Pros

  • Central Galway location, a block from Eyre Square
  • Short walk to variety of attractions and conveniences
  • Stylish rooms with coffee/tea makers, free Wi-Fi, and flat-screen TVs
  • Cocktail bar and restaurant with hearty fare for breakfast, lunch, and dinner
  • 24-hour front desk with concierge service
  • Discounted access to nearby swimming pool and fitness center
  • Rooms are affordable given location
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Cons

  • No on-site gym or business center
  • Fees for breakfast and parking
  • Some rooms are small and could use refurbishment
  • Rooms lack air-conditioning (but do have fans)
  • Rooms facing street may have noise issues
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Bottom Line

A small, moderately stylish hotel, the four-floor Forster Court boasts an excellent location in central Galway. Eyre Square, Shop Street, and the Spanish Arch, among other attractions and conveniences, are within easy walking distance. The 50 contemporary rooms here come with free Wi-Fi and flat-panel TVs, and the three pearl hotel also offers an on-site restaurant and bar along with discounted access to the gym and pool at the nearby Radisson. A stay at the Forster Court is a suitable choice for travelers who want clean and modern rooms at affordable rates in the city center. 

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Amenities

  • Cribs
  • Internet

Oyster Hotel Review

Forster Court Hotel

Scene

Friendly, relaxed hotel with restaurant and modern rooms    

Housed in a striking contemporary white building, Forster Court offers a hint of style throughout its interiors. The lobby features walls and a reception desk in slate blue along with a chandelier, leather armchairs, and a table topped with tourist brochures. The restaurant is decked out with hardwood floors, red upholstered seating, and tan leather banquettes, accentuated by natural light from skylight windows. The bar has attractive dark wood counters, hardwood floors, and black-and-white photos. The Forster Court draws a largely domestic and international tourist crowd, while locals like to visit the bar for its parties and cocktail classes. The hotel participates in the many Galway events by decorating in the theme of the festival of the moment. The bar can get a little noisy, but in general the hotel has a relaxed atmosphere. 

See More Scene

Location

Central Galway location a block from Eyre Square    

The hotel boasts a superb location in central Galway on the busy but pleasant Forster Street, which has a mix of businesses, offices, shops, and cafes. The property is a block northeast of Eyre Square and two blocks northeast of Eyre Square Centre shopping mall. The Galway train and bus station is a two-minute walk southwest while Galway Coach Station at Sean Duggan Centre is a half-block northeast. The Shop Street pedestrian area with stores, restaurants, and pubs is about a five- to 10-minute walk south. Located an eight-minute walk southwest of the hotel is Nora Barnacle's House and St. Nicholas' Collegiate Church, Ireland's largest medieval parish church still in use. The Spanish Arch, Galway City Museum, and additional pubs and nightlife are also southwest. Sports fans can walk 10 minutes northeast for Galway Sportsground (Home of Connacht Rugby) or drive 10 minutes southwest for Pearse Stadium. Featuring a 145-foot tall dome that’s one of the city's main landmarks, Galway Cathedral is a 13-minute walk west of the hotel while Galway Airport is a 15-minute drive northeast.

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Rooms

Simple, stylish rooms with free Wi-Fi and flat-screen TVs    

The Forster Court has 50 non-smoking guest units on three floors of a four-story building. Modern rooms range in size from 204 to 322 square feet; the 204-square-foot rooms feel a little small. Spaces are tastefully decorated and the color palette is largely white, beige, and brown, with a dash of color in the mauve doors, carpets, and throw pillows. Additional accents include wood furnishings, striped curtains, and wall art. Rooms also come with hairdryers, coffee/tea makers, free Wi-Fi, wall-mounted flat-screen TVs with cable, and plush white cotton bedding with duvets and cotton-rich linens. Rooms lack air-conditioning but do come with fans. There are also no mini-fridges, mini-bars, in-room safes, or irons, but the reception desk has safes and irons and ironing boards. Rooms facing the street may experience noise while other units don't get a lot of natural light. Some spaces are a little worn and could use refurbishment. Bathrooms, some of which are shower only, are clean and well lighted, and come with ample counter space. 

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Features

Bar and restaurant with breakfast buffet    

As a relatively small hotel, the Forster Court has few property facilities. It has no business center but does offer a lobby computer with Internet access (for a fee). It also has no fitness center, but does offer discounted access to the gym and swimming pool at the Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa, located a few minutes walk southeast. The Forster Court has an excellent breakfast (for a fee) with a continental spread of fruit, yogurt, pastries, cheese, ham, cereal, toast, and more. The hotel also offers cooked-to-order items like eggs and bacon and traditional Irish fare like sausages, tomato, beans, and black and white pudding. The on-site restaurant serves lunch and dinner with fare like seafood chowder, Galway Bay prawn rolls, goat cheese and red onion tart, sirloin steak, Atlantic salmon, and vegetable curry. The bar pours a variety of wine, beer, and liquors, also hosting bachelor and bachelorette parties with cocktail classes. Also on hand are a 24-hour front desk, concierge service, and public parking at an adjacent lot (for a fee). 

