For me, the Galway Arms is all about the music. Irish traditional music, that is. The Sunday night seisún, running from 9-11PM, give or take, has become over the last several years, one of the best places to hear really well performed tunes and songs by some of the greatest trad musicians in Chicago. Paddy Homan, Jimmy Keane, Maurice Lennon, Dennis Cahill, John Williams, Sean Cleland, Jesse Langan and any number of other greats show up here regularly, often together. And there's no cover. Brilliant! That being said, the layout of the Galway Arms is frustrating. The place always seems cramped and crowded, and the warren of small rooms and oddly placed walls makes for awkward sightlines. But the small roomlets can be cozy for other times, when you aren't straining to see/hear the music. There's a huge outdoor patio out front, plus a small dining room, then an odd little room off the front door with high tables and TVs (which I seem to get stuck in most of the time), an upstairs party room (which I've never been in) and finally the main bar: an L-shaped affair with an area at the short end of the L where the musicians sit and play. There are very few great vantage points to sit and enjoy the music. They have a full bar of beer, wine and mixed drinks, though I never seem to get beyond their well poured pints of Guinness or the occasional Magner's hard apple cider. They have a number of Irish and American dishes, though again, I guess I'm a creature of habit, usually order the excellent fish & chips with malt vinegar (about $11). In a concession to us Yanks, there is often tartar sauce for the fish and ketchup for the fries on the side, which I usually just ignore. They are served with green peas and lettuce, which is nice, but not something I've ever seen in Ireland, where salad tends to be an exotic addition. Tonight, I wanted something a bit lighter, so I ordered the Irish cheese plate: strips of several types of Irish cheese arrayed on a plate with brown bread and raisins for $5.95. It was a nice change of pace, though I would have preferred something like apple or pear wedges to the grainy peach "chutney" that came with it. I accompanied the snack with 2 pints of Guinness, $6 each. My excellent and always-smiling server, Katie, was attentive without being pushy--she knows I'm there more to listen than drink and doesn't make a big deal out of me sipping my stouts S-L-O-W-L-Y. The bartender, Barry, is a bit of a character, but don't be put off if he seems momentarily gruff--he's OK at heart (I think). read more

Galway Arms - Irish cheese plate and a pint - Irish Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Classic Irish pub. I love their patio, and especially in the winter, they have the warm fire outside and inside as well. Their food is good. We used to go for the all you can eat fish and chips. Always good. They have a great selection of craft beers. read more

Just stopped in for the first time recently for dinner. The service was decent and the food was pretty good. I went with an Asian chicken salad and curry fries. Both were good - would've preferred the curry sauce on the side because it was pretty soggy upon arrival to the table. The chicken salad was good, no complaints there. My friend had the Galway burger - they brought the wrong one initially but quickly corrected it. All in all the food was ok, atmosphere was fun, and the service decent. Nothing bad about this place but I don't think I will be breaking down the doors to go back. read more

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Friends and I came for a St. Patrick's day late mid-day meal and drinks around 4:30PM Having been drinking since 9AM, I opted out of this continuation for drinks and decided that I needed food in me. I ordered the cheddar bacon burger ($13.95) and felt fancy so i upgraded to onion rings ($1.95). My burger was sadly disappointing. It was way too smokey - to the point where it just tasted burnt. They over did it with the smoke because that deemed it inedible. I only ate half of it and to-goed the rest (since I don't like food waste)... As I was walking home, I ended up dropping the container and the food spilled onto the sidewalk. I wasn't even mad. Kinda relieved that I didn't have to finish it actually. Was the onion ring upgrade worth it? Eh.. Service was good for the busy day though. Things to note: -They don't have the full bar on their top floor. This was annoying that just because we were sitted on the top floor - we couldn't get the same drinks as the bottom floor.. it's the same establishment.. c'mon.. read more

