The Front Door Pub

I want to preface that i never write reviews, and today may have been a bad day for them but i did pay so i want to write something because it was a joke how poor it was. Firstly, the food took quite a while to come for what it was (a ham and cheese toastie and a buffalo chicken melt), the place didn't seem overly busy so this already was a bother. Once the food did come it was genuinely so underwhelming it was insane. The chicken melt was honestly pathetic, the amount of chicken in it was laughable and the roll was burnt and clearly not the freshest. The toastie was also genuinely bizarre? The bread was somehow wet and soggy, and although was written on the menu as sourdough was closer to a sliced pan. The side salad left much to be imagined, as it was literally a few leaves thrown on the side of the plate. I have attached photos because I think the visuals do it more justice than the words. I will say the chips were good and the garlic mayo was free and very tasty so that accounts for the two stars I've given. The price point (as with anywhere in Galway) was overpriced for what it was, as we both paid €14 for a sandwich, my friend got a coke and i added the chips. For what it was it is absolutely not worth that much at all. Again, I want to give the benefit of the doubt, but it is hard to when you are paying that much. I also could have chosen wrong so maybe steer clear of the sandwich options lol

Great bar for a beer and just to get out of the weather. Lots of room, fire place and so much choice for drinks. We didn't have a meal, only because we already made other plans, but saw plenty of people enjoying a feed. Recommend the Galway Red Ale. A fine drop.

Really cool pub and diner in downtown Galway. Multiple bars and floors with plenty of room for groups as well. We had a couple of drinks with Guinness Stew and Fish & Chips for dinner. Both were excellent. Staff was very friendly and accommodating. Service was quick at 6pm on a Tuesday.

Cozy pub vibe with a solid food menu. Portions are generous, and it’s a great spot for a casual dinner and drinks. It can get very busy at peak times, but overall it has a lovely atmosphere.

I ordered the shepherd’s pie and the sticky toffee dessert, and was very pleased with the quality of the food. The portions were generous, and the prices were decent—didn’t break the bank, which I really appreciate. The interior has a cool, hip vibe—stylish without trying too hard—and the atmosphere was relaxed, perfect for an early dinner. The service was okay—not especially attentive, but it was a quiet time of day, so that may have played a part. A nice bonus: they were able to make me a decaf cappuccino, which isn’t always an option at pubs. I’d definitely come back to try more!

I’m still giving this pub 5 stars because the atmosphere was incredibly warm, welcoming, and full of great vibes. We were hoping to sit down for a proper meal, but it was very busy and the next available table had a 40-minute wait. Unfortunately, we couldn’t wait and ended up leaving. Still, the place felt lively and inviting.

A brilliant Shepherd’s Pie that tasted like someone’s grandmother still runs the kitchen ......hearty, rich, unapologetic. The pub had that perfect Irish hum: laughter, clinking glasses, stories you shouldn’t overhear but do. Service was sharp, no nonsense, and fast. The BBQ pulled pork nachos? Messy, smoky, borderline indecent ....exactly the way nachos should be. Kid-friendly without killing the vibe, and a bartender who kept things moving without trying too hard to be your best friend.

5 Stars! We had an amazing time at The Front Door Pub! The food was absolutely delicious, and the Guinness was simply wonderful. The staff was extremely friendly and attentive, making us feel right at home. We were there with a larger group, and everything was just perfect. Despite our size, the food arrived quickly and was absolutely mouth-watering. We had such a great time and really enjoyed the lively atmosphere. This place is a gem – we’ll definitely be coming back! Highly recommended!

Cute restaurant in the heart of Galway. We didn't wait long for a table at an early dinner time, and there's lots of seating both downstairs and upstairs. Loved the moody lighting and bar space on the first floor. The shepherd's pie was good, had a lot of flavor and it was big. The coleslaw was just okay, a little too much liquid, like cabbage soaked in heavy dressing. Still, a great spot for a relaxed meal if you're in the quarter.

I came her with my sister based on a recommendation from a couple folks to try the Shepard pie. It was busy when we arrived (on a Monday, around 3pm), and we had to wait for 10 minutes for a table to open up. We were promptly seated and food came out fast, though service was slow and we had to flag down the server for our check. The beef stew was absolutely delicious, full of flavor and tender chucks of beef and veggies. The mashed potatoes were creamy and smooth. The lamb shepherds pie was also delicious. The lamb an drilling was full of flavor and you can really taste the favor of the meat. The mashed potatoes were finished off with a broil, which added a light crispy to the dish. The side of French fries did nothing for the dish; they were soft and mushy, and I wished I had ordered a side of salad instead. Overall, it's a great place to eat!

