The Kings Head

Not enough stars for the food and service we experienced here. We got the croquettes, scallops and fish pie and they were unbelievably good - especially the scallops. Really well versed with allergies etc. cater to gluten free/ celiac. The severs were also some of the best I’ve had, super attentive and made the meal! Also got the Galway Girl cocktail which was surprisingly delicious. Highly recommend

If you're looking for history, craic, and seriously good food in Galway, look no further than The King's Head Pub & Restaurant! 👑🇮🇪 This place delivers classic pub atmosphere with restaurant-quality dining. We kicked things off with the Bread n Dips, which was a perfect, fresh start. But the true starter highlight was the Foraged Wild Mushroom Bruschetta. It was wonderfully earthy and flavorful—you can truly taste the quality of the local ingredients. A must-try! For the main courses, we were blown away. The Wild Atlantic Seafood Chowder was rich, creamy, and absolutely loaded with fresh fish and seafood. The name says it all—it tastes like the ocean in a bowl! Connemara pony cocktail- did not like it much thought I am fan of Gin, it was not that good too sour.

Good very tasty. Ordered the chicken and cod see attached pictures. Veg soup for starter also very good. However online menu does differ from in person menu so this needs to be updated. Service was ok. Had to ask for salt and pepper on the table. Also asked for another jug of water and never brought. However staff were friendly. Atmosphere there was a nice buzz around. However red lighting at our table meant it was hard to see food. Overall would recommend here for a tasty lunch or dinner.

It had the feel of a traditional Irish pub—cozy, lively, and welcoming. We were seated right away, and the service was quick without feeling rushed. The food came out fast and was really good, with plenty of classic Irish options to choose from. Everything we tried was tasty, and the whole experience was smooth and pleasant from start to finish.

Visiting Ireland for the first time, and our tour guide recommended this pub to get some food and drinks. This place is older than the US Constitution! I had a delicious Irish Angus burger, with a homemade red ale called The King's Head Blood Red which had the slogan "This will keep its head, unlike a certain king!" The chips (fries) were not really seasoned, but the waitress gave salt, pepper, and ketchup beforehand. We were helped by Molly, who I thought was strikingly pretty (has nothing to do with the review, but fun to mention). In fact all the staff were easy on the eyes! If you want a drink, there is a proper bar area, but if you want to eat there is a bistro you will need to find the door to in the bar area.

One of the most touristic hotspots in Galway where finding a table for dinner is always possible but there is always a small waiting line. The food is really good with fresh local ingredients that are well prepared. As for the waiting time, it has always been inferior to the communicated (which is good) and you can always sit at the bar and try many of their beers and other drinks. Staff is nice and efficient, especially considering the turnover of the place.

Huge pub, can get very crowded, loved it. The main room is amazing the cobblestone wall really adds something to the place. I consider it one of the biggest pubs in Galway

Delicious food! Great service until it got busy, then it was difficult to get some attention. But we have been there many times now and the food is consistently good and we like the pub very much.

Wonderful food and pints. Busy on weekends but I loved the seafood chowder. Good service as well.

We wanted to love The King's Head, and the service and ambiance were both promising, even though there was a constant sense of hustle and bustle. And the pre-meal cocktails were lovely. But the food was sadly uneven. The Chilled Seafood Platter was delicious. The Crab Claws starter was Ok, but the garilc-butter sauce was a bit too garlic-forward and included chili spice not mentioned in the menu and almost too hot to enjoy. The biggest disappointment was the Lobster and Chips. The chips were tasty and grease less. The lobster, however, was mushy in texture and provided very little meat. My wife and I were sufficiently hungry shared a slice of pizza after dinner -- and found it more satisfying than our experience at The King's Head. Sigh

Stopped here for the live music at the end of the night. It was great, but not traditional Irish music. The drinks were a little more pricey, but def really well done. I got a cocktail and it was one of the better cocktails I got on my trip!

We came to have lunch at this location around 2:30pm on a Friday. We were lucky to be seated quickly and saw many people waiting for tables right after us. We ordered the recommended Kelly's Rock Oysters, Fish & Chips and the grilled codfish plate with lemon butter sauce and seasonal vegetables, and finished with the apple strudel. Everything was absolutely delicious! I would recommend it all. For drinks, we ordered the quintessential Guiness and I finished with an Irish coffee. Both drinks were also good. This place was recommended to us by our tour guide and I am so happy we stopped here. One of our best meals of our trip!