Galway Arms - Fish and chips $14.95 - Irish Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I had a pretty good meal at Galway arms after a race in Lincoln Park recently. I really wished we could have dined outside, but it was packed on a Thursday evening. We sat inside in a great booth all by ourselves in the back - which was really nice as it started to get crowded inside as well. We were told that the kitchen was backed up, so as soon as we could, we ordered a beer and spinach dip appetizer. The spinach dip appetizer was in a bread bowl and it was ok, but a bit greasy (as I suppose you'd expect) and not super flavorful. I was starving, however, so I admit, I ate a bunch of it. I had the spinach wrap and I liked it, though I will say that the proportions throughout were kind of off, so that some bites were good and some were pretty bland. All in all, ok, but not amazing. The beer was fresh and plenty of Irish options on draft. Worth a visit, but more for the drinks and cute atmosphere than the food. read more

Been to Galway arms a couple times now, great atmosphere with some solid food. I love the atmosphere, that's the highlight for me. Basically a brownstone that's been converted to a bar. So, when you walk in, you're faced by stairs up and then a little living room with fireplace on your left, can walk between what are clearly rooms in a house as opposed to some modern restaurant. The food's fine, maybe a bit above average but I don't feel I can come on here and rave about the food. The fish and chips is good and a great portion. I've had a couple of the burgers and they're always done well with good flavor. I think the Galway burger is probably the best among the choices. One warning - don't sit near the windows/doors if it's cold, people constantly were walking outside for smokes and the window had to stay open for electrical cords. read more

We went here on a Saturday night and the place was quite buzzing although it died down through the night. The staff was really friendly and accommodated us as our party grew bigger. The menu of the establishment is excellent. They have a lot of food and drink choices. We ordered the onion rings, Galway burger and Shepherd's Pie. Although I tried only the first of these three, my friends who ate the others were happy with what they had been served. What impressed me a lot was the cocktail menu. It was well thought out and was priced excellently. They had warm cocktails which was great given that it was fifteen degrees below freezing outside. I tried the Cinnamon Toast cocktail and it was delicious. Through the night at no point did we feel that service was lacking and were given plenty of attention. I can see this becoming a regular Saturday night hang for me. read more

I should preface this by saying I do not like Irish bars AT ALL. However, hanging out here on Sunday, beautiful day on the patio was very pleasant. Our server was great, despite being hit on by a guy in our group, she had a great sense of humor and flung it right back - fun to watch! Inside the bar though . . . that same stale beer smell. read more

What can I say? it's a house, it's a bar, it's an outdoor patio. There's beer, bar food, and sometimes even trivia nights. If it were a person, or a puppy, I'd hug it. I live in the area (like 3 blocks away) and this is a perfect place to meet people coming by from other parts of town. It's also just across the street from some great sushi, so you can "accidentally" arrange sushi nights an hour or two earlier than it opens and then say, "well, let's go to Galway and wait for sushi to open!" And sometimes, all you need to do is have great Irish fare from a chill place and drown it with a brew. Galway has never disappointed. read more

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bouncer was rude, my moscow mule kinda sucked, they let 2 groups cut in front of us and didn't even acknowledge us.... would not recommend! there's a million irish pubs where they aren't rude to you ‍ read more

May or may not be a fair score due to COVID19, but they are very fortunate to have an excellent outdoor patio in the front. The bar itself looks awesome inside as it is an old house converted into a bar. Reminds me of the Celtic Crossing in Memphis! Since IL only allows outdoor eating & drinks for bars & restaurants, their patio saved the business. Nice heaters, but definitely need side wind breakers to keep the heat in. read more

This reminded me of the pubs I visited while in Ireland. I visited on like a super warm and sunny day, so I didn't get like the ~full~ experience. It would be fun to come on like a chilly winter day or something. I went with a group to watch the Liverpool v Tottenham game, and had a few delicious G&Ts. read more

I've been here twice to watch the World Cup. Quality bar-- affordable, decent food, and a relaxed atmosphere. Solid pub fare that very much helped my hungover self make it through the early morning games. For the World Cup specifically, it's a great bar for people who don't want to have to arrive an hour before opening just to get a place to stand but still have a nice place to watch the tournament. read more

Huge fan of Shepard's Pie and Pot Pie - let me tell you this place hit the spot. It was on time and still was hot upon arrival.