We stopped by on our by for a pint and a quick lunch. Great atmosphere, but I admit most of the pubs around have a great inside. Food was good, so that was a bonus. Service was our issue, as it took a long time to get one pint and we would have loved to have another. But we finished eating, waited another :15 minutes and decided to go to another pub for more drinks. Maybe the bar would be a perfect place to eat and drink here

I discovered the Front Door by just walking by and popping in for dinner during my visit to Galway. I was surprised by how large the restaurant is! It looks like a small pub from the outside, but it extends quite a lot and even has an upstairs. It has ambient mood lighting, nice decor and a cozy vibe. I appreciated the vegan/vegetarian options they had available although was disappointed that there's not a vegan burger. I went for the super salad which has greens, beets, tomatoes, quinoa, seeds and a balsamic dressing (no cheese per my request). It was delicious, huge and refreshing! It came with brown bread but I ordered chips for something salty and they were divine. We did have to ask for ketchup and the server didn't check on us during the meal, so maybe ask for sauces or things like that when you order. I feel like this may just be the standard in Europe, but the server doesn't drop off the check and you have to ask to pay! If you're not in a hurry it's no problem, but if you have something planned keep this in mind. Overall it's a great place to dine with a menu that is sure to please everyone.

It's goes on and on and one. Nice staff they pulled it together when the equipment shut down. Loaded fries were just what we need for an afternoon snack.

Perfect place to get a drink when in the Latin quarter. The bartender was an artist with the cocktails he was making. The place was huge inside with great live music. Definitely pop in for a whiskey sour!

Went here on a recommendation of a store clerk. Loved the old building with all its nooks and crannies. Sit inside for dark bar vibe or outside or in beer garden on a sunny day. Waitstaff showed iri she'd hospitality. Food was delicious. My husband had the fish and chips which was fried to perfection. I had the best brisket I've ever tasted!

Great upscale place for drinks. Better whisky sour than any one I've had in the states. Would 10/10 reccomend. Bartender is a magician.

This is a huge place, two stories tall, with at least two bars and live music tucked into one corner of the front bar area. The night I was there, there was an awesome three piece band playing. It can be hard to get a seat there late at night, but there are a few little alcoves with *kind of* secluded seating away from the bar that you might be able to snag. Didn't have the food, so I can't vouch for that. You don't eat a whole lot in Ireland anyway, you save your calories for the AWESOME beer! Sláinte mhaith!

The restaurant is very big. We were seated right away but did not have a waitress for fifteen minutes. Once we ordered food it arrived quickly. The waitress allowed us to split our meals. I ordered the Prosciutto pizza. The crust was very good and thin. I would order pizza here again. The restaurant was clean.

The best Shepherds pie I've ever had. Service was great the Guinness was cold and it was warm and dry inside on a "high stool day" as they say here in Galway. I would highly recommend this place to anyone that cares about the quality of their food. In America liberals have ruined our food. The beef and lamb here are amazing!!!!!

Just came in for a quick drink. They have a big drink menu but brand themselves as a gin bar -- they even have their own house gin! I got a gin and tonic with their house gin. It was tasty, smooth and came with grapefruit and gin which gave it a nice sweet flavor. Service was quick too!

By far one of the very best meals we had during our 10 Day visit to Ireland. The ambiance is reminiscent of old world charm with its dark woods. The display of whiskeys was impressive. The service was warm, friendly and efficient. The food was definitely the high point. The Beef & Guinness Stew was rich in flavor, the Front Door Shepherd's Pie was also rich in flavor and cooked perfectly and served piping hot. The Traditional Fish & Chips was by far the best we'd had during our visit. The fish was delicate, seasoned and breaded to perfection and the accompanying mushy peas were full of flavor. The Soup and Power Salad was so fresh and flavorful and the portion size was very generous. The local brew...Galway Gold was full bodied. Our deserts were the perfect ending to a truly delicious meal and a pleasant dining experience. The Cheesecake was so light and fluffy and the vanilla ice cream was creamy and delicious. The Sticky Toffee was also very tasty and had just the right amount of sweetness. All in all a 10 out of 10!