I wanted to like this spot more than I did. It was our first stop in Galway. It's a historic spot, and a favorite pub for many in Galway. I wasn't impressed by the service. We found a spot at the bar in back, where people were sitting. We sat for nearly 15min chatting with other people and we still were not even acknowledged. One of us had to go around the bar to find a bartender. My friend and l ordered one of the seasonal drinks on the table top menu, that we had been staring at for a long time waiting to be served. I ordered the apple cider hot today because I had a scratchy throat, my friend got the spiked caramel hot chocolate. They were ok, nothing special. My boyfriend got a point of Guinness, which was fine. We drank our drinks and moved on, not impressed. The inside looked typical, the drinks were fine and the service was subpar. Didn't live up to the hype.

We stopped in on a Thursday afternoon. We absolutely couldn't pass up a pub that's more than 800 years old. The atmosphere and vibe definitely didn't disappoint. Love the ancient winding architectural nooks and crannies, the fireplace. This place was pretty darn busy on a mid-week afternoon. There were servers to come to your tables and they were flying. We ordered at the bar. We loved it so much that I bought a t-shirt ... I thought I bought a black t-shirt but when we got into normal lighting, found out it's blue. haha. Cool pub.

If you want the quintessential tourist Ireland pub experience, this is one place you can have it at. This place is crowded, has live music and has their bar pumping out drinks quickly. We had a bit of a wait for dinner service, but once we were in the food was good! I ordered the seafood platter and it did not disappoint! So much variety of seafood presented. For dessert I tried the fresh strawberry, cream on meringue. It was so light, it was the perfect closing. Service was not so great, but sort of to be expected with a new server at such a busy place.

I have an acquaintance I have known for many years. He is a musician and spends considerable time in Galway. It was only natural to ask him his favorite eateries. I was taking a tour while in Ireland and we would be spending a few hours in Galway. It was just after lunch hour so the place was relatively quiet. I ordered a Guinness and the fish and chips. The staff was very friendly and attentive. The portions were huge and well priced. My only regret is that I wouldn't be there during a busy time. That may sound odd but, I believe it would be a raucous good time. Thanks Jay Pinto for the tip

I honestly can't give a proper review of the food because the experience there was awful. We ordered more food than this but I stopped taking photos because I was so uncomfortable. A man that we were sat beside harassed us all night at dinner. He talked to his friend all night about impregnating women ( yes literally all night!) and every time he mentioned a woman he touched my mother. He kept reaching over our table to touch my drink multiple times. The waitresses were kind and tried to distract the man and ask him if he was done eating but said that they weren't a loud to throw him out. He started angrily eating his food and insisting we were African. Then said he could treat us anyway that he wanted in his country. At this point we got up and left because I feared for our safety. But there's no reason he should've been a loud to continue his dinner while we had to remove ourselves.

Stopped into The King's Head in Galway and it did not disappoint. The atmosphere is exactly what you want in an Irish pub--cozy, historic, and full of good energy. I ordered the Galway Girl cocktail and it was amazing--light, refreshing, and perfectly mixed. My boyfriend had the Executioner's Old Fashioned, which was strong, smooth, and packed with flavor. For food, we went with the beef stew, and wow... easily one of the best we've had on this trip. Rich, hearty, and perfect for a cold Galway evening. If you're in the city, definitely make a stop here. Great drinks, great food, great vibe.

Feels really like a tourist trap - we came before the live music came on but it seemed almost every single patron was a tourist. The bar service was kind of slow and the vibes and ambiance were just not there. The Guinness was ok but not super cold and not the best one we had. Seems like a lot of people were eating and they had a queue but the bar side was dead empty while others on the street were bustling, so that tells you something.

Loved the Guinness stew, fish and chips, and beer. Great medieval building, saw them pouring amazing soup and bread that I wish I had room to eat. Was large, ran as we were in a business getting the same recommendation on locations to eat but seems like no one had to wait. Price was reasonable they accept credit card and you have option to tip on it only if you want.

Such a cool spot, with an interesting history! I tried the Guinness stew, boxty, and soda bread. Everything was delicious! The servers were friendly and service was prompt. They are very allergy-friendly and will ensure your food allergies are known by the kitchen.

So much cool history about this place! I came here on the recommendation of a nearby shop owner. The front is a proper pub where folks were really into a game that was on the tvs. In the back to the side is the restaurant that is much more calm. I got a table there and ordered a quick meal so that I could get back to my tour group. The seafood chowder was solid and had good flavor, just needed a bit more salt. The chips, aka french fries, were so good! I contemplated taking the rest of them with me lol. The servers had on the cutest Kings Head Christmas shirts and I was able to purchase one as a souvenir! The girl who waited on me was great as well. Very attentive and friendly!

Good size bar with a good band and wonderful seating options. Looks like a great menu of drinks available, just around good Irish bar that represents about what you would expect

The service was slow. We did not get our drinks until we were done with our food so we thought they had forgotten about our drinks. The burger was not good and cold. The fries were also cold. The stew was the best thing we ordered and it had coarsely chopped vegetables. Luckily it wasn't crowded and multiple families with children were eating in.

