First stop after landing at Shannon. Never disappoints. Oysters are best on the planet. Staff is absolutely lovely.

This was my FAVORITE meal in Galway! It was my first time in Ireland - was visiting for business trip and we stayed in Galway for a few days and got to try several restaurants in the area. This was my favorite restaurant because of the AMAZING seafood. The raw oysters were super fresh and it was fun getting to see the manager show us how to shuck oysters (he used to compete in oyster shucking contest and was ranked pretty high!). The steamed mussels and crab claws were also delicious. Ending the meal with cheesecake was great! The restaurant has a cozy atmosphere that makes you feel like you are visiting a friend's home for a nice meal. Highly recommend checking out this restaurant if you are in the area and are looking for amazing seafood! read more

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We showed up for an early dinner on Easter Sunday without a reservation. Lucky for us they could seat us but we would have to finish our meal within 1.5 hours. People after us were directed to the bar for open seating. The seafood chowder was rich and filling. Mixed oyster plate came with three Gigas and three natives (5 years to grow) but we couldn't agree on which was the best. Moran's featured half a dozen different cold platters and we ordered the smoked salmon which consisted of plate sized slices topped with a salad and a scoop of crab. The Marie rose dressing was delicious and made this salad one of our favorites of this trip. Lastly their Irish soda bread was the best we've eaten and wished we could've gotten a loaf to take with us. The good service, great food and eclectic ambiance made for a nice Easter Sunday meal. read more

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The food is outstanding! Easily the best fish and chips and brown bread in Ireland. For the fish: crisp batter with perfectly cooked flaky fish. The food did take a bit long to come out even though the restaurant wasn't very busy; however, it was well worth the wait. Service was alright and the ambiance was comfortable with both indoor and outdoor options. Definitely a place I would eat again if given the opportunity. read more

We were so lucky to snag a spot at the bar on the first day of oyster season! We didn't have a reservation, but stopped in around 5:45PM on a weekday in the hope of trying their famous oysters. We were fortunate to be seated at the bar (all restaurant tables were taken or reserved), and the team were so friendly and helpful, including giving great recommendations. We opted for the sampler plate which gave us 3 Gigas oysters and 3 Wild Native oysters. The Gigas were fresh and briny, very tasty. The Wild Native are funkier with a more metallic taste - I loved them. The staff were keen to hear our thoughts and preferences, and clearly take real pride in their offerings and service. Bravo! read more

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Superb seafood, excellent and attentive service, and the happy buzz from a full restaurant. The location, looking out over a pretty river, is the cherry on the cake. Absolutely superlative oysters- the quality really sang. read more

Morans Oyster Cottage - Seafood Near Me - Galway, G

Must stop if you're headed to or from the Cliffs of Moher. Some of the best seafood and service we had in all of Ireland.

Absolute gem of a restaurant!! Adorable house on the water. The decor is lovely and the seating is very comfortable. Service is top notch as well, staff are quite attentive. They bring bread to your table and it's tasty, slightly sweet and the density/texture is almost like that of a snacking cake. The pads of butter make it such a nice little addition to your meal. To start, we had to get some oysters. The grilled oysters were €19 for 6. They're made with garlic and breadcrumbs and these are probably the best grilled oysters I've had anywhere! And that's compared to many oysters I've eaten in the US, including New Orleans. The texture is so smooth and buttery and the cook on them is perfect. Also tried the steamed clams for €14, which were super fresh and simple. Also superb! I had the fish special, which was a monkfish. Haven't had much monkfish in my life, but the flesh was hearty and flavors were simple. The parsnips, carrot puree, and mashed potatoes were all nice sides to what felt like a very well rounded meal. Bathroom is also very clean with plenty of stalls. Would absolutely come back here. Such a lovely place to stop on the way out of Galway! read more

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went for lunch and it was delicious. Had the oysters was delicious and the prawn salad which was also very good. Service was good.