See More Features

Oyster Hotel Review

Forster Court Hotel

Scene

Friendly, relaxed hotel with restaurant and modern rooms    

Housed in a striking contemporary white building, Forster Court offers a hint of style throughout its interiors. The lobby features walls and a reception desk in slate blue along with a chandelier, leather armchairs, and a table topped with tourist brochures. The restaurant is decked out with hardwood floors, red upholstered seating, and tan leather banquettes, accentuated by natural light from skylight windows. The bar has attractive dark wood counters, hardwood floors, and black-and-white photos. The Forster Court draws a largely domestic and international tourist crowd, while locals like to visit the bar for its parties and cocktail classes. The hotel participates in the many Galway events by decorating in the theme of the festival of the moment. The bar can get a little noisy, but in general the hotel has a relaxed atmosphere. 

See More Scene

Location

Central Galway location a block from Eyre Square    

The hotel boasts a superb location in central Galway on the busy but pleasant Forster Street, which has a mix of businesses, offices, shops, and cafes. The property is a block northeast of Eyre Square and two blocks northeast of Eyre Square Centre shopping mall. The Galway train and bus station is a two-minute walk southwest while Galway Coach Station at Sean Duggan Centre is a half-block northeast. The Shop Street pedestrian area with stores, restaurants, and pubs is about a five- to 10-minute walk south. Located an eight-minute walk southwest of the hotel is Nora Barnacle's House and St. Nicholas' Collegiate Church, Ireland's largest medieval parish church still in use. The Spanish Arch, Galway City Museum, and additional pubs and nightlife are also southwest. Sports fans can walk 10 minutes northeast for Galway Sportsground (Home of Connacht Rugby) or drive 10 minutes southwest for Pearse Stadium. Featuring a 145-foot tall dome that’s one of the city's main landmarks, Galway Cathedral is a 13-minute walk west of the hotel while Galway Airport is a 15-minute drive northeast.

See More Location

Rooms

Simple, stylish rooms with free Wi-Fi and flat-screen TVs    

The Forster Court has 50 non-smoking guest units on three floors of a four-story building. Modern rooms range in size from 204 to 322 square feet; the 204-square-foot rooms feel a little small. Spaces are tastefully decorated and the color palette is largely white, beige, and brown, with a dash of color in the mauve doors, carpets, and throw pillows. Additional accents include wood furnishings, striped curtains, and wall art. Rooms also come with hairdryers, coffee/tea makers, free Wi-Fi, wall-mounted flat-screen TVs with cable, and plush white cotton bedding with duvets and cotton-rich linens. Rooms lack air-conditioning but do come with fans. There are also no mini-fridges, mini-bars, in-room safes, or irons, but the reception desk has safes and irons and ironing boards. Rooms facing the street may experience noise while other units don't get a lot of natural light. Some spaces are a little worn and could use refurbishment. Bathrooms, some of which are shower only, are clean and well lighted, and come with ample counter space. 

See More Rooms

Features

Bar and restaurant with breakfast buffet    

As a relatively small hotel, the Forster Court has few property facilities. It has no business center but does offer a lobby computer with Internet access (for a fee). It also has no fitness center, but does offer discounted access to the gym and swimming pool at the Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa, located a few minutes walk southeast. The Forster Court has an excellent breakfast (for a fee) with a continental spread of fruit, yogurt, pastries, cheese, ham, cereal, toast, and more. The hotel also offers cooked-to-order items like eggs and bacon and traditional Irish fare like sausages, tomato, beans, and black and white pudding. The on-site restaurant serves lunch and dinner with fare like seafood chowder, Galway Bay prawn rolls, goat cheese and red onion tart, sirloin steak, Atlantic salmon, and vegetable curry. The bar pours a variety of wine, beer, and liquors, also hosting bachelor and bachelorette parties with cocktail classes. Also on hand are a 24-hour front desk, concierge service, and public parking at an adjacent lot (for a fee). 

See More Features

Best Rates

Amenities

  • Business Center

  • Cable

  • Cribs

  • Dry Cleaning

  • Free Breakfast

  • Internet

  • Kids Allowed

  • Poolside Drink Service

  • Room Service

Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.