Jurys Inn Galway

The energetic environment at the Jurys reflects its prime location on Quay Street, in the heart of the city. It may be a mid-range chain hotel, but it's also one of few Galway hotels with a beer garden, and, in the warmer months, the garden is a bustling spot for both locals and guests. Guests gather here, and in the stylish contemporary restaurant and bar with aqua blue seating, tartan carpet, and bright yellow, tear-drop-shaped pendant lamps. The modern lobby is fairly nondescript, but it does have a light-filled atrium, checkerboard tile, gray sofas, and a fireplace. The hotel draws a largely European and American tourist crowd, who appreciates the stylish rooms, good service, dining and drinking venues, and ideal location near Galway's major attractions.

The Jurys Inn has a prime location on Quay Street, in the Latin Quarter, in the heart of Galway city. The area is filled with bars, cafes, restaurants, and shops. The Spanish Arch and medieval city walls less than a block north, and Galway City Museum is a two-minute walk southeast. Also within a stone's throw is the area with James Joyce's wife, Nora Barnacle's, house, as well as St. Nicholas' Collegiate Church, Ireland's largest, continuously active medieval parish church. Shop Street, the Galway train station, Eyre Square, and Eyre Square Shopping Centre are all less than five minutes away on foot, as well. Galway Cathedral is a 10-minute walk north of the hotel. Galway Airport is a 15-minute drive northeast of the hotel.

The four-floor Jurys Inn Galway has 130 non-smoking rooms, all completely renovated in 2014. The rooms are not especially upscale -- they're standard for the mid-range chain -- but they are equipped with the requisite modern amenities and do have a hint of style, with a striking color palette of mauve and olive green. All come with well-lighted desks, hairdryers, coffee/tea facilities, free Wi-Fi, and flat-screen TVs with satellite channels. Rooms do not have mini-bars, mini-fridges, or in-room safes. The vast majority of rooms do not have air-conditioning, but all have fans. All are clean, get good natural light through large windows, and, despite the hotel's location in a busy area, are quiet. All are fairly spacious, although some of the bathrooms are a little small. The bathrooms, in general, are clean and well-lit, with black-and-white tiles, strong water pressure and consistent temperature, and decent counter space near the sink. Bathrooms lack bars of soap and bottles of shampoo, but have a hand gel at the sink and a combination hair and body gel in the shower/tub combination. 

The pride of the Jurys Inn Galway is its beer garden; overlooking the river, it's open year round, although it's not heated and so is most popular in the warmer months. The garden is a lively gathering spot for guests and locals alike in the summer. The bar serves a wide array of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, plus a menu of items like horseshoe gammon steak, burgers, pizza, pasta, and sandwiches; in the warmer months, barbecue fare is offered. The restaurant serves modern Irish comfort cuisine, such as venison sausages, lemon-and-thyme-roasted chicken, fish pie, sea bass, and chargrilled steak. Two- and three-course fixed-price menus, as well as kids' menus, are available. The breakfast buffet (for a fee) has a wide range of continental and hot items. The all-day coffee bar serves coffee and hot chocolate in the relaxed lobby, which also has free newspapers and free Wi-Fi. The hotel has no gym or spa facilities, or meeting rooms. The Jurys does have a lobby computer and printer, 24-hour front desk with concierge service, and adjacent public parking for a discounted fee.