Galway Hooker

Could not have had a better time for an after work bday/happy hour with co-workers and friends. Music just kept on getting better, little MJ rendition, hip hop, and a tribute to Swayze with a little dirty dancing :)
Our Irish server/ie best friend of the night, Cathal, was aaaaamzing!!!!! So friendly, kept the drinks coming, loooooved him- will def. keep coming back as long as he works there!

Pros: Where to begin, good dance music, private room, live dj

Cons: Keeps the booze flowing

Posted 09/24/09

My office was recently looking for a new spot to hold an annual event that we do at the beginning of every summer. I suggested The Galway Hooker-i've been there a couple times for happy hour and it always seems to have a great vibe-plus its huge and has a ton of different party rooms. I have to say that hands down, this was our best party yet! All my coworkers had such a blast and the service was flawless throughout. We will definitely be back for our Christmas party!

Pros: Private parties, happy hour, great brunch

Cons: Can't think of any...

Posted 07/08/09

A very fun place! The crowd is a lot of fun. Sometimes it gets totally crowded, tho. More laidback in the back where you can play pool.

Pros: Good atmosphere

Cons: crowded at times

Posted 04/01/09

the bartenders were great - one had a great sense of humor and the other one toped me off after I spilled the drink the moment he gave it to me

the security were very helpful and cordial

the music was well mixed with many old songs mixed in with the new

the place is HUGE and well designed

Pros: all of the staff were wonderful

Cons: none

Posted 03/28/09

LOVED this place for my 21st birthday!! I called in advance to get reservations for the upstairs and it was beyond fun!! definitely would recommend this place to anybody!!

Pros: Good atmosphere, good priced drinks, and good music

Posted 03/04/09

We go here for Happy Hour as it is so conveniently located near our office. I gotta say thou, I like the place, kinda crowded (given we go around 6-8 pm), but good crowd.

Posted 03/03/09

Hosted a party in the back billiard room and it was awesome - great service, venue and food. All guests had a fabulous time! Non of the typical NYC hassles when it comes to reserving a room. We were able to get in early and decorate, length of event was not restricted and the price couldn't be beat. Great place!

Pros: Fun, great service, reasonable prices, unpretentious

Posted 02/11/09

I agree with claire124. This place is a total hitt and miss. I've told myself I would never go there again but it's conveniently located.

The pool tables in the back are always reserved. The upstairs is always closed.

Pros: location. Two pool tables in the back, local music live in the summer

Cons: Small Tap selection, over corwded with college kids

Posted 01/29/09

Enjoyed myself, i would highly recommend this bar to my friends and family. Great food, great time, even though it gets so busy i can hardly move, it was still comfortable. Our waitress was fantastic and made sure we were taken care of. To the security at the door who helped me and my friend get a cab. I am definately going back for yet another wonderful evening

Posted 12/13/08

I have had different experiences here.. I have had some times that are so fun, the kind where you are having so much fun you don't want to leave. I have also had times that are so NOT fun, that I swear I will never return. The throngs of college kids is the number one issue.

Posted 11/23/08

Was just walking across town trying to find someone to stop for brunch and was pulled in for the Two drink specials for Brunch! I don't know anywhere in town where you can get delicious Steak and eggs and two bloody marys for only $12! Service was fantastic the fella behind the bar really made it an enjoyable Saturday morning!
A great deal and great service..not too many places like that left in this city!

Pros: Great Brunch, Service was awesome!

Cons: No Paddy's Whiskey =(

Posted 08/17/08

My hopes were high when I spotted this bar right across the street from my new apartment. I first went in for brunch on a Sunday and it was fantastic. Food was good, and a great deal with 2 free drinks and lots of televisions. I have been back a few more times in the evening hours, and I now know I will keep my patronage here to the daytime hours.
What happens is that after the sun goes down, they open the doors to dozens of underage kids who act like they're at a college bar in the middle of nowhere. On 2 of the 3 occasions I've hung out late night, I've had to step over "someone's dinner" that no one seemed in a rush to clean up as well as waiting in line for the bathroom because 19 year old girls are stuffed into the stalls doing 'god knows what' for what seemed like hours. Not worth the trouble and certainly not worth my money intended for a good night out.
Go in for brunch, lunch, or an after work drink. Just make sure you leave by 9pm.

