Trieste Café & Wine Bar — Restaurant in Galway

BE AWARE, you will be ridiculed if you decide to drink wine at this “wine bar”. The reason I am giving this place two stars instead of one is because the owner was nice to us initially upon walking in. The place was clearly busy but he offered us a table as long as we could be out within a reasonable amount of time. It’s a cute location and the vibe inside and on the patio is quite nice. The owner is obviously local and very involved in the business, as a Seattle native and regular of wine bars like La Caviste and Purple Cafe, I adore wine bars that are similar in that regard and was excited to try out a place that may be similar during my trip to Ireland.

Where things went wrong and why I can’t recommend this wine bar: Upon arriving, we agreed to have cheese and wine. After looking at the menu, the cheese boards are OVER 40 EUROS for two people and while they’re big, there did not appear to be any mix + match option for people that wanted smaller bites. I live in one of the highest cost cities in the world, it is still half the price for similar charcuterie at the aforementioned wine bars. We were pretty shocked and wanted a more robust meal so figured we would relax and have a few glasses of wine, maybe do a few cheeses on the side but ultimately do a larger dinner elsewhere and save our appetite (and money). I asked the owner if it was necessary to also purchase cheese with our wine. I asked because I genuinely didn’t want to be rude and appreciated that he sat us and that he has a business to run. He emphasized that “MOST of his guests get the cheese here” in a very sarcastic tone and said “well YOU told ME you were going to have cheese when you sat down”. But then he took our wine order anyways and stormed off? I would’ve just ordered some cheese or asked for recommendations, he didn’t need to be so rude and off putting. I literally asked if we should order some cheese so we wouldn’t be rude or taking up a table. It screamed tourist trap with overpriced cheese TIED to the wine menu and apparently you can opt out but only if you tolerate some uncomfortable passive aggression. Yeah… anyways… my partner and I ended up getting up immediately after that exchange and going literally feet away to Cava Bodega, which is a Michelin recognized restaurant with excellent cheese plates and tapas for half the price and a much more extensive, curated wine selection for about the same price. I’d recommend checking that place...

Coming to Trieste is a wonderful experience in every way. Barry is charming from the moment you walk in and the cozy atmosphere is a warm welcome to any and all in Galway. My wife and I stumbled upon Trieste on one of our first nights in Ireland and little did we know it would be our favorite place. The fresh meat and cheese is the best charcuterie we’ve ever had and the wine selection is quite good. Everything about the experience made us feel welcomed and excited - so excited we came back the very next night with her parents!

Whether you are local or just visiting Galway, stop by if you like a) wine b) cheese c) meats d) good conversation e) or all of the above.

One note, you may want to call for reservations as although there is indoor and outdoor seating it can be difficult to get a table especially on weekends. We can’t wait to come back next time...

Our first visit, and we had the most amazing night. The bar is gorgeous, cozy and comfortable. Very relaxed and easy-going. Barry and Kate are so incredibly warm, welcoming and genuinely lovely hosts.

They go above and beyond to make you feel right at home and just like old friends. They are both super knowledgeable on the cheese, meats and wine on their menu, and it's all fantastic.

The boards themselves are laid out beautifully and we were so happy with the selection and variety. The wine was perfect and we loved everything.

The time just flew by and we honestly couldn't believe how wonderful the evening was. It's honestly one of the best dining experiences I've ever had in my life—and we will be visiting as many times as possible in the future. If you are from Galway, or are only visiting, you can't miss...