Great spot in The Latin Quarters of Galway! We stopped for a quick snack before our Whiskey tour at 4:00; my travel mate had the seafood chowder (I believe was the special) and she said it was really good and creamy. I had the Irish Crisps (French fries) and those were really good. I love my fries with mustard instead of catsup because of the sugars. Our waitperson was cordial & quick. She engaged with us as needed with a pretty smile. Go early because it does become crowded quickly. Clean and inviting atmosphere. I give my recommendation to try out The King's Head while in town!

I know this review is mainly going to be seen by Americans and not by Irish people but this restaurant was not good. It's such a shame because they are transparent about their sourcing which is really cool and unusual. Also the history of the building is interesting. But the food was shite. We got oysters because they're supposed to be a specialty of Galway. Shucked so badly. I had to keep spitting out bits because there was so much shell fragment in. I spat out at least 5-6 pieces across 3 oysters. They were also shucked badly enough that the some oysters were a bit cut up and not intact. The Guinness & beef stew was tasty, but the meat was tough. Not sure if that's typical or not. The dahl was drowning in black cardamom. Not toasted as far as I could tell and definitely not ground. That one was probably my bad for ordering dahl at a pub but I was desperately in need of some veg. Ambiance is classic pub. Bathroom smelt of mildew but the rest of the restaurant was fine. Not terrible, maybe average to subpar. Wouldn't return, wasn't worth the money.

What a cool spot. Be sure to read up on the history of the building. We missed out on the live music since we got here for lunch but I'm guessing it's a great time. The seafood chowder was excellent, lots of chunks of seafood and a nice touch of dill. The wife got the schnitzel, which was tasty though she skipped out on the slaw Daughter had the fish and chips, which were crispy and crunchy and flavorful. Son had the boneless ribs and he loved it. Service was prompt, friendly and efficient. Highly recommend this spot.

During our short stop in Galway, our tour guide named The Kings Head as one of the recommendations. From the outside already, the restaurant takes you a bit back into time as you go inside. The fireplace is the first thing that welcomes you in this pub with lots of old decor. We got seated fairly quick and were quick to order as we were starving. We started off with the Rock Oysters (€17.50) and Crispy Chicken Wings (€11.45). Even though the oysters were recommended as Galway is close to the ocean, these were sadly disappointing. The oysters were so skimpy and totally not worth it. On the other hand, the wings were pretty unique in flavor and had a nice crispy to it. For the main courses, we ordered the Beef and Guinness (€18.95) and Fish and Chips (€21.00). The fish was a thick piece, which almost got a bit overwhelming. The tartar sauce helped balance this a lot though. But the favorite dish was definitely the beef stew. It was super flavorful with a creamy mashed potato. We had multiple stews during our trip in Ireland and this one was our favorite! This was a great spot in the town of Galway for some good ol' Irish food.

We stopped here very briefly for a snack. We had the seafood chowder which was creamy and flavorful. Almost everything that we had in Ireland was served with what they call Guinness Brown Bread. It's fantastic. If this pub could talk, it would have some stories. It's over 800 years old. I had to stop and check it out.

A wonderful Irish pub/restaurant! Our group had a short wait and had drinks by the coffee little fire while we waited. I loved the ambiance and Halloween decorations! Food was a little pricey, but very good. I had the vegetable Dahl and found it flavorful and delicious. The bread that came with it was a little tough, but softened when dipped into the Dahl and added a nice crunch. Great place in Galway!

I don't get the low reviews--honestly one of the best meals we had in Ireland! Crazy good scallops, fish and chips were classic, and outstanding cocktails.

The food and service were great. I had the chowder and fish chips were excellent. Guinness pint was also great.

Cozy and historic pub in Galway; while seemingly a tourist stop, the food looked delicious, the service was fast, and the ambiance was interesting!

Food was very mediocre, clearly cooked in advance and heated, slow and inconsistent service. Definitely better options.

We landed here shortly after arriving so my memory was mostly one of relief at being able to sit down and get food and a pint. The service was great and the food good. I wouldn't confuse it for gourmet but it was solid. My one regret? Not buying on of their shirts. Trust me, get one.

Such a quaint, historic building, comfort food, and efficient service. Classic dishes and soda bread does not disappoint.

Great ambience. Good food. Loved the visit. Beautiful inside. We were on vacation and got lucky!

Great bar considering the history surrounding it. You feel the history as you enter. It's a very large bar with multiple floors, don't be fooled by the look on the outside . Multiple bars on each level and a bistro area that serves food and drinks as well. Service was good , definitely a nice bar to hang out.