Posted 07/04/08

The best bar in NYC. My friends and I went there on Friday to watch the game, the place was packed and we thought it would be impossible to get a table. Once we asked the server upstairs, she was lovely and helped us to find a perfect spot in front of a plasma TV. The service was the best! The Brazilian server with a bit of an Irish accent was amazing! The food was great and the music fantastic. We had such a great time. I can?t wait to go back!

Pros: Huge place, The best staff, great food, fantastic music.

Posted 04/12/08

Went to this place for a party last Thursday and it rocked. The place was packed, the music was booming and there is a smokin' hot blonde working behind the bar who I wish could serve me more than drinks. Highly recommended. I will be back!!

Pros: Hot blonde bartender

Cons: Not having a date with said blonde bartender

Posted 02/26/08

I went here for a friend's birthday party last Saturday night and had a great time! My friend's had reserved a private room, upstairs in the back where we had our own private bartender. The place was PACKED, so it was nice to have a space all our own! The music was great and the staff was nice and efficient. The tvs weren't on, but I will definitely be back to watch MARCH MADNESS!!!

Pros: tvs, music, service

Posted 02/17/08

A few friends and I met at this midtown gem for some after work drinks, snacks & conversation and not to mention a huge television screen to keep half an eye on the game! The place was buzzing when we arrived, and it was difficult to find a seat, but one of the lovely waitresses helped us find a great booth upstairs with a phenomenal view of that enormous screen! The beers were cold and delicious and my Shepherd's Pie was the best I have ever tasted. Everyone enjoyed their traditional Irish Pub food and we were so comfortable in that booth, we ended up staying well after the game ended. The service was great and we will certainly make this place a regular stop on our after work romps.

Pros: Great service, easy to get to, delicious food & cold beer!

Posted 02/13/08

Fantastic Irish bar in midtown with something for everyone. We spent the whole day there watching our game on the giant screen, food was good, beer was great! For those in our group who weren't so interested in the game there was plenty of entertainment in the back rooms playing darts and pool and other games. Staff were very friendly and efficient- nothing was too much trouble. A fun fun time for all. Will definitely be back soon!

Pros: Giant Screen, Selection of Drinks, Space, Atmosphere, entertainment

Posted 02/10/08

A thoroughly disappointing bar from top to bottom. Pretends to be a sports bar with a projecter sized screen and lures people in early in the evening for poor Irish food and overpriced beers. However, the vibe turns decidedly sketchy around 9pm as the waitresses begin to put "Reserved" signs on tables that have been occupied by happy groups all afternoon. From there, it is all downhill. Bouncers the size of NBA players walk in, young kids start pouring in the doors and any positive vibe flees. Avoid this bar on the weekend at all costs (unless you are under 21 and live in Long Island or New Jersey).

Cons: Poor service, rude door staff, bad food, no volume for sports games

Posted 01/11/08

A rocking Irish bar, where the only thing better than the great Guinness is the excellent menu. I have definitely found my new favorite bar in the city???

Pros: Great food & drinks

Posted 10/14/07

We had an AWESOME time here! My group of friends and I were frantically looking for a place to watch our big football game. We came into the bar and were quickly greeted by the beautiful brunette behind it. When we told her we needed a space for about 25 people near a t.v., (and did she think we could get a private area?), she said "sure no problem." She then asked one of her co-workers to set something up- minutes later we were happily watching the game with beer in hand!
The bar is a great space, the music was great, the staff was fantastic-Gavan is a great bartender-and if you're hungry, the 'Galway' burger is the way to go! We can't wait to go back!

Pros: great food and friendly service

Cons: none

Posted 09/13/07

This bar has it all! A great happy hour, that is conveniently located close to my office, wonderful food and fantastic staff. I was first here for an alumni night for my college and the management outdid themselves to make sure that everything worked smoothly. The manager personally greeted us and even had printed signs of our alma mater reserving the tables - such a nice touch! I have been back for numerous happy hours since and have taken in their weekend brunch as well. Delicious! Not to mention the fabulous deal, $12 with two complimentary drinks! That's unheard of in NYC! Thank you for being my new regular spot. Keep up the great work!

