Irish Hospitality at St. Jude’s B&B Galway

Set in a restored 1920s home, the St. Jude’s B&B in Galway offers six cozy ensuite rooms, warm Irish hospitality, and a great location near the heart of the city.

Decked out with antique furniture and comfortable beds, each room in the house is slightly different. My room had a queen bed, small sitting area, antique vanity, and ample closet space. French windows overlooked the front of the house including the parking lot, leafy tree-lined street, and garden.

The small bathroom had a tiled shower and towel warning racks (though one spot of annoyance; like most hotels in Ireland, it did not have an electrical outlet in the bathroom so I had to blow-dry my hair in front of the vanity). Though the room was on the smaller side, as to be expected, it was roomy enough that I didn’t feel cramped and I had plenty of space for my luggage.

Regardless of configuration, all bedrooms have en-suite bathrooms with showers, cable TV, large closets, hardwood floors and beautiful antique furniture. Rooms in the front of the house are double rooms, two of which have pull-out cots for children. A twin room on the ground floor has French doors that that open onto the patio and another twin room upstairs has a double and single bed (ideal for families) with a view over the back garden. For larger groups, there’s also a family room with a double bed, two single beds and space for an additional cot.

True to its categorization as a bed & breakfast, St. Jude’s does a stellar morning meal prepared by the owners’ daughter, a graduate of the Ballymaloe Cookery School.

The food follows the traditions of Irish country cooking and is made using local ingredients whenever possible. Served from 8am to 10am, breakfast includes, coffee or tea, orange or cranberry juice, fresh fruit, porridge and cereal, yogurt, and guest’s choices of a made-to-order entree. Options include scrambled eggs with smoked salmon, poached eggs on potato bread, French toast, or a hearty traditional Irish Breakfast, with bacon, sausage, egg, tomato, and mushrooms.

The chef can also prepare lunch, dinner, or picnic lunches on request.

In addition to the six rooms, the small inn has a light-filled dining room and a common living area where guests are invited to relax, enjoy coffee, or read the paper or a book. Innkeepers Ita and Tony are available for restaurant recommendations, information on tours and activities, and other suggestions, but guests who’d rather keep to themselves never feel pressure to socialize.

The home itself is set on a tree-lined residential street, and offers parking for several cars in the front lot; additional street parking is available. Technically, the location is in Salthill (a five-minute walk from the b&b will bring you to the pubs and shops of the neighborhood’s main drag), but it’s just 15-minutes on foot from the heart of Galway, so it’s easy to explore the city without a car.

For guests who want characterful accommodation with warm hospitality and great food, St. Jude’s is an excellent b&b option in Galway.

Note: There’s also a St. Jude’s Lodge in Galway, so make sure you’re booking (and arriving to) the correct one. Room rates start at around 120 euros per night for two people in a double room. Book online with the B&B or through Hotels.com.