Alchemy Wine Cafe

Just steps away from the Galway bus station downtown, Alchemy is a wonderful find in Galway =) I stumbled upon this little gem when in between bus transfers from Dublin to Clifden on my 5 week backpacking trip of Europe. It was so good, that I made a point to schedule my return bus transfer to allow enough time to make a second trip on my way back through Galway. Ahh what a find! I paid my compliments directly to the chef both trips into Alchemy (which was easy enough because the kitchen has a nice big window open to the café)
The Food/​Chefs:
In a word? Fantastic! Go with the specials. The chef is brilliant. (Side note: I was told their names are Sean and Billy, the latter of which started just earlier this week and is from Galway. I wish I could take them home to cook for me in the US! =)) I had soup and sandwich combo my first trip. (The weather here in Ireland is just so fitting for making me crave a hot cup of soup!) Anyhow, the soup of the day that was a Roasted Red Bell Pepper soup (delicious) and I paired it with the Serrano Ham sandwich (They were out of the pork belly but the one I ended up with was also mouth-​wateringly good) Fresh ingredients, and beautiful presentation. The second trip I had another special – the Connemara Crab Salad – made with organic greens, celery, apple, mayo, fresh pomegranates that burst in your mouth, and salsa verde dressing. Oh and the presentation gets an A+ –my dish was so colorful and gorgeous it was even topped with a flower! It immediately made me think of my friends over at CIA (Culinary Institute of America) – they’d be giving it a thumbs up too =)
The Staff:
Both Eilish and Joanna (who I met on the two different trips) were lovely =) –really friendly, genuine, sweet and were more than happy to offer personal recommendations on the menu. They were also very accommodating about timing to ensure I made my bus on time – which I am also super grateful for.
Aesthetics and the little details:
Perfect café music, art exhibited on the walls, and Edison bulb drop lighting. Clean line décor, inviting chalk boards that list the specials, and open windows with a view of the cobblestone street — you can choose to either sit counter style along the window to people watch or at the little tables in or (weather pending, I’m sure) outside as well.
Wish I was in Galway for more time so I could return and try other things on the menu. Well done, Alchemy. Spot on. You have my referral hands down =) and all you Unilocalers out there, if you find yourself in Galway, stop in. It’ll be worth your while. Great service, great food, (can’t speak to the wine as I didn’t get to partake this time – but something tells me it’ll be pretty fantastic too).