This out-of-the-way spot is well worth finding! The food and service were excellent, and the halibut dish was one of the best I've ever had. Highly recommend! read more

Great local restaurant with outstanding oysters. Service was very good. Rhubarb crumble was quite good. read more

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We had a nice quick dinner here at Moran's. The oysters and the fish are great. It is a busy spot so prepare to wait. I would recommend checking it out ! read more

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So glad I was able to get in here on very short notice. We called the day before and they were fully booked. We came at 3pm on a Saturday and were told we had 2 hours before the next reservation, which was ample time. The oysters were incredible, some of the best oysters I've ever had. The sauce they were in is so flavorful, and they are much larger than what is available in the USA. The fish and chips had an incredibly generous portion. The cod was obviously fresh caught and prepared, and came with both fries ("CHIPS") and a side salad (I substituted out the coleslaw). My family also had the fish and chips, the warm tiger prawn salad, and the chili coconut prawns, all of which were extremely tasty and nothing was left on our plates. For dessert we had the Pavlova and the Rhubarb Crumble; both of which were INCREDIBLE. I had a Pavlova last night in downtown Galway that can't even compare. This place is super popular- there was a wedding beginning at 5pm that was going to take up half the restaurant, so clearly people love this place. There are probably 10-15 tables, some in tight spots as it is an older place. My family is fairly tall so my dad and brother did have to squeeze in, but overall this is an incredible gem in the Galway area. read more

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Cutest place right on the water. Perfect location for fresh, local seafood. The oysters paired with a glass of wine were outstanding. They were out of clams so we settled for the mussels and they did not disappoint. Well worth the detour. read more

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The food and service was great. We had the native wild oysters which were fantastic. If you are in the area it is definitely worth a try

Didn't really find anything special about the place. We tried their oysters and they were not to our liking.

We were here quite some time ago, but I will never forget this is one of the most incredible experiences at a restaurant. The oysters and the food were great! What really made it special, though, was there was a group of folks (maybe a choir) from Cavistons Food Emporium (I don't know if they had another name they went by). They sang songs like "All I Have To Do Is Dream" by The Everly Brothers and "Delilah" by Tom Jones. They had a jolly time singing nonstop for the whole time we were there. This was April 27th, 2017. If we ever get back to Ireland we will be coming back here and to Cavistons as well. read more

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Hands down, one of the best meals we had in Ireland. Oysters and the mussels were fantastic! My son ordered the shrimp and it was prepared very well. Prices are reasonable too. However, don't order the sandwiches here. They are bland and mostly bread. My bad, I should have known better than to order a sandwich at an oyster cottage. LOL Beers on tap are fantastic, and they have a pretty decent variety. In any event, we enjoyed it so much, we drove out of our way to come back. Must stop in here if you are in the area! read more

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I'm not the first American to visit nor will I be the last to visit Moran's, a 300- year old restaurant just outside of Galway City. We arrived at our hotel in the evening and needed a place to grab a fantastic dinner. Moran's absolutely delivers. On a weekend night good luck getting a table, especially if you have a large party, but during the week it is possible and if you're traveling alone or with a friend you can slide in and grab a seat at the bar. We had a few items from the menu, all were fantastic, but I want to focus on two things: Guinness and oysters. Guinness and oysters are a legendary combination. They're like peanut butter and jelly, or Tom and Jerry, or salt and pepper, but it's difficult to get the execution of both perfect. Moran's does that. The Guinness can't just be good, it has to be perfect. Moran's Guinness is as good as any pour you'd find in Dublin. Perfecto. When you dig in to Moran's oysters you can tell immediately that this is what an oyster should taste like. Close your eyes and you are transported right out into the Atlantic with both smell, texture, and flavor. These are awesome. After you slide that oyster down and then grab that frothy goodness of Guinness you'll get it. Also as a bonus if you read this review and like it - you want to check out Kelly Oysters in the same town. Shhhhhh. Be there for lunch. read more

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BEST OYSTERS I've ever had. Fat, salty, umami. Worth the money. GET THEM. Everything else was missing an element or two. I had the honey glazed duck and BF had the fish and chips. The duck flavour was good, but it was tougher than the duck I'd gotten used to. I forgot duck can be tough if it's not done with lots of patience. Anyway, it definitely seemed like they skipped a prep step or two with that, because I left some on my plate and I NEVER leave duck uneaten. Mashed potatoes were fine but needed seasoning. BF's fish and chips were pretty good, I would say. Although the fries needed a heavy hand of salt. Do people in Ireland not like to season their food? Also they never leave salt on the table. read more