Came here at noon on a Saturday and the place was empty sans a few patrons at the bar. What's wrong with you Lincoln Parkers?! (Oh, you were all at neighboring Gaslight, which sounded like it was trying to be a Vegas day club...) Galway oozes dark woods and nooks and crannies. It's a perfect spot to watch some footie with a cold one, sit by the fire and throw-down good Irish pub food. Our waitress was spot-on; the food was fresh (they made our requested guac right then and there;) and the prices were excellent. read more

This is the best lunch/brunch/ everything spot!!!! My family and I have become regulars here and I now bring my friends. There is always the TV on playing a game or something, super chill vibe, can drink with friends or go with family. And the food is to die for-- the sandwiches, salads, brunch, and soups are all amazing. Definitely go here!!!! read more

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Such a wonderful Irish Pub . We enjoyed a lovely dinner of Corn Beef & Cabbage and a Rueben sandwich. The seafood chowder soup was a delicious start to our dinning experience. The Smithwicks beer went down smooth as we enjoyed Irish artists perform a nice Sunday night gig!!! read more

Galway Arms - Irish Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I'm writing this review as I wait for my food order - which has now been updated five times (2hrs and counting) by this place through Uber Eats AP. So... A) never again will I order food from here B) Uber Eats no cancelation policy after 5 minutes after placing order ... double doink read more

Five stars because of the waitress. I wish I took her name down when we visited weeks ago but she ran after us when I had accidentally left behind an item. Super, super thoughtful of her! Outdoor seating, love it. Televisions available to watch Cubs win. Go Cubs! The foods were good. Somewhat expensive for the small size but not wasted. I would come back when I am in the area. read more

Great free live music on Sunday and Tuesday nights. And one of the best tasting Guinness. One of my favorite bars in Chicago. read more

Galway Arms - Irish Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I would give this place 3 stars for the atmosphere and World Cup tv screens. The service though brought this place down to a 1 star. The server was inattentive and messed the drink order up a few times. We ordered food off of their limited menu....after an hour of waiting she came back and said they were out of the corned beef. The place sounded good by all the reviews but I wasn't impressed at all. Update...1 hr later and the "chef" is finally plating our hummus. Don't understand how it takes an hour to make hummus which I'm sure is already packaged. read more

Galway Arms - 1hr to prep and plate this hummus - Irish Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I've never eaten here so the review is soley for the place and drinks. I've been during a few seasons but the best season to visit is Winter. They serve special warm boozy drinks that make your stomach feel warm and take you back to young days waiting for Christmas - except with booze. There are plenty of fireplaces through the space so find your favorite and then sit and enjoy a beverage! The staff is pretty incredible here too and always good at helping pick out something to drink or just be friendly in general. I recommend this place 10/10! read more

The starters were the best part. The stuffed and fried mushrooms are AMAZING. Best I've ever had. The drinks were decent too. Unfortunately the food itself was not good. I got their version of anRuben. Corn beef with sourkraut on top. Was NOT good. It didn't taste like sourkraut. It was just like cooked lettuce on top. The French fries were like something you get in the freezer section at Walmart. The fish and chips were also not good. Very expensive for a disappointing meal. I so wanted to like this place and never leave views but was really dissatisfied read more

Had been wanting to try this place as I've passed its comfy-looking patio often enough while on the bus. First went into the patio place just north of it, The Gaslight; liked the DJ, but found the noise level and the crowd uncomfortable. Didn't get a server until I'd been sitting there a while. Decided to bag it. Climbed the stairs up to enter Galway Arms. Loved the collection of cozy Irish/English pub-style rooms, but headed straight for the slightly-above-street-level patio. The breeze blew gently as I was seated at a table nearest the sidewalk. It being Pride Parade day, the streets were streaming with people but the raised position of the patio makes you feel comfortably separate. Having eaten just before I arrived, I just wanted to enjoy some wine and get some writing done. I was surprised to see they had a Cabernet Sauvignon for 6 bucks a glass. I asked the server if it was any good, and she willingly brought me a sample. Surprisingly, it was really okay, so I ordered a bottle and got down to work while sipping. They had some fun music playing and the sun never impinged on the comfort level. The patio crowd waxed and waned a bit, but it was never jammed with a waiting list, so I never felt rushed. The server checked in with me just often enough to let me know she was paying attention - nice. And the serving assistant was dynamically professional - attentive, unobtrusive and efficient. Water glasses refilled. Request for bread passed immediately on to the server, etc. The mozzarella and tomato salad with asparagus and a balsamic reduction was enjoyable, though I probably wouldn't order it again. However, the menu has lots of items I look forward to trying. My overall experience was so positive that I will be coming back for more. read more

