Blas na Bealtaine: 10 Food and Drink Events to Try in Galway This May

Galway’s food scene is getting a full May moment with the return of Blas na Bealtaine. Taking place across the city throughout May, the festival brings together restaurants, bars, producers and food lovers for a packed calendar of one-off experiences.

Expect natural wine tastings, seafood, pop-up evenings, chef-led menus, food trails, whiskey and cheese pairings, global flavours and plenty of West of Ireland ingredients.

Turas Fíona: Wines of Central Europe with Cathal McBride and Zsolt Lukács

Date: 11th May
Time: 7pm to 9pm
Location: Daróg Wine Bar

Daróg Wine Bar hosts Turas Fíona, a wine journey through Central Europe with Daróg owner and Michelin Sommelier of the Year 2025, Zsolt Lukács, and food and wine writer Cathal McBride. The relaxed tasting will guide guests through five wines paired with a cheese board, with Zsolt and Cathal sharing insights into the regions, traditions and producers behind each glass.

Tickets: €60 per person, including a wine flight of five wines and cheese board

Cava Bodega’s Summer Tasting Menu with Wine Pairing

Date: 14th May
Time: Various times available from 5pm to 9pm
Location: Cava Bodega, 1 Middle Street, Galway, H91 AF89

Cava Bodega brings Spanish flavour and Irish summer ingredients together for a six-course tasting menu curated by Head Chef Davi dos Santos. Guests can expect a seasonal menu with Iberian flair, with the option to pair it with Spanish Cava, wine and sherry.

Tickets: €69 for six-course tasting menu, €25 for wine pairing

Apéritif Tour with Galway Food Tours

Date: 14th May
Time: 5:30pm
Meeting point: In front of McCambridges, 38 Shop Street, Galway, H91 T2N7

Inspired by Blas na Bealtaine and the spirit of Galway, this evening tour offers a fresh take on the classic apéritif. Over two hours, guests will explore some of the city’s neighbourhoods, enjoying Irish cheeses paired with Irish spirits, a specially created festival cocktail and seasonal small plates made with locally sourced ingredients.

Tickets: €50 per person

Kelly Oyster Pop-Up Evening at McSwiggans

Date: 14th May
Time: 6pm to 8pm
Location: McSwiggans, Galway

McSwiggans hosts a Kelly Oyster Pop-Up Evening celebrating all things oyster.Whether you’re a longtime oyster fan or trying them for the first time, the evening will include complimentary oyster tastings, toppings to sample, fun oyster facts and plenty of craic.

Tickets: Free to drop in

A Blas na Bealtaine Evening of Portuguese Food and Wine at Alma

Date: 15th May
Time: 7pm
Location: Alma, Unit 1, Lydon Court, Bóthar Irwin, Galway, H91 AK09

Alma hosts a night of Portuguese food and wine, taking guests on a journey through the Portuguese landscape from north to south. The evening features three dishes rooted in traditional Portuguese gastronomy, paired with wines reflecting different regional terroirs. Mariana de Moraes, wine specialist from ALMA’s prime supplier, will speak about Portuguese wines, while João, half of ALMA and the heart behind the stove, will discuss the dishes and the food traditions behind them.

Tickets: via almagalway.ie/reservations

Micil Cocktail Competition

Date: 20th May
Time: 6pm
Location: M. Fitzgerald’s Bar, 14 Quay Street, Galway, H91 P628

The finals of the Micil Cocktail Competition take place at M. Fitzgerald’s Bar, celebrating the creativity of Galway’s cocktail scene and the bartenders who help make it what it is. Finalists will go head-to-head, take on challenges and showcase their skills in a bid to be crowned champion. Expect a lively atmosphere, a special Micil cocktail menu and tasty finger food.

Tickets: €5 on the door, with all proceeds going to a local charity

Savour and celebrate the local legends

Date: 21st May
Time: 7pm
Location: Tom Sheridan’s Bar and Restaurant

Tom Sheridan’s hosts a four-course celebration of the local suppliers shaping Galway’s food scene. Rooted in farm-to-fork thinking, the event will showcase seasonal, locally sourced ingredients through a specially curated menu, with each dish paired with a complementary wine.

Tickets: €50.50 per person

Blas na Bealtaine Spring Foraging Event with Jörg Müller

Date: May 23Time: 11:00am to 1:00pmLocation: Hunters Park Car Park meeting point, Galway

Medical herbalist, forager and Solaris Tea co-owner Jörg Müller leads a spring foraging event as part of Blas na Bealtaine. Here you'll learn how to safely identify at least 30 culinary and medicinal wild plants, along with ways to use them for common complaints and first aid.

Tickets: €30 per person

Micil Distillery x Trieste Whiskey and Cheese Tasting

Date:

23rd May
Time: 7pm
Location: Micil Distillery, Salthill, Galway

Micil Distillery and Trieste Café come together for a special Whiskey and Cheese Tasting Evening as part of this year’s festival. Guests will be guided through a curated tasting of Micil’s Irish whiskey, paired with a selection of Galway and Irish cheeses chosen by Trieste Café. The pairings are designed to complement the flavours of the whiskey, poitín and Irish Cream Liqueur.

Tickets: €39, limited capacity, advance booking essential

Be Sage, Make Lovage: Wild Food and Preservation Workshop at Aniar

Date: 31st May
Time: 4pm-5:30pm
Location: Aniar Restaurant, 53 Dominick Street Lower, Galway, H91 XH52

Ivonka, founder of Sage & Lovage, hosts Be Sage, Make Lovage, a hands-on workshop exploring seasonal herbs, flowers and wild plants from the Connemara landscape. Participants will learn traditional and modern methods of preserving, drying and fermenting, as well as creating herbal infusions and tinctures. All tools are provided, and participants will leave with practical knowledge to transform seasonal ingredients into handcrafted preserves at home.

Tickets: €45 per person

For more information on Blas na Bealtaine and A Taste of Galway, visit atasteofgalway.com

A Full Brazilian Experience: Music and Food

Date: May 31Time: From 1:00pm onwardsLocation: Chef Lauro Rosso, Salthill

Chef Lauro Rosso brings a taste of South America to Galway with a full Brazilian food and music experience. The day includes live Brazilian music by Valter Romulo and an exclusive set menu featuring dishes such as Mini Salgadinhos, Fried Cassava, Feijão Tropeiro and BR Lunch Picanha. To finish, guests can enjoy Pudim or an Açaí Bowl with homemade granola.

Tickets: Booking in advance is required

For more information on Blas na Bealtaine and A Taste of Galway, email info@atasteofgalway.com.