Best Stylish Hotels
Galway City’s hotels come in all types, sizes, and price ranges but for a hip weekend on the west coast of Ireland, staying in a fashionable hotel, there are a few that stand out from the rest. We look at five hotels that fuse a mix of the city’s style of art and culture with unique design and comfort.
Top Cool Hotels in Galway City
The Twelve Hotel
The Twelve Hotel is a boutique 4-story hotel in the village of Barna which is a suburb of Galway, only 6.5kms from the city centre. Rooms at The Twelve Hotel have large beds as standard, LCD TVs and iPod docks along with en suite bathrooms and free designer toiletries. The Pins Bar Bistro is one of the most popular a gastro pubs in Galway and has live Irish music on weekends. The West Restaurant offers a fine dining alternative. Seaweed baths and massages are available at the spa. The Twelve is the ideal hotel for a weekend of relaxation or as a base for exploring Galway and Connemara and beyond.
The g Hotel
Set in a business park next to the Eye Cinema on the east edge of the city with views of Lough Atalia and the busy N6 road, the “g” is a 25-minute walk to Eyre Square, but yet it is probably the hottest place to stay in Galway. The exterior is nondescript, but the interior is certainly eye-catching. It strives to be a trend setter, conceived by one of Ireland’s leading hat designers (Philip Treacy) with a panorama of rich reds, bright pinks, and zebra-illusion stripes in the public areas as well as a stark black and white reception area softened only by the colors of fish floating in a huge tank. It’s an experience just to walk in the public areas, to dine at the Riva restaurant, or to indulge in the Spa, set in a Zen garden, on the upper two floors of the hotel. Guests “are invited to re-connect with their senses, where time is forgotten and stress disperses.” Well, it is different, and a dazzling departure from the usual Irish hotel styles. The 101 guest rooms are spacious and posh, decorated in sea tones, offer every contemporary amenity; and the specialty suites come with private butler service. Rates are high, but there are some special offers from Sunday-Wednesday.
The House Hotel
Situated adjacent to Galway’s trendy Quay Street area, this four-story stone building was originally a warehouse. Converted into a 4-star hotel and open since 2006, the House Hotel is a luxury boutique hotel famous for it’s stylish interiors and popular cocktail bar. As its name implies, it aims to be “a home away from home.” It offers 40 guest rooms of various sizes, many with views of the Spanish Arch area, and four suites overlooking Galway Harbour. Features of the rooms include contemporary furnishings, flat screen TVs, internet access, air conditioning and luxurious linens. Facilities include the Parlour Bar & Grill, Outback Terrace, and the Relax Lounge.
Harbour Hotel
Opened in 2001, this modern 4-star hotel has a waterside docks-area location yet it is within two minutes walk to Galway’s main shopping street. It offers 96 contemporary-style sound-proof guestrooms, capable of accommodating up to 3 adults or 2 adults and 2 children, all for a flat room rate. The rooms, which are fitted with all modern amenities, look out onto the city or have partial views of the harbour. Facilities include a restaurant, bar, and complimentary on-site car parking, a real plus for visitors to Galway. Guests can also avail of an enclosed landscaped garden court area with gazebo and picnic tables.
The Hardiman Hotel
Long a focal point of Galway (dating back to 1845), The Hardiman (formerly The Meyrick) is 5-story 4-star landmark that has long been one of the best hotels in town, positioned overlooking Eyre Square and next to the bus/railway stations. It combines all the charms of yesteryear — from high ceilings and elaborate plasterwork to crystal chandeliers, original Connemara marble fireplaces and antique furnishings — with up-to-date amenities and a well-trained and responsive staff. After a recent 12 million euro refurbishment and enhancement, the Hardiman Hotel has a wide range of elegant guest rooms including two floors of suites. Leisure facilities include a rooftop Canadian hot-tub, steam room and sauna.