In Galway

Don’t miss the Saturday market outside St. Nicholas’ Collegiate Church in the city centre—the vegetarian lunches at the Govinda’s stand are just sublime (and well worth the wait in line). During the week, you can pick up lunch for a riverside picnic at the aptly-named Delight (29 Upper Abbeygate St., 091/567-823, open 9am to 6pm Mon.-Fri.), which offers a long list of mostly-organic gourmet sandwich options, many of which are vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free. The coffee and brownies here are awesome too. For a sit-down meal, try Mustard (Middle St., 091/566-400, open noon to 10pm daily), which has a long and mouth-watering menu of delightfully inventive gourmet burgers, salads, and pizzas. There are plenty of meat dishes, but the wealth of veggie options makes Mustard a must if you’re a vegetarian (try the goats cheese or pumpkin-cous cous burgers). The ambience is relaxed and the service is top-notch.

Located a stone’s throw from the Galway City Museum on the River Corrib, Nimmo’s (Long Walk, Spanish Arch, 091/561-114) is widely considered the best eatery in Galway. The food’s so fresh there’s little sense printing a menu, so your waiter greets you with a large blackboard detailing the evening specials. The steaks and seafood dishes are well worth the prices, and the pastas melt in your mouth. Nimmo’s has a warm, romantic ambience that’s perfect for a date or a celebratory meal. Reservations are essential on weekends and in the summertime: the only bad thing about this place is that it’s often so heavily booked you might have to give up your table before you’re ready for your coffee.

The best bookshop in Galway is Charlie Byrne’s, which specializes in secondhand and overstock books. Charlie Byrne’s is a Galway institution, so it’s hard to believe it only opened in 1989. Helpful, laid-back staff, plenty of bargains on quality titles, the occasional reading and signing with a local author: for the bibliophile it’s like Christmas every time you step inside.

Check out Ireland photos in the gallery.