We came without a reservation, yet they were kind enough to seat us and give us (the best table) by the cosy fireplace! The fish and chips and salmon cakes were delicious but the Oysters were just harvested and out of this world. The ambience is cosy and warm and the staff was exceptional. A true gem. read more

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The food and service is amazing. The environment is great with a lovely view of the river which you get to see fill up as the tide comes in. It's is very overpriced so be aware of that. But in this area it's probably the same price that you'll find most places read more

Morans Oyster Cottage - Gosh and chips - Seafood Near Me - Galway, G

Best oysters I've ever eaten!! They were so fresh that they didn't even need a vinaigrette! We also had the Thermidors and those were also very delicious but the Gigas won me over! Mussels were fabulous, the brine was delicious. The seafood special was so good, the smoked salmon just melted into your mouth. Definitely worth going here!! read more

Morans Oyster Cottage - Seafood Near Me - Galway, G

One of the best meals I've ever had, Ireland or not. I was brought here by my brother to discover Galway and one of the finest seafood meals. We started with a pint each of course, and were promptly served with fresh soda bread...I had eaten soda bread before, but this had the flavor of truly freshly home-made bread. Honestly, I might have been able to just eat soda bread, irish butter and been a happy guy. The oysters were freshly brought in from the ocean, and these variants had a lovely briny flavor to them...if you're used to the more neutral tasting oysters, be aware that these are quite the different experience. The oysters are served on top of seaweed and look and taste incredible. We followed these oysters with fish and chips. The fish was immense, and had a finely light layer of batter surrounding it. This lent to a crisp layer with the meaty soft fish underneath, making the fish itself the star of the meal. The chips were great as expected, and the coleslaw was lovely and fresh. Overall, an incredible meal, and we left feeling incredibly satiated and happy. Go here if you can...it's a hidden gem. read more

We had dinner reservations while on Holiday in Ireland. The service was the best we've experienced in Ireland & the service was even better! I had their seafood platter and it was excellent! I would highly recommend this restaurant if you're ever in Galway, Ireland. read more

Morans Oyster Cottage - Seafood Near Me - Galway, G

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Chill. Incredible late lunch after touring some Arias were very friendly. Got us in right away. We ordered the lobster platter for two. It was the best I've ever eaten in my life. Worked in restaurants for many years. I was very impressed with the quality. read more

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The food and service were excellent. This was our first meal in Ireland and we went here based on a friend's recommendation and it did not disappoint. The owner found us a table. It was incredibly hospitable. The atmosphere was very charming. The seafood was extremely fresh and the oysters were spectacular. Also, we discovered at the end of our trip that the best brown bread we had in our travels was from our first night at moran's. We will return! read more

Moran's is a restaurant that absolutely should be on everyone's foodie bucket list, and if it's not, put it on the list now!! I love seafood, and I've had some really great seafood in my life, but the oysters and garlic crab claws are literally on a whole other level of freshness and deliciousness in Galway at Moran's Oyster Cottage. I sat at the bar and ordered the Oyster Tasting Plate which had three wild native oysters and three Gigas oysters. They were both seriously sublime. When they claim that they are from the sea to the table, they lost certainly telling you like it is. You can easily taste the Wild Atlantic Ocean, and the manager told me they are from about 5 minutes away (since the restaurant is on the water) where the river meets the ocean. Next, I had the Warm Garlic Crab Claws with a salad. O.M.G. The crab claws were hot, tender, fresh, and sitting in a bath of the best warm garlic clarified butter on the earth...literally a whole other level. If someone asks me what my last meal on earth would be, this would be it. I could have easily finished here, but with mussels being a favorite of mine, I decided to try the steamed mussels as well. I was already quite content, not overly stuffed, but I had to. These mussels were quite simple. The sauce was extremely light made of white wine and salt water. I would assume it's the water from the mussels as they're opening because that's what it tasted like. The mussels itself were small, like little jewels of the sea. I enjoy a fancier saw to dunk my mussels in, but when the quality is so perfect, it doesn't need much more. I really appreciate the simplicity of the steamed mussels. I am truly happy that I decided to go to Moran's last night, and if I am ever in Galway again, I will be eating at Moran's. read more

