Merchant bar and Restaurant

3.8

31 Reviews

€30 and under

International

Make a reservation

2 people

Nov 27, 2024

8:30 PM

Good for groups
Lively
Good for special occasions

Discover Merchant Cafe & Bar, a gem nestled in the heart of Galway. Adjoining the Eyre Square Hotel, Merchant Cafe & Bar combines the charm of a classic cafe with the liveliness of a modern bar, our venue offers a distinct and engaging experience.

Sample our menu, carefully curated to meld international flavours with locally sourced ingredients. Our chefs' expertise shines in dishes that beautifully blend innovation with tradition. From a bustling daytime cafe to a vibrant lunch and dinner spot that transitions seamlessly into a lively nighttime bar, we cater to diverse tastes.

Our ambience reflects our dedication to creating lasting memories. The fusion of contemporary design and rustic elements in our decor provides an inviting setting, perfect for intimate gatherings or joyous celebrations. Join us at Merchant Cafe & Bar and experience a space where style meets comfort.

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
€30 and under
Cuisines
International, Café, Dining Bar
Hours of operation
Mon–Thu, Sun 7:30 am–11:30 pm Fri, Sat 7:30 am–12:30 am
Phone number
(091) 569 633
Website
https://www.eyresquarehotel.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress

Location
Forster Street, Galway, Connacht HP1 TCP0
Neighborhood
Galway City Centre
Parking details
None
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cafe, Cocktails, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 31 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

3.8

3.8 based on all time ratings

3.7Food
3.8Service
3.6Ambience
3.7Value

Noise • Moderate

31 Reviews

S
Susanne
Toronto
2 reviews
1.0
2 reviews
Dined on November 16, 2024
1. Overall 1
2. Food 1
3. Service 1
4. Ambience 1
Looked great online - but as they say looks can be deceiving - place was filthy - including tables and toilets - food was awful - staff more interested in baby shower that was taking place downstairs - would never recommend this place
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PC
PatrickC
Dublin
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on February 3, 2024
1. Overall 2
2. Food 2
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 3
We had a booking last night, and were put right beside the door despite there being lots of empty seats, we requested to move and were moved. I got fish and chips and the batter on the fish was not nice at all, my daughter got the same and agreed, it was like it was done in dirty oil. My wife got the buttermilk chicken burger and it was really dry and overcooked. The staff were friendly but the service was poor. Overall it was overpriced and not worth the money. Look elsewhere in Galway for dinner.
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MS
MariaS
Berlin
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on August 31, 2023
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 4
A nice and quite place. Good food ( I really liked the pear salad with goat cheese) service slow but the staff is kind
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Edinburgh
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on August 7, 2023
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Wonderful menu! Great variety for myself and my partner. Super friendly and attentive staff. Will be back
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Toronto
5 reviews
1.0
5 reviews
Dined on July 29, 2023
1. Overall 1
2. Food 1
3. Service 1
4. Ambience 1
When we arrived there was no host to seat us at our reservation time and the bartender told us the kitchen was closed. We did not have a drinks only reservation so this was disappointing
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ND
NealD
Washington DC
30 reviews
5.0
30 reviews
Dined on July 21, 2023
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 4
Very good chicken wings. Staff and managers need a bit more experience and oversight. Very difficult to get their attention, didn't deliver ordered drinks, etc.
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HC
HelenC
N. Ireland
3 reviews
4.0
3 reviews
Dined on July 15, 2023
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
Very good food and good atmosphere Would recommend
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F
Faye
Connacht
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on June 18, 2023
1. Overall 2
2. Food 2
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 2
One thing I hate is leaving a bad review so I will start by saying this is not a bad restaurant. It just need work on service which I would say is more the problem of staff than management. 4 of us ate here on Sunday. My order was a pear salad which came with 3 small pieces of pear & a plate of lettuce. Pear looked like a garnish & not the main part. My salad came quickly but my husband ordered soup & 2 kids ordered chicken wings , these came 30 mins later. Food was ok but it’s not on when 4 people sit down together that there is such a difference in receiving food. It’s a pity as if all was working together this would be a great place to eat. We paid for our food without complaint & left a tip. What would be the good in given out to waiting staff when the problem lies with the kitchen.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Dublin
3 reviews
1.0
3 reviews
Dined on October 22, 2022
1. Overall 1
2. Food 1
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 1
Disappointing evening in the merchant bar and not the dining experience we’ve come to associate with Opentable restaurants. We arrived to what was essentially a half empty pub with no atmosphere on a Saturday evening. The photos are deceiving. This is NOT a restaurant. It is a pub that happens to sell a bit of food on the side (which was poor quality to say the least). Don’t make the mistake of dressing up if you are going - tracksuits and runners seem to be an appropriate dress code, we felt overdressed in a shirt and jeans. We found the quality of the food to be poor. The fish and chips tasted like they came out of a microwave and the chicken burger wasn’t much better. The menus (which are handed out on a single A4 sheet of paper) are completely out of date - we were told they haven’t been updated on the website in over a year. This was disappointing as we had planned what we wanted to eat ahead of arrival only to find that our first, second and third options were all unavailable. Unfortunately, we had booked last minute and couldn’t leave to find somewhere else to go at 8:30 on a Saturday. The only positive we took from the “meal” was that we were in and out of the pub within 35 minutes. The server was also very warm and friendly. She gave us some good recommendations of places in Galway to go for some live music.
Merchant bar and RestaurantResponded on November 22, 2022
Dear Guest, I am extremely sorry for the very negative experience, I have organized an update of the website menu. Your comments about the food have been shared with our kitchen team. Feedback regarding the quality of our menu is in the main extremely positive however it is 100% consistency that we strive for. I am very glad to read that our staff member was warm and friendly with you and you enjoyed the recommendations offered for live Music Kind Regards, John Beattie Eyre Square Hotel
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JD
JosephineD
Connacht
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on August 29, 2022
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 4
Nice bar. Good food. Staff not very happy....grumpy
Merchant bar and RestaurantResponded on November 22, 2022
Hi Josephine, Thank you for the Recommendation, We hope you have the opportunity to return soon, We are very sorry if you felt our team members were not attentive on the night, We strive to be warm, friendly and engaging at all times and will work harder at this in future Kind Regards, The Merchant Bar and Restaurant Team
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FAQs

Merchant bar and Restaurant is rated 3.8 stars by 31 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

Nov 27, 2024

8:30 PM

Google Map for Merchant bar and Restaurant

Forster Street, Galway, Connacht HP1 TCP0

Additional information

Neighborhood
Galway City Centre
Hours of operation
Mon–Thu, Sun 7:30 am–11:30 pm Fri, Sat 7:30 am–12:30 am
Price
€30 and under
Cuisines
International, Café, Dining Bar
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
None
Payment options
AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cafe, Cocktails, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
https://www.eyresquarehotel.com/
Phone number
(091) 569 633

Merchant bar and Restaurant

Make a reservation

Additional information

Menu

What 31 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

FAQs

How is Merchant bar and Restaurant restaurant rated?

Is Merchant bar and Restaurant currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Additional information