Sequels are never as good as the original. For those on mobile unable to see the original golden pearls of wisdom and wit I set forth I will recap. We've had the buffalo wings which were good and the chicken pot pie which was said to be one of their best dishes. It was cubed chicken in broth with mashed potatoes, peas, carrots in a bowl with a puff pastry on top. It wasn't that impressive. The chocolate martini was good. The atmosphere is odd. A huge patio, with various alcoves that reminded me of a converted flat or rabbit warren. A bar room, dining room, and fireplace room, and bathrooms in the basement. We chose to sit in the fireplace room by the fire since we were cold. Quaint. There was a weird random moment when an elderly and very stately couple were sat next to us in the fireplace room. Ordered one cup of coffee without looking at the menu. Talked on their phone. Then got up to be moved to the dining room scanned it (and the people inside) then abruptly left the restaurant. We ordered: A delicious Irish coffee with a flavored liquor. Daisy Cutters The Guinness Beef Stew. Snoresville. It was bland and lacked seasoning. $14 for something tasting canned is Willy Wonka talk. The 1/2 rib special with garlic potatoes and cole slaw. The shining star for us. The sauce wasn't too sweet and meat was tender, but had a decent amount of bark. The potatoes were alright. The service was really good. The price points for what you get...beers, cocktails, and food with the geographic location are CRINGE-worthy. My eyes almost popped out of my head when I saw the check. I know it's placed conveniently for those in the area and the decor is cute but let's not get crazy or anything. read more

So we have been sitting here for 42 minutes and not had any servers come over. This may go on for some time. Other customers came in and got a server in 6 minutes after they came in. Wait staff is racist. I'm Korean and my girlfriend is black. read more

Sunday day drinking here is like awesome. Bitchy waitress, not so much. Just quit your job already, yes? I've passed this place a couple times in the summer and thought it looked chill compared to its neighbors and thought I'd check it out on a fall day finally. They have a really nice list of hot alcoholic beverages. I love me some hot adult beverages. Too bad it can sometimes not be hot enough as the waitress told us that the water gets preheated and that's it. No made to order business or reheating which is kinda BS. Nothing sucks more than a warm beverage about to turn cold in the next 5 minutes. Their menu looked awesome with a lot of hearty choices. Their curry fries is pretty solid, as is their battered up onion rings and Shepard's pie. Plus live irish music sunday nights! so festive. Lincoln park can be fun after all. read more

***EDIT*** BIGGGGGG EDIT !!!!! SO Big i deleted the old review! Ive been here 3 times in the last week. Once for just beers ($3 Sam Adams drafts...cant be beat...yum) Once for dinner and drinks and once for Brunch. Dinner was great. Fish and Chips on Friday... awesome onion rings as an appetizer!! The Chicken tenders with the Smithwick's BBQ sauce is out of this world! I couldve ate those everyday for a week. Brunch, again, was GREAT. I had french toast which was dipped in vanilla custard before thrown on the skillet, and it had the BEST syrup... warm with little apple chunks and walnut pieces. Sweet but NOT too sweet...it was just perfect The boy had the Irish Breakfast, enough food to tide anyone over for most the day. The waiter said it was made with all Irish goods, straight from Ireland, and that it was the best in the city. I couldn't argue. Even with the beauty of my french toast in front of me, I was jealous of his eggs,black pudding,baked beans, Irish bacon, Irish sausage, hash browns and sliced tomato... I DID say it would fill you up for the whole day right??? They have a really warm atmosphere, good beer specials, nice people, and great food... Cant wait until summer and I can sit outside there again! read more