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This is such a hidden gem! A fellow American we met in Galway recommended this place as it was on our way on the drive down to Dromoland. It is VERY off the beaten path and secluded. It was honestly a little creepy driving up to in the dark... but well worth it! The founders have allegedly won world oyster shucking contests. Per the name, I had to start with oysters for the appetizer. I did sampler of the two local Irish versions and they were incredible and very flavorful. I had one of the specials for my entree, which was a great fish topped with crab. Amazing - see the picture below. My family had other seafood dishes and everyone loved it. It was nice to switch it up from some of the other classic Irish beef and stew dishes we had at other restaurants and go with lighter fresh seafood. There were not a ton of other people in the restaurant, probably because of its location, so it was a quieter setting. That being said, still definitely recommend! read more

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Nobel Prize Winner, Seamus Heaney, best describes Moran's Oyster Cottage in his poem, "Oysters". "Our shells clacked on the plates. My tongue was a filling estuary, My palate hung with starlight: As I tasted the salty Pleiades Orion dipped his foot into the water. Alive and violated, They lay on their bed of ice: Bivalves: the split bulb And philandering sigh of ocean Millions of them ripped and shucked and scattered." Moran's Oyster Cottage has been serving their renowned oysters for over two hundred years. This famous oyster bar, located just ten miles south of Galway, was established in 1797 and has been passed down to seven generations of the Moran family. The traditional thatched roof cottage is rich in history. Moran's restaurant contains many small dining rooms that were formerly bedrooms and living rooms in the original cottage design. The preserved front bar is small and cramped and resembles what most pubs in Ireland were like 50 years ago. My husband, sister, and I visited Moran's Oyster Cottage in hopes of experiencing some of the world's best oysters and we were not disappointed. We started off our meal with several pints of beer as well as half dozen raw Edulis oysters (native Galway flat oysters) and a half dozen raw Gigas (locally grown oysters). We lucked out to be visiting Ireland in September because this is the start of their oyster season so we were able to get the fresh Edulis oysters that are not available year round. The Edulis oyster had a very meaty texture and I detected a faint seaweed flavor. Delicious! We also ordered a half dozen of the grilled oysters with garlic breadcrumbs and the mussels provencal in a tomato, garlic and herb sauce. I sopped up the delicious tomato broth from the mussels with thick slices of homemade brown bread. Absolute perfection! This was one of the best seafood meals I have ever had! Moran's Oyster Cottage may be a little hard to find, but their perfect pints and oysters make the drive worthwhile! read more

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Warm crab legs were so good! Make sure to get that along with the soup, so yummy in the world Omgosh! We even tried their locally brewed beer! Ahh! read more

Morans Oyster Cottage - Fireplace in winter! - Seafood Near Me - Galway, G

The best oysters I've ever had. Also, had the duck, fish and chips, seafood chowder, and chili coconut shrimp. Everything is delicious. read more

Morans Oyster Cottage - Seafood Near Me - Galway, G

Wow ... just wow! We were heading to Galway when I've spotted the sign for this restaurant. A few minutes later I remembered reading about it online, where it got great feedback. So I turned around to see what the fuss is about. Well, my dear friends....they serve the BEST. OYSTERS. EVER. I'm not somebody who uses "best ever" often....but this is really the case here. We've had Oysters in France, Italy, England, Scotland, Spain, Portugal, Japan, Thailand, Mexico and the US (and some other countries). But nothing came close to these here....nothing! They taste so fresh and nice. They are tender. Not just that...they are creamy, they almost melt in your mouth. I could go on and on....but writing about them and actually tasting them is a different story. So, if you are around the area....even a hundred miles away....be sure to visit this fantastic place. Service was really friendly too. This is a very famous and successful place, yet the staff here is still great, friendly and helfpul above average. Prices - especially given the quality - are more than fair. Of course there are other meals on the menu....just don't miss out on the Oysters. One of the very highlights of our Road Trip this year. Highly recommended! read more