YUM. We ran in here due to the rain and decided to grab dinner! Everything was amazing. Stew was delicious but huge portion so i'd say share! The fries were yummy, not sure what the sauce tasted like but it was good!! And of course I always get side of soda bread because it's AMAZING. and this soda bread was delish!!!! Service was quick! Vibe is good. And if you get a starter, they won't bring your main dish until you're done so make sure to let them know if you want to continue eating your starter with your main or you'll be waiting for your main for a while!! Definitely stop in!

Food was decent but service was terrible. Plenty of choices in and around the corner. With that said potatoes leek soup was solid. Wouldn't come again. Guinness pint thigh makes everything good.

This pub is really nice. It's updated but still very charming. The drinks were good atmosphere is great but not a place for food. We didn't care for the 3 dishes we ordered which was surprising and disappointing. I would go back for drinks and the live music.

PROS: Atmosphere Gin Room Whiskey Room Music Amazing Guiness Beef Stew Super Salad Beers on Tap

Our experience was quite lovely here. We were tended to quickly and food came out the same. We told them we were on a schedule because we were on a bus tour and they were very obliging. They recommended the Galway red ale and I was not disappointed. If you're looking for a local brew, that's a good choice. I love that they have vegetarian options. I had the falafel burger which was fantastic, and their chips were crisp on the outside, soft on the side. Another plus is that this spot was not as expensive as nearby pubs; would come again if I ever had the pleasure of visiting Galway.

The day we were in the Latin Quarter there were so many choices! We chose The Front Door based off its menu. We got a few things including local beers, nachos, and loaded fries. We didn't like the special sauce on the fries and think they would have been better without it. We loved the nacho chips but there was too much cheese melted on top, which came off in one large clump. The drinks were fine, and the service was ok. We wished we had stayed longer for more drinks but had to keep moving to see everything.

Came here to enjoy a few drinks after a nice day out in the city. Although there were quite a few people the atmosphere was nice and relaxed. The music not too load, quality sounds! Drinks are just amazing. Definitely a place to visit when you're in Galway: we'll be coming back

We wanted a bit of warm pub food on a cold, wet January day. It was easy to find, convenient location with some nice lunch menu selections. The Beef and Guinness Stew was fantastic and the Shepherd pie was absolutely delicious and the staff were so friendly and very attentive. Well and of course the Guinness and G&T went so well with all of our selections. Thank you

Cool place with a fun atmosphere. Great cocktails and an awesome selection of Irish whiskey and gin. My wife and I both had the fish and chips, and it was quite tasty!

I had the pasta in garlic sauce with chicken. I have to say, the chicken wasn't seasoned well.... so don't bother paying the extra €2 for it. The staff was friendly but the second evening we visited the restaurant they let us know that their kitchen was closing at 20.30 o'clock, which my friends and I found bizarre.. The front door is huge! Don't be like us, keep going to the back to choose the place that'll fit you best.

The Front Door was a great place to go for traditional Irish pub atmosphere! Although it looked small and cozy from the outside, it extended far back and had multiple levels, leaving plenty of cozy nooks to sit in to eat and grab a drink. I got the gnocchi and my sister got the seafood platter. The gnocchi had good, flavorful sauce. Both the gnocchi and seafood platter servings were more than enough. The seafood platter had a good variety and was displayed nicely with plenty of bread and crackers to go with everything. Loved the festive holiday atmosphere here and would come back if I'm ever in Galway again:)

We had a great time at the Front Door. We stopped in for drinks, and drinks are what we got.... ish. My reason for dropping a star is that I ordered an Ed Shearan, lets face it I love a good ginger drink; however, I was told that I couldn't have any cocktail, as there wasn't a bartender there who knew how to make one (not just the Ed Sheeran, but any cocktail). We offered to go behind the bar and make our own, I mean why not at least try, but we were denied. So, we went with the whisky tasting. Our waitress suggested the whisky based on our liking and off we went. Three of us shared the tasting and it was perfect. I definitely recommend hitting this place up! Let me know if you try the Ed Sheeran... I'm dying to know if it is good or not. ;)

If you walk across the street to the souvenir shop, you might find a shirt labeled "best bars in Galway." It includes "the front door" and rightfully so. Firstly, the place is huge. There's a bar right when you walk through the front door (pun intended), but there is additional space in the back and a second floor on top of the whole place. Pretty impressive square footage. The place holds loads of folks as well, which corroborates its place on the tourist shirt. I didn't expect much, but man the food is great. I ordered the catch of the day and received freshly baked salmon on a bed of mashed potatoes and topped with creamy dried tomato sauce. It tasted amazing: salmon was baked crispy on outside and tender on inside, potatoes were just right, and the sauce added richness. It also came with a delightfully light rocket salad, which was equally delicious. For dessert, I ordered the bread and butter pudding, which is a bread pudding dish with an accent of toffee and Carmel ice cream on the side. It didn't match the quality of the dinner, but it still satisfied. Seriously a great place, and I'm glad I ended my trip in Ireland with this joint. Check it out if you're in Galway.

