Brought to you by The Latin Quarter in association with FREE NOW
If you're heading to the Galway Races this week, The Latin Quarter is where it's at...
Sun cream. The smell of burnt sausages. Quieter roads in the morning. People saying "it's nearly too warm."
These are all signs that summer is well and truly under way. One other sure sign; the Galway Races are coming up.
Every year, thousands of punters flock to the legendary Ballybrit racecourse. No matter the weather, it's one of the most iconic racing festivals of the year, and one of the best opportunities to take in the wonderful city of Galway.
More specifically, it's a chance to see why The Latin Quarter is known as the cultural heart of the city.
Whether you're looking for the best bars and restaurants or simply want to be at the heart of the action, it's the place to be during race week. With dozens of late-night bars that open up onto the street, it doesn't really matter which pub you opt for as it's pretty much guaranteed to turn into one big street party.
1. The food
Yeah, let's be real here. We're not going to recommend a specific part of Galway without it having at least half a dozen good restaurants to choose from. Well, The Latin Quarter has over 50 to choose from, be it fine dining or casual street food you're after.
It's just as easy to find a world class steak or pasta dish as it is to find a box of noodles or a tub of ice cream. It's all there in one corner of town, so you certainly won't be stuck for choice!
2. The music
This may come as a surprise, but Galway city is no stranger to live music. Bands of the highest standard from all kinds of genres regularly play its many live venues, and The Latin Quarter is home to some of the city's best.
These are some of the most unique spots in the country, but the best part of it all is that you can't go wrong. You'll likely hear everything from rock to trad and everything in between as you make your way along the streets, giving you a taste of what to expect on the inside.
3. The bars
This kind of ties in with our last point because you'll never be too far from a bit of music, but the number of bars in this side of town is phenomenal. Are you a gin fan? You'll find it. Looking for a good pint of plain? You can't go wrong.
This is Galway we're talking about, there's a little bit of everything. The fact The Latin Quarter has so many bars close to each other means that it pretty much turns into one big street party on most Saturday nights, never mind when you give Galwegians an excuse to have fun like the Galway Races!
4. The all-round craic
Ballybrit may be where all the racing action is taking place, but the buildup will be starting from early in the morning. If you can, head into town early enough to soak up the pre-races buzz, and many of the bars will be open until 2AM to keep the party running well into the night.
There is no better time or place to people watch than Galway city ahead of the races. This is especially true on Ladies' Day (Thursday, 1 August), when everyone will be looking their absolute best and street performers will be setting up ahead of the busiest day on Galway's calendar.
5. The city centre
With all this talk about making your trip as fun as possible, the last thing you'll want is a long taxi journey back to your hotel. There are plenty of places to stay in around the area, be it a youth hostel or luxury hotel you're looking for.
In association with FREE NOW, The Latin Quarter — the heart of Galway city — is where the city really comes alive, so be sure to soak up the very best of the races this year!
Brought to you by The Latin Quarter in association with FREE NOW 