Ambiance was great. Food was way overpriced for what it was. Went here by recommendation of tour guide during stop. Drinks didn't even taste like they had any alcohol in them. Split the Wild Atlantic seafood platter starter. Had asked the waitress ahead of time how many oysters were on it. She said 4-5 and there was two. The majority of the plate was the salad in the middle. Very little seafood and tasted mediocre. Overall disappointed.

Me and all 12 of my companions dined at this establishment expecting a great meal! Little did we know, we would be getting sick all night long. I believe we all received food poisoning from the meals here. Awful food quality!!!! The glasses and silverware were disgusting!! My friend received cheap pours in her drinks, and also got foggy vodka?!?!?!?? Do not come here!!!!!!!!! P.S. I asked for mustard and they gave me horse radish!!!!

Excellent seafood chowder - would definitely recommend. Great and friendly service. Service was also fast as I was in a time crunch trying to make it back to the bus!

Great beer. Food was very good. Story with this several hundred year old bar also good. Nice place to visit in Galway.

Delicious food. Lively ambience (busy because everyone was trying to get away from the rain), nice staff. My family had the Guinness stew with creamy rich mashed potatoes, fish and chips, onion rings. Best onion rings-- light crispy coating, sweet tender onion. Same coating as the fish in the fish and chips plate.

You can beat the history of this 800 year old building. Grab a brochure to read all about about the building and just behind the name when you enter. Waitstaff will escort you to a seat in an area of your choosingStarted meal with a pint and a Connemara pony. While I did enjoy it, it could have used something to balance the tartness. The Rib eye steak and fish were delicious!

Stopped here for a bite to eat on our bus trip from Dublin. We had a limited amount of time in Galway and the staff was super helpful in getting us in and closed out so we could make it back to our bus in time. I had the burger which was yummy but wish I had the muscles like my husband chose. They were so good. Thanks so much for a good time!

800 years of history but still innovating cool cocktails. Try the Executioner's Old Fashioned! Also, the mussels were good, and the Seafood Chowder has a very unique POV that we enjoyed. Just avoid sitting upstairs if you are dining. It's a huge, rambling place, and when we came, the staff were very kind but spread a little too thin to cover all corners of this gem.

Delicious food and great great service. We sat outside which was charming Get there early before the place fills in

The cutest place you can stop by in downtown Galway. They have live music and the Guinness beer is tasty. The staff is nice with lots of tables you can sit at. At the end of the night you can easily catch a cab ride home.

What I liked: - They are a large place, so they had capacity for groups of 5+ when others did not. - very quick service once seated. What's to improve? - food and drink are pricey for the area, and the food menu is modest.

The Kings Head is what every tourist wants in an Irish pub and restaurant. Staff are courteous and helpful and the atmosphere is authentic. We met some cousins from Ireland here and of course the Guinness was flowing and 1 Carlsberg. Isn't that they way. Great reviews by members who ate the burgers and beef stew and muscles. They could have thrown in some bread instead of chips since they seemed out of place. ( even in Ireland) The fish and chips came within the 3 star range which wasn't a let down since there are great fish and chip specialist within a short walk. It is also difficult to rate pizza in NYC type situation worst is better than most. Our experience with the service, food and music was just grand!

Great place for a touch of Irish food and seafood. Traditional Irish pub with great food and ambiance. The service was exceptional and the food was great.

Good food. Appreciated the heart of Lauren who served me Jameson Black Label, Guinness, half dozen oysters and fish & chips! Cheers.

As a tourist from California, we loved this Pub! The live music was great and the service was super friendly. We ordered two Guinness drinks and had a fun time!

Old, cozy pub in the middle of it all. Came here based on a couple recommendations. We ended up sitting in the newer/renovated section on the right. Would have preferred the older more authentic section. But the food was very good. Scallops, creamy soup, steak included. Galway Girl was a delicious cocktail. Friendly, attentive staff.

Ambiance and service were great, the drinks and food were just okay. The spice on my Dahl was off and our Beef stew was not very flavorful, didn't have much meat and was denser from a thickening agent.

Outstanding food, cider, Blood Red Ale, service, and ambiance!!! Outstanding beef stew, fish and chips, seafood chowder, and monkfish seafood!!!

My fiancé and I came here after visiting the Cliffs of Moher! Galway is a beautiful place and The Kings Head was such a cool spot! We sat outside and enjoyed the street life, but their indoor seating was very nice as well. We both had the Beef & Guinness Stew, it was so good! It is their most popular dish for a reason! Of course we had a pint of Guinness with it. The service was impeccable too. No matter where you are in Ireland, it would definitely be worth it to make your way to The Kings Head! 10/10