Great spot for a drink. Grab a smug by the front door. Tuck in and people watch. Excellent service.

If you're American don't bother, they'll just give you an issue. Denied us because they said we were "too drunk" then wouldn't let us in the next day at night either. Had no problem taking our money for lunch though...so many other places with nicer staff to eat.

The atmosphere was just okay. Extremely busy place though. Had to sit at bar - or wait 45 mins for table. Prices seemed pretty high for what they offered. Lots of people - so noise level was moderate. I found it odd that their music of choice was oldie disco songs.... next time .. I would search for a different place & I would've been able to talk with my friends a little better as well.

This place was okay for a quick bite but definitely nothing special. Service was slow but it was super busy as it was Christmas Eve. I would go elsewhere for food but good for a pint.

We had been in Galway for about six hours when we decided to have dinner. Mind you, I'd already had a small but spectacular lunch of seafood chowder, bread and Guinness, but hey, we're on vacation, we can eat a little. So we sauntered into City Centre to try to find a place to eat. In terms of quality restaurant ratio, this wonderful burg on Ireland's West Coast must be near the top of the world; certainly for me it is, with apologies to New Orleans. We could've gone into just about any door on Shop/High/Quay Street and have had a spectacular time. Shoot, I want to head over there now, but it's about 5,000 miles away. Anyway, we'd heard good things about this establishment, so we sought to prove/disprove that assertion. For my beer selection.. well, I enjoyed my earlier Guinness to the point that I just had to have another. And I saw pizza on the menu, and thought "Gee, it is the Latin Quarter, so perhaps there is a bit of Italian influence here, as well as the more thought-of Spanish". I had a basic vegetable pizza on thin crust, but my tummy didn't argue in the slightest. As a bonus, the wife also enjoyed her meal. To top it off, I ordered three ice cream scoops for dessert, for which the presentation (and taste) were awesome. It's been mentioned that the interior is dark. I do believe that's for ambience, not because they don't want people to be aware of others as they are dining. As is typical of many European buildings, the floor patterns are, uh, interesting - there must have been at least three bars on two and a half floors, with the toilets an adventure to get to. In spite of the fact that it's a fairly large restaurant, it was almost full the Wednesday night we visited. If you're in Galway, I order you to find time to eat here!

Loved the variety of bars and the food was tasty! Shared crab cakes between the two of us and I had the steak burger and chips. So good! Not just bland "pub food" Cocktail bar was lots of fun as well! Nice staff!

They don't like Americans! Don't bother, me and my cousin came here on a boring night and they turned us away. Save your money.

The smoked salmon was delicious and the servers could not have been nicer. My kids had the nachos and cleared their plates, so that's something! My husband waited quite a while for his plate, the Texas chicken burger, but said it was worth it. I especially enjoyed the inside - so very pretty and ornate with plants and beautiful decorations throughout.

Worst service I have experienced. Waited 25 minutes for a drink. No coordination between bar tenders and wait staff. The only good part was the shepherds pie.

Went to dinner with 4 people. We had pizza, salad, veggie curry, and ham dinner. The food was good but the wait staff had no idea what the salad dressing options were. One of us ordered honey mustard, while someone else ordered ranch. I was surprised when the waitress wrote down the order and walked away, I was not surprised when she came back with an oil and vinegar salad dressing. Wait staff was a little confused, seemed new, I would go back.

We stumbled upon the Front Door when we changed our lunch plans last minute. The restaurant is much bigger than expected. I had the beef stew and enjoyed it. The service wasn't the quickest but we were sitting in a room with the bar and the bartender was covering the whole area. She was extremely friendly and there seemed to be a couple regulars who came through while we were eating. The atmosphere was very cozy and intimate. 3.5 stars.

