Driven by Adventure, Inspired by Defender. This time our journey takes us to Galway – a county where culture and coastline collide, and every stop offers something to savour.
Where to stay
Radisson Red
For a stylish stay in the beating heart of Galway, check into Radisson Red. Just five minutes from the city centre, this vibrant hotel is designed for both weekend escapes and working weeks. Sleek, contemporary rooms and suites feature Radisson Red’s signature design, while the buzzing restaurant covers everything from breakfast through to late-night cocktails. The rooftop terrace bar offers panoramic city views, making it the perfect backdrop for unwinding after a long day. With nine flexible meeting spaces, business travellers are well looked after too (with no Zoom glitches in sight).
The Dean Galway
The Dean Galway is a slice of boutique bliss in the heart of the city, just a short walk from Eyre Square. As Galway’s first design-led hotel, it offers super-comfortable bespoke rooms, ideal for a weekend escape, staycation or romantic getaway. It’s also the perfect base for exploring the Wild Atlantic Way. Guests also enjoy complimentary access to its boutique gym and luxurious thermal suite, complete with a hydrotherapy pool, cedar sauna and steam room – the ultimate reset after a day exploring.
The Hardiman
A historic Galway landmark, The Hardiman has stood on Eyre Square since 1852, offering 103 guest rooms (including 19 luxury suites), blending character and modern comfort. You’ll find multiple dining options, from afternoon tea in the Oyster Lounge to cocktails in the Oyster Bar and dinners in Gaslight Brasserie. Its location is handy too; a stone’s throw from transport hubs, shopping districts and theatres.
Where to eat
Kai Restaurant
Hidden away on Sea Road in Galway’s Westend, Kai Restaurant has become an award-winning local institution. Opened in 2011 by New Zealander Jess Murphy and her Carlow-born husband, Dave, the name “Kai” – Maori for food – reflects their back-to-basics ethos: High-quality, seasonal ingredients, sourced as locally and organically as possible, cooked with intelligence and care. Lunch is a casual, walk-in affair, while dinner, in high demand, requires advance booking. What arrives on the plate depends entirely on what’s in season, but one thing is guaranteed: Every dish celebrates the best of the west.
Ard Bia
Set under the Spanish Arch along the Long Walk, Ard Bia is one of Galway’s most enduring restaurants. It operates as a café, lunch spot, brunch destination and fine-dining restaurant, with menus anchored in seasonal Irish produce and global inspirations (Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, New Zealand). Its upstairs dining overlooks the river, while downstairs the café buzzes with locals and visitors alike.
Rúibín
At 1 Dock Road, Galway, Rúibín brings a fresh, modern take on Irish cooking with subtle international influences. The relaxed, intimate setting makes it as popular with locals as with visitors. Signature plates, such as pan-fried halibut, gnudi, and dry-aged ribeye for two, showcase the kitchen’s focus on local sourcing and seasonality, making Rúibín one of the city’s most exciting dining destinations.
Where to shop
COFFEEWERK + PRESS
Step off the bustle of Quay Street and into COFFEEWERK + PRESS, a design-driven coffee shop housed in a four-hundred-year-old building. Founded in 2015 by Daniel Ulrichs, the space is part café, part gallery, showcasing speciality coffee alongside a beautifully curated edit of Japanese and Scandinavian homewares, fine art postcards, and Irish textiles. Ethical sourcing is central here, with beans from roasters in Copenhagen, Pennsylvania and beyond, packaged in collaboration with local artists. Come for the coffee, stay for the inspiration – this is as much an experience as it is a shop.
Les Jumelles
Run by twin sisters Mary McSweeney and Margaret Gallagher, Les Jumelles has been a Galway fashion institution since 1997. The boutique curates an elevated edit of international labels – think Acne Studios, Rick Owens, Dorothee Schumacher and Golden Goose – alongside timeless investment pieces. With its stylish, pared-down interiors and keen eye for design, Les Jumelles remains the go-to destination for designer dressing in the West.
Outset
Located in the Cornstore on Middle Street, Outset is part gallery, part design shop, and part community hub. The bright, contemporary space showcases exhibitions featuring emerging and established artists, alongside a carefully curated selection of prints, art supplies, and design objects. With in-house custom framing and a calendar of creative events, Outset has quickly become a cultural cornerstone for Galway’s art lovers.
The Defender is the best in class when it comes to road trips. A master of extreme performance and exploration that will take you anywhere (with plenty of storage space), it’s a car that was made for adventure.
Learn more at landrover.ie/defender.
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