Nothing better than having your own little room with fireplace in a cozy bar when the weather department has issued a tornado watch on a Sunday afternoon. Galway Arms is a nice pub and all (and they have live Irish music on Sunday night!!!) but the real purpose of this review is seasonal, liquid and hoppy. Its name? PUMPKING. Best pumpkin beer ever. Southern Tier Brewing Company, 8.6%, 12 ounces. On tap. Tastes like a slice of pie with whipping cream but in the most delicious way possible. Not overtly sweet or spicy, you really taste the richness of the pumpkin with hints of vanilla, nutmeg and caramel. A must try. Oh, and the curry chips are a tasty incentive, too. read more

Galway Arms is a hidden gem amongst a sea of fratty bars that specialize in crappy food and even worse company. It has a sweet outdoor patio that is NEVER crowded. It has an idiosyncratic interior that quite obviously used to be an apartment building (if you look up from the bar you can see a redone space that used to be a fire escape!). It has friendly servers. It has really solid specials on quality beers ($3 Sam Octoberfest and $4 Guinness 250). It has good Irish food (excellent fish & chips and shepherd's pie). It has TVs but they're not the focus... but they've still got the NFL package. It has trivia on wednesdays. It has my next weekend stop, an 80-ingredient bloody mary bar. This place has character. It is to bars what Noble Tree is to coffeeshops. Awesome spot. [Edit] Unfortuantely I have to report that while they do advertise (and have) NFL Sunday Ticket, Galway Arms is not a great place to go for football watching if your team is any team other than the Bears. Galway only has 3 TVs inside, and there is no seat in the bar that can see all three of them. Also they are unwilling to switch any TV other than the smallest and most remote of those away from the Bears game. The bloody mary bar is very solid though. read more

Low-key Lincoln Park pub with a lot of personality. It was a bit too muggy to sit outside on their patio, but I loved lazing in our cozy booth. The menu boasted a fine selection of traditional Irish fare as well as American pub grub (think mozzarella sticks and artichoke dip). My lone onion ring was quite good, and I may have stolen a french fry... or two. Great spot to chat someone up and grab a pint of Smithwicks or Blue Moon. read more

Dearest Galway Arms, When hiring for summer help, it's okay to be picky. I mean, the economy sucks right now - surely you have your pick of people vying for a summer job at an establishment with a great outdoor patio, right? The service tonight was the worst I'd ever had here - seriously, terrible. At one point, my dinner date Sarah B couldn't stop laughing, saying "did she really just say that to you?!" Yes, our server sucked. Instead of being a server with some initiative, she blamed things that went wrong on US - the paying customers! The beer menu says you offer Miller Lite in draft form - so when you deliver a bottle, it's OUR fault - we're supposed to be psychic and know that the menu is wrong? My food was so NOT what I ordered. No apologies, and that's my fault too - despite the server actually saying to me, "yeah, customers get that wrong all the time." Um, how about being proactive and double checking when we place the order then?! My normally very good Stoli and Sprites were completely watered down both times. Oh hell no. Oh Galway Arms... I think you're going to get filed away under "good for winter dining" if this is the kind of staff you hire in the summer. Best, Jo Mama read more

I came to Galway Arms by way of a dinner group, and I thought it was a stellar choice just following St. Patrick's Day. The restaurant is in an old house; the original woodwork, soft lighting, and sectioned off seating in what used to be rooms, sets the stage for a relaxing night to kick back, eat, drink, and be merry! Our group started with a ton of appetizers, but the decision to try the curry fries was unanimous! The fries were thick cut, like steak fries, smothered in a spiced curry sauce and topped with peas. I thought they were good, but I wouldn't order them again. Some of the fries were too soggy from the sauce, and I think the curry fries are overall an acquired taste - either you like it or you don't. I loved the calamari though, which was served in a tomato-based sauce and not deep fried. For my entree, I had the Fish & Chips. Two large cod filets, perfectly deep fried and crunchy, served with a side of fries and, as requested, a side of their honey truffle sauce. We spied this item earlier in the salad section - honey truffle - yes, you read that right! It's a salad dressing but it's so good for dipping fries! Others in our group had the lamb shank, shepard's pie, and chicken pot pie. Everything looked absolutely delicious; big portions and ultimate comfort food. I washed it all down with a Magner's cider. Galway Arms has a solid beer list which of course includes Guinness, but also a variety of other beers on draft and in bottles. Galway Arms is a cozy Irish pub with good food and drinks. I'm on the fence as to whether this spot warrants a trip from the 'burbs, but considering the last Irish pub I went to - Galway wins. read more