Food was lackluster, nothing special. Service was slow and rude. They quite obviously don't like Americans -- locals were served faster and with more manners.

The absolute best! My friend was super hungry and Siobhan gave her some crisps before the meal because she's a sweetheart. I love this place, they are so sweet and caring. The food is delish as well! America loves the Front Door!!!!

Shut the Front Door...and stay a while! It's a cozy, den-like experience inside this restaurant/bar where tables are placed throughout in nooks and crannies. At first glance, the restaurant's dim lighting might make it appear small, but it's got enough space to host couples or groups with ease. There's also plenty of waiters available who are quick to answer questions, take orders, or clear off the table. I had their specialty, a Supreme Cream of Chicken with mashed potatoes and seasonal veggies. It was divine with a creamy pepper sauce to pour over it. I also indulged in a bit of dessert, Creme Brûlée with chocolate mint ice cream, and a Bailey's coffee. My husband enjoyed a pizza, a large selection of ice cream, and a pint of Guiness. Everything came out just perfect and we felt very comfortable just relaxing, chatting, and watching other patrons about their eating. It's definitely worth a stop if you're in Galway.

This place was a great way to finish our impromptu pub crawl for the evening! The bar offers a fun and relaxed atmosphere with a decent selection of beer. There was also quite a bit of whiskey for every price range, and the bartender had great advice about which ones to try. Jack (I think) the bartender was quick to get you a drink and to start a conversation. We were very impressed by his service! The pub is a little bit dark but that is to be expected in the evening. This was the only pub that we had more than one drink in, and it was well worth it. Lastly, I really enjoyed the music. It was an acoustic mix, and the songs were all of my favorites. Such a fun place!

Had the pleasure of visiting the Front Door this evening for the first time and it won't be the last. The chicken wings were unreal, delicious, a great portion and a serious amount of meat. We had a pizza and the fish and chips, enjoyed our meal so much. The pizza was amazing, pack with flavour. Fish and chips was the same, great portions! The best part was the staff, real attentive guy, checked how we are enjoying our meal, sound but not intrusive. Definitely one of the nicest and most enjoyable meals we've had in a long while! Throughly recommend this place if you want to enjoy ur evening. Thanks to everyone for a great evening! Great meal and super staff.

Nothing stood out to make this place a perfect 5 stars but that doesn't mean it wasn't perfectly serviceable. Other reviews mention the nooks and crannies tables in a large space which I found to be true and great. We stopped in for lunch and a pint and to write a post card. Service was fine, nothing special. The fish and chips was good but was only one piece of fish which I wasn't expecting when I decided I'd share my husbands order. Overall it's a fine establishment that I would recommend to anyone in Galway but not our favorite pub in Ireland, if that makes sense. The toilets upstairs were clean enough which is surprisingly not the norm I'm seeing around Ireland.

Great atmosphere, several quaint bars, worth the trip. Had the steak burger, super food salad. Excellent dishes

My boyfriend and I loved this place during our visit in Galway! We sat at a tiny area of one of the bars that was off to the right and away from the main bar and music room, and let me tell you, it was the best decision we made. We had the most amazing bartender, Martin. We were only going to have one drink and then hop on over to another pub, but we ended up staying for 3 or 4 more drinks and 3 more hours! Martin was hands down the reason we stayed so long. We talked back and forth like we had all been friends for years. It was really fun and he made our time there so special that we didn't want to leave! We didn't have any food, just some good Irish drinks that Martin recommended us try. Is Martin the reason why we are giving this place 5 stars? Maybe. Probably. Haha! But, no, it was a great place to hang out and enjoy the live music and the layout was nice. We already can't wait to go back the next time we're here!

Good food for a pub. Chowder was not good (thin, not creamy). Otherwise good spot.

I once visited from America. There were too many gentleman there and it was clear that the bouncers wanted to control that. Made the mistake of headed to the bathroom without any of my mates. They kicked me out of the bar for "pushing and shoving", without allowing me to contact any of my American friends. So I sat, trapped in a supermacs for an hour and a half, sober. Would not recommend to gentleman. They will kick you out if you travel anywhere by yourself. Be warned. Try and explain that you're sober and from America and don't want to be lost in a place without a way of contacting another human being, you'll receive no pity or sympathy. By the way, I'm still writing this "wasted and pushing and shoving". Stuck in a fast food chain. Thanks front door. A truly great way to end my trip to Ireland.