Morans Oyster Cottage - be sure to visit this place! - Seafood Near Me - Galway, G

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Let's get quick to the point. Moran's is absolutely positively one of the best restaurants I have ever visited! The food was superb, and the service was excellent as well. It is a place you must try if given the chance! Long version: My brother and I were making our way from Doolin to Galway with dinner time upon us. Now I was quite "hangry," and I just wanted to eat anything. My brother found this place on Yelp while we were still on the highway, and we almost didn't reroute but I am so glad we did. Getting to Moran's is definitely a drive off the regular road. The last stretch is a narrow and dark road which made me question how good this place would be, but boy was I wrong! Moran's has been around since the 1700's and their food is absolutely amazing! We started off with the grilled oysters for our appetizer and they were delicious. They come with a garlic breading and it was extremely tasty. For entrees, my brother ordered the duck and I had the house's recommended fish and chips. Both dishes were impeccable and the flavors so robust and rich! My fish was perfectly crispy on the outside while flaky on the inside. My brother's duck was probably one of the best things I've had in a restaurant. The one thing I noticed at Moran's was the excellent service. It definitely put the restaurant at another level. Our waiter was super helpful with answering our questions about the menu, and was receptive with our every request. Anytime we asked for something it was at the table within 2 minutes. During our dinner, I never had to ask for a refill on my water, or turn around to order another drink. The waiter and rest of the floor staff were very attentive and responsive. I think this was a pleasant surprise as Moran's has a family restaurant vibe, but the experience could rival a Michelin star restaurant. If you are in Ireland and in the area, Moran's is an absolute must. read more

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Best food we at in Ireland! They oysters were clean and quite tasty. Hubs had sole that was cooked to perfection and I had the coconut chili lime shrimp. This is a favorite of mine when visiting Jamaica but Morans now takes top honors. Saint Clair Sauvignon Blanc was the perfect pairing. Can't wait to eat there again read more

Best oysters ever! Need I say more? Food was good and the service was great! Beautiful location.

After a long day of traveling, my friends and I were famished and really in the mood for seafood. Moran's Oyster Cottage did not disappoint. We were amazed that we were able to get a table without a reservation. The restaurant is larger inside than it looks. We ordered the Oysters to start because duh Oyster Cottage. The baked Oysters OMG! They put an amazing garlic breadcrumb mixture on top. Must try! My friend and I decided to share the Crab Claws and Cod special. The Crab Claws are absolutely delicious soaked in butter. And the Cod came out beautifully presented and perfectly cooked. My friend ordered the Coconut Shrimp, but was surprised it was a curry. Just average tasting. For dessert, we ordered the apple crumble that hit the spot. Their service was also very good. Definitely felt very warm and cozy. Would make a great date night restaurant. read more

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Sadly this beautiful thatch-roofed institution did not impress us 4 tonight. At 7:55PM, no clams, no oysters and no muscles. Then no chowder after that but then they made some. It was delicious. Forgot the brown bread but it was very good when it did arrive. Hake & chips was good but slaw was just fair. Servers seem to be a rotation at each table. Friendly enough but no follow up. Ran out of water. Why do I feel like I just wasted my time and $ at a tourist trap? read more

We chose this place as our last seafood dinner dining experience and we were not disappointed! It was in a quaint very historic little building which was both cosy and very welcoming. We were early for our reservation but they seated us anyway. All of our servers were friendly, knowledgeable, kind and courteous. We were brought our drinks and starters quickly and offered the daily specials with recommendations also. The food was delicious, deserving of all rave reviews! The service was excellent and the staff is an absolute asset to this already amazing establishment. Thank you for an excellent meal and evening! read more

So good. Another Yelp find! The family has owned this place for 300 hundred years! We had the sample platter which was cold but the smoked Salmon was delicious. Great atmosphere! read more