With Covid restrictions and the country coming to a standstill, I hadn’t visited Galway in over three years.
Easily one of my favourite spots for a lost weekend, the city is packed with award-winning restaurants and pubs that bring the cobblestone streets to life. So along with my better half we drove the two-and-a-half hours from Dublin for a night at The Dean Galway, one of the most eagerly-awaited new hotels, smack-bang in the middle of the bustling city.
And it’s easy to see why so many people have been looking forward to it. The boutique hotel, a stone’s throw from Eyre Square, is a perfect blend of old and new.
Every detail has been meticulously thought out, even right down to the building itself which incorporates historic structures, including a portion of the Galway to Clifden railway tunnel built in the 1890s, and a two-storey stone building dating back to the 1830s. We booked into one of the hotel’s Super Rooms and it lived up to its name.
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The bespoke decor could be summed up as luxurious and fun. The very spacious room was filled with gadgets and plenty of added extras which had us oohing from the get-go. We’re talking Netflix enabled smart TVs, a Munchie Box filled with Irish snacks and booze and even a record player with vinyl. In all my years staying at hotels I have never seen this very cool addition.
After our journey we were both very peckish so lashed into some of the nicies from the Munchie Box, or what we called the “Goodie Wall”. A very snazzy Bluetooth Marshall radio, which you could connect your phone to, was also on the bedside table for our use.
One of my favourite things about the room itself was the art deco style bathroom which included a huge walk-in shower. And unlike in some hotels I have stayed in, the rain forest shower was so powerful that it felt like it was massaging you at the same time – I didn’t want to get out.
After sipping on some nice prosecco in the room we got ready and headed for dinner at Sophie’s Rooftop Restaurant and Terrace for excellent food with a side of stunning views over the city. The 120-seat restaurant has three spacious terraces wrapping around the rooftop of the building, making it the perfect spot for every season with its heaters and cosy seating.
As we are both vegan we were unsure if much would be on offer but the staff, including our server Janine, made sure we were well looked after. We had the very tasty tempura cauliflower with mango salsa, and a delicious pea soup for starter followed by a mouth-watering sweet potato and pecan risotto.
Apart from our vegan dishes, other popular choices on the menu include wood-fired pizzas, daily pasta specials and fish dishes, all crafted using the best of local and seasonal ingredients. If you fancy something else to eat, the West’s very first Elephant & Castle restaurant, renowned for its chicken wings, is on the ground floor of the hotel.
The next morning we returned to Sophie’s – for one of the best vegan breakfasts we’ve ever had. We were too full after our big brekkie but DIME Coffee on the ground floor, serve freshly brewed custom blend coffee which you can grab and then relax in the spacious lobby area.
Free Wi-Fi and plenty of charging spots throughout the lobby makes it a great spot to get work done too. The hotel when we visited was already very popular after only opening its doors but it is likely to become even more so when the boutique health club, POWER Gym, opens its doors this summer.
Guests can enjoy world class fitness experiences or relax in the outdoor heated pool, sauna and steam room. POWER will offer two unique class concepts; POWER Box and POWER Run. Delivered by some of Ireland’s best trainers, these high intensity classes are designed to push you to new fitness heights while making the whole experience enjoyable and fun.
And the changing rooms are also going to be finished to the highest standards – with waterfall showers, sumptuous Brooks & Co. toiletries, fluffy towels and Dyson hairdryers to ensure you finish each workout refreshed and recharged. So after a lovely night in the city of Tribes we headed back to Dublin.
We will definitely stay at The Dean again...although we might check out The Dean Cork next. For further information on The Dean Galway visit www.thedean.ie for exclusive opening offers.
- A Stay & Dine in Sophie’s Rooftop package, which includes an overnight stay, 3 course dinner from a set menu, full breakfast and complementary use of Power Gym, Heated Pool & Sauna comes in at roughly €329 for a Saturday night in a Super Room this summer.
- Room only rates start from €150.
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