ordered.

Tea & coffee in hand, we explored the streets in an effort to walk off all the food we just devoured.












In typical Irish fashion, there is SO much history here stuffed between modern hipster-esq shops and cafes. 

For example, if you're a fan of claddagh rings, Thomas Dillon in Galway is where it all began. They are the original creators, and fans of the ring come from all around the world to buy from them. A couple years ago I brought my Mom to Galway and she very generously treated me to a shiny rose gold one and it's still one of my favorite pieces of jewelry I own.


The claddagh stands for love (the heart) loyalty (the crown) and friendship (the hands) and it's really cool to wear a piece of jewelry that actually has an energy and a meaning behind it.

Before heading home we stopped for a photo op at Ballknow Quay, where the famous Galway houses spend their days looking out at the Atlantic. I think they've recently had a surge in popularity after being featured in the video for Ed Sheeran's Galway Girl!



Sadly we had to leave early, but if you find yourself in Galway make sure to grab some seafood for dinner and stroll over to Salthill to watch the sun set. That would make it a perfect Galway day!