New Year's Day, 1 January, is a public holiday in Ireland.
Most pubs are open. Some cafes are, too. But many places in Galway choose not to open on New Year's Day.
So this is a list of places which are open in Galway city-centre on New Year's Day in 2026: it is a work-in-progress, and will be live-updated on the day.
Pubs
Almost all Galway city pubs are (or will) open on New Year's Day - but many will open a little
later than they usually would, eg Neachtains are opening from 5pm
Exceptions - pubs that didn't open on New Years' Day in 2026, or have announced they won't
Blue Note
John Keoghs
PJ's
Massimo
Roisin Dubh
The Universal
Taylors, reopens on the 2nd
Cafes and restaurants
Cafes / Restaurants in Galway city which will or are open on New Year's Day 2026
Anfora
Apache Pizza, Dominick St and Terryland
Asian Teahouse, from 5pm
BakeBox, open from 8:30am
Beef & Lobster
Boojum
BóTown Burgers from 5pm
Buddha Bar, from 5pm
Caprice
Charcoal Grill, Mary Street, Quay Street
Coco to Go
Creamery, Salthill
Da Roberta
Dough Bros, Middle Street and in O'Connells
Eastern Tandoori
Galleon Salthill
Giovannis- from 4pm
Gino's Gelato
Golden Rikshaw - evening
Khow Thai
Krispy Kreme Donuts
Kumar's
LanaThai - Mary Street
Little Lane from 10am
Mama Rich
McDonalds
Magnetti, Quay St and Salthill
Meltd, Middle Street
Milano
Mocha Beans
Nana's Teahouse
O'Reillys, Salthill
Osaka Prospect Hill - normal hours
Osaka, Salthill open from 12:30pm
Osteria Simone - normal hours
Pizza Maxx Salthill
Pizza Time
Plámás, from 10am
Ré Coffee Salthill
ReNao
Renzo
Rúibín
Salt and Pepper, Salthill
Samyo Asian, Salthill
Secret Garden
Supermacs
Thai Garden
The Hidden
Tucos
Tulsi
Venice - from 1pm
Xi'an
Zambrero - Planet Entertainment centre
Zaiqa/Eskimo Pizza
Pubs that serve food
Blakes
Busker Browne's
Cellar
Dáil
Front Door/Sonnys
Hole in the Wall
Imperial
Kings Head
M Fitzgerald's
Mary Mullens
Monroes
Murphys (toasted sandwiches!)
Screenes
Seven
Taffes
The Quays from 4pm
Tig Neachtain from 5pm
Cafes / Restaurants in Galway city which will be or are closed on New Year's Day 2026
56 Central
An Tobar Nua, reopens 6 Jan
Ayran Pizzaria - closed until 4 Jan
Bare Pantry Liosbaun, re-opens on 27th
Benny's, Ballybane
City Grub
City Pantry Cafe, re-opens on 9 January
Classico
Corrib House tearoom, reopens on 6 January
Daróg
Dela
Espresso 44, Shop Street and West End
Esquires Eyre Square
Finnegan's
Gemelles - are closed for "a while"
Gourmet Tart - re-opening 8am on January 7th
Greens & Co
Grind Briarhill
Habib and Abu's
Handsome Burgers
Insomnia, Eyre Square
Java
Jungle Cafe Prospect Hill reopens on 2 January
Kai, reopens on 2 January
Kettle Cafe
McDonagh's Fish and Chips
Magpie, reopens on 8th January
Mona Lisa
Mr Waffle
Neighbourhood Cafe, Doughiska, reopens on 6 Jan
Oscars
Pascal
Pasta Factory, reopens on 7 January
Pizza Pasta Napoli, closed until 22nd January
Poppyseed at Galway Crystal, reopens on the 2nd
Rouge
Shakedog, Wellpark
Starbucks, Eyre Square Centre and Edward Square
Truffle, closed 1-7 January
Supermarkets / foodstores
Open, or have announced they are opening on NYD 2026
Dunnes Stores, Terryland - open 11am to 7pm
Tesco - superstores (Headford Rd, Oranmore) and Salthill- from 10am
Asiatic Asian Foods
Carnival Supermarket
Have announced that they are not opening on New Year's Day 2026
Dunnes Stores - apart form Terryland
Lids - all stores
Aldi - all stores
M&S
Lids - all stores
Aldi - all stores
M&S
Jasmine Asian Grocery
Ernei's Fruit and Veg
Other shops
Shops which are open on New Year's Day 2026, or have announced they will open
Almost all convenience stores / Newsagents will open
Aran Sweater Mart
Boots Pharmacy
Bridge Stores
Brown Thomas, open from 11am
Candy Cloud
Carrolls Gifts- Williamsgate Street only
Centra Forster St, 7am - 11:25pm
DFS Sofas, 10am-5pm
Eason bookshop, from 12-noon
Evergreen Healthfoods
Fine Wines, Raven's Tce
Galway Woollen Market
Galway Gifts
Holland and Barrett from 11am
Hollands Newsagents, open from 12-noon.
Lifestyle Sports
Lovisa
Londis Eyre Square, 7am to 12-midnight
Monaghan's Centra 7am - 10pm
Mountain Warehouse
Mullins Pharmacy Salthill
Number 10 Newsagents, from 1pm
Salthill Phone Repairs
Spar Mainguard Street 8am to 10pm
Staunton's Pharmacy, Salthill
Tommy Hilfiger
University Late Night Pharmacy
Weavers of Ireland
XL 62 Dominick Street
Shops which have announced they are closed on New Year's Day 2026
Lots of other shop were closed - these are ones that made announcements in advance
Ah Sure Lookit, reopens on 10th January
Angel Nails
An Tobar Nua, reopens on 6th January
Art 'n Hobby
BathShack
Better Blinds, reopens on 5 January
Blacoe Jewellery, closed 1-7th January
Cash & Carry Kitchens, reopens 2 January
Cash Creators, reopens on the 29th
Castle Davitt Furniture
COPE Galway shops, reopens on 5 January
Crescent Pharmacy
Decorate Your Own, reopens 6th January
DID Electrical
Doctor Claire's Apothecary
Dubray Books
eCig Store
Edmond's Shoe Repairs, reopen on 3 January
Enable Ireland, Cross Street
Equine Warehouse
Express Frames, reopens 5 January
Finnerty Butchers
Flaherty Paints, Woodquay, reopens on 5th January
Galway Luggage Storage, reopens on 5th January
Heffernan Shoe Repairs, re-opens 6 January
Hickey Meats reopens on 3 January
Home Pharmacy, Forster St
Laura Jane
Logues Shoes
Oxfam
Pat McDonnell Paints
Petworld
Sea Rd Laundrette, reopens on January 2nd
Simon Charity Shop, reopens on 2 January
Specsavers, Eyre Square
The Card Store
Tubs & Tiles
