The chef-owner of Kai recommends a cheesemonger with a wine bar upstairs, a must-visit farmers’ market and a bookselling fruit & veg shop
EATING OUT
Sheridans Wine Bar
14 Church Yard St, Galway; www.sheridanscheesemongers.com
Excellent local cheesemonger with outlets around Ireland. The Galway shop, where Jess once worked, has a wine bar upstairs serving cheeses and cured meats. “I love it there,” says Jess. “I love the people, and I love cheese.”
Loam
Geata Na Cathrach, Fairgreen Rd, Galway; www.loamgalway.com
Forward-thinking restaurant that brings a Nordic sensibility to Irish ingredients. “What Enda [McAvoy, the head chef] does is so brilliant,” says Jess. “It’s more on the fine-dining side of things – the food is delicate but also completely amazing.”
Kappa-Ya
4 Middle St, Galway; www.facebook.com/kappaya.galway
Kappa-Ya bills itself as a Celtic-Japanese restaurant. “It’s a wonderfully casual place – they do great bento boxes.”
Ard Bia
Spanish Arch, Long Walk, Galway; www.ardbia.com
Ard Bia gets an approving nod from us for their spectacular breakfasts. It occupies a beautiful spot by the river and the menu reflects Mediterranean and Middle Eastern influences. “It’s an institution”, says Jess.
BUYING IN
Galway Market (pictured below)
Church Lane, Galway; www.galwaymarket.com (Saturdays only)
“The Galway Market on a Saturday has got to be done,” says Jess. “My fishmongers are there [she’s referring to The Gannet Fishmongers] and my meat suppliers [The Friendly Farmer], and you can eat loads of different things. It’s great.”
McCambridge’s
38-39 Shop Street, Galway; www.mccambridges.com
“If you can’t make the Saturday market, you should go to McCambridge’s. It’s a big deli-type shop that’s been open for 100 years and they sell most of what you can get at the market, with the same producers. Their sliced ham is great – they make their own.”
Ernies Fruit & Veg (pictured above)
6 Sea Rd, Galway; +353 91 586 812
Ernie Deacy is a fruit and veg retailer next door to Kai who – in a very Irish twist – also sells second-hand books. Jess deems him “a legend”.
Coffeewerk + Press
4 Quay St, Galway; www.facebook.com/coffeewerkandpress
Jess steers us towards this café-cum-design shop for excellent coffee. If you’re on the other side of the city, she also rates Urban Grind on William St West.
