Outdoor dining: 10 great places to eat outside in Co Galway

Dooncastle Seafood Trailer
Kylemore House, Kylemore, Co Galway, instagram.com
Oyster farmer John Ward is in a particularly stunning location on the shore of Kylemore Lake, where he's serving seafood from his trailer every Friday to Sunday. He has access to his own excellent Dooncastle oysters, of course, along with razor clams from Bernard Whelan, local mussels and fish and chips. AD

Éan Bakery & Wine Bar 
Druid Lane, Galway, eangalway.com
Christine Walsh is one of the country's top chefs and has created quite the buzz with Éan in Galway. With a new outdoor seating area, we can soon be tucking into salads, open sandwiches, and small plates for lunch, and a more extensive small plates menu in the evening. Oysters with lacto plum and pickled laver seaweed; grilled fresh sardines on katsobushi butter toast; and fresh Jersey curds, with kohlrabi and watercress are some of the dishes that will be featured. Open Thursday to Sunday. CH

Misunderstood Heron
Derrynacleigh, Leenane, Co Galway, misunderstoodheron.com
Misunderstood Heron describes itself as a "wild outdoor eatery", and it doesn't get much wilder than eating a Korean pork belly rice bowl followed by a salted Renvyle honey cheesecake on the edge of Killary Fjord. The menu is hyper-local, the setting is breathtaking, and there's a 2km coastal walk that starts and ends there if you need to work up an appetite. LC

Nóin at the Twelve Hotel
The Twelve Hotel, Barna, Co Galway, thetwelvehotel.ie
The team at the Twelve were quick off the mark last year, repurposing an outdoor area with seating, heating and cover to launch Nóin, and it's back again this year. Open daily from June 7th, all-day food ranges from poached eggs to pancakes for brunch, and classic burgers, fish and chips and pizza. Be sure to check out the cocktails. CH

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Phi
Fairgreen Road, Galway, phigalway.com
Loam chef Damien Martin has launched a tasty picnic box for two, running until late autumn. It includes seasonal salad with roast vegetables, breads, dips, a selection of Sheridan's cheese, cold meat or fish (pork neck and kimchi, featherblade and horseradish, sardines with tomato and lovage), a sweet cake of the day, and kombucha. Collection Friday and Saturday. CH

Restaurant Darcy Twelve
Market Square, Clifden, Co Galway, darcytwelve.ie
In the centre of Clifden, the takeaway menu here has included Connemara lamb burger, Thai green curry, chicken Caesar burger and the fish dog using local fresh fish. There are plans to serve an extended menu at their covered outdoor seating area at the front of the restaurant. Local suppliers are namechecked and coffee is Calendar Coffee Roasters based in Barna. CH

Rúibín
1/2 Dock Roads, Galway, ruibin.ie
This restaurant pivoted to a delicatessen and wine shop last year, much to the delight of Galway locals. Now everything on the menu is designed to be eaten as takeaway. Lunches are full of locally sourced delights, homemade bagels, sourdough and delicious dulce de leche brownies. There is outdoor seating overlooking Galway's Harbour and picnic boxes are being added to the menu for pre-order – think black pudding scotch egg, baked ham and potato salad. You could add a bottle of wine from their shop too. AD

Sweet Nothings
Main Street, Ballyconneely, Co Galway, facebook.com
The tiny town of Ballyconneely in Connemara might not be where you would expect to find a buzzing vegetarian/vegan café, but locals have been queuing up for the barbecue jackfruit wraps, feta and mulberry couscous and sweet potato korma with coconut naans at Sweet Nothings cafe since it opened. Food writer and Connemara resident Aoife McElwain calls owner Justyna Janusiewicz "one of the best vegan bakers in the country"; with options like marmalade brownies with sourdough crumbs, and banana and toffee muffins, it's worth a diversion. Outdoor seating and takeaway. LC

The Sea Hare
The Pier, Cleggan, Co Galway, theseahare.ie
When it comes to the dishes synonymous with last summer's national staycation, the Cleggan Bay lobsters with garlic butter, lemon mayonnaise and a glass of wine served at The Sea Hare in Connemara had many of us jumping on to Airbnb hoping for a last-minute reservation. This summer they're back with the freshest seafood, coastally grown vegetables and chef Phillipa Duff's homemade cakes, and there's lots of outdoor seating, complete with sea views. LC

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Báidín 
Clifton Boat Club, Clifden, Co Galway, Instagram @baidinclifden
The view from the terrace of Clifden Boat Club – just opened at the beginning of July – is matched by equally good food. It feels more casual summer holidays than elitist yachty. Seating is at wooden benches, both outdoors and under a marquee, wild flowers are on each table, festival lights are strung overhead and there's the hum of happy chat.