This is a pretty solid place! Since I am a true lover of Shepard's Pie, I just had to order it. It ranks up there as the second best Shepard's Pie I have tasted. It is going to be difficult to dethrone the Shepard's Pie champion at Chief O'Neils! It was really good though and I really liked the way it was presented. The potaoes were in one big scoop in the middle of the bowl and the beef/veggie/gravy mixture was spooned around the potatoes. It was also pretty tasty too! The service was good but it was nothing to get me all that excited. I liked the huge patio that they had and given the location of the place it wa a good spot for people watching. The day we went it was a little rainy out but the temperature was comfortable. We figured that it would be OK with the huge canopy over the patio. The sat us right at the edge of the patio while there were table open in the middle. The slight rain spatters I felt was mildly annoying but nothing that really pissed me off enough to drop it a star. Overall it was a good experience. If I am in the area again I would go back but I would not make a special trip out of my way to go here! read more

St. Patrick's Day, 2010. Where to go? Galway Arms. I was brought to Galway Arms by my fiery Irish redheaded friend and her British boyfriend, along with a few of his British friends, who all said that this was the closest thing to an Irish pub outside of Ireland. The black and tans were good and the fish and chips were the best I've had in the city. The corned beef and cabbage was phenomenal!! And the bread pudding?? Forget about it! Out. of. this. world. read more

I've been past this place roughly 432,554,213 times (give or take) and finally stopped in last night. We were in a weird mood and couldn't decide where to eat, so we hopped on the approaching Broadway bus with nowhere in particular in mind. After ruling out a few places that were closing soon, I made an executive decision and dragged my princess across the street to Galway Arms. It was really pretty chilly last night, so the warm, cozy atmosphere was perfect. The food was great; her southwest steak wrap was jam-packed with steak, and my chicken sandwich was really good too. $3 Sam Adams Oktoberfest pints hit the spot. It definitely won't be 432,554,213 passings before my next visit. They have a pub quiz, which I'd like to check out sometime. You know, put all my useless knowledge to work! read more

Galway arms has been my goth bar for several years. The new menu on the patio is fantastic. Glad to be back! read more

Galway Arms - The new menu is fantastic! Love that Galway has reopened. - Irish Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I'm from the east coast, and this place has the best Fish & Chips I've ever had! (So that's saying something!) Everytime has been a good experience, although the most recent time I went for lunch, the ketchup bottle exploded all over my friend - not sure why she didn't think it was as funny as I did...weird. Anyway, definitely try it out - service is a bit slow, so don't go if you are in a rush. read more

I cannot sing enough praise for Galway Arms. Having been here a number of times, each time for a different occasion, I have received amazing service with fantastic food and drinks. Visit #1 was with 3 of my co-workers going for light dinner and afternoon drinks. The pub was busy, but our waitress was prompt and my Galway Burger was superb. Visit #2 was for game two of the World Cup - USA v Portugal. The place was absolutely slammed - but our waitress couldn't have handled it better. As a group of 8 who consistently needed more beer, wings, and other bar snacks throughout the game - she was always right around the corner and speedy with her service. Drink and dine at Galway, you won't be disappointed. read more

Galway is a decent place. Not too exciting, but decent. The interior is cozy and dim. Watch out for that winding dangerous trip down the stairs to the bathrooms- Yikes! The outdoor seating in the front is a nice place to chill and watch the craziness on Clark St. Oh wait, it's chill until Mickey's next door starts bumping its club music. If you go here, try the crab cakes. I dug 'em. read more