Pros: Great ambience, live music, always a great view of television sports.

Cons: None that I can think of

Posted 09/11/07

I went to my friends birthday party here last week and I have honestly have to say It was one of the best parties I've been to in a while! We had our own area which was great because it does tend to get crowded (although I wasnt complaining...PLENTY of hot, hot men). We had our own servers, who looked after us really well & the music was great. They also serve these really yummy mini burgers which saved quite a few of us from having too much of a hangover the next day!! Oh, and ladies....check out the upstairs bathrooms when you go.....you will be pleasantly suprised!!

Pros: Fun athmosphere, nice servers, mini burgers!!

Cons: Crowded on weekends

Posted 09/10/07

Schedule a party there to book a specific room a week before the event of a friend's birthday. Had to give a credit card to reserve the room. Manager named John said we're all set. Well, when we got to the bar on the night of the birthday, the other manager said that he wasn't even aware that we set up a party and we weren't on the list. He had to put us in a crappy spot and then eventually said that we actually were reserved for a party and finally after about an hour of being in the spot that we didn't want, he got us in the room we wanted.
However, there was no one there in the room to take our orders. We had to go to the bar to get drinks which took FOREVER - terrible bar service. It literally took me 15 minutes to get one drink every time i went to the bar.
Not to mention the fact that this was a 21st Birthday party - how and why would a bar not want to promote that slightly. Just a terrible overall experience and I WILL NEVER GO BACK THERE AGAIN AND I RECOMMEND THAT YOU NEVER BOOK A PARTY THERE. MANAGEMENT DOESN'T HAVE A CLUE.

Pros: Big place

Cons: Long time to get drinks, bad management, terrible party set up

Posted 08/30/07

Where do I even start... this is by far one of the best bars I?ve been in to a long time. I have been to Galway a few times now and have never had a bad time. There?s plenty of seating both downstairs and on the 2nd floor as well as bar space so you never have to worry about pushing your way to a small bar to get a drink. A friend of mine recently had her birthday there and the staff was very accommodating and friendly. We were able to block off a few booths to fit our large party. The music is fun, the food is great, and you?ll definitely have a good time. We?ll be back!!!

Pros: Friendly Staff, Big Beer Selection, Large Venue

Posted 06/17/07

What a great bar! It has everything you can want, pool tables, TV's, a huge screen, great music and the most important great bathrooms they even have hairdryers. The only draw back was the upstairs bar was very crowded but it was Saturday night in NY. will definitely be making it a regular spot.

Pros: bathrooms, music,

Posted 04/21/07

I didn't see any h**kers there, but by the time I left my vision so blurred I couldn't have seen much at all. The staff here was incredibly accommodating to our ever-expanding group. I'd reserved a table for six. By the end of the night we were more than twice that. The didn't blink an eye. Michelle, our waitress, was great! Always there when we needed a refill. Helping our demanding, and ever drunker crowd. Putting up with a lot more than she needed to. Everyone was friendly, including the people at the next table. The one drawback to the place was THE HORRIBLY HIGH VOLUME of the music. Except in our secure back room, normal conversation was impossible. -Drink Club is a roving group of NYC drinkers

Pros: Great staff, great service, good beer selection

Cons: way too loud

Posted 04/19/07

If you like someone tossing their cookies on your feet, than this is the place to be!! This guy tossed his cookies right next to were i was standing as his cookies splashes my legs, and when i ran outside to escape, theres this girl tossing her cookies up right outside the bar.
It is GROSE!!!
If you like a low class frat house with than this is the place for you.
When i went over to the 'manager' and told her what had happened, she started laughing and said in spanish to one of the other ignorant people that work there 'this Irish girl just got cookies tossed on her, i guess we should clean up this princesses shoes'. Little did the manager knows that this Irish girl who got thrown up on speaks spanish!
As an Irish American I am ashamed there is such a low class Irish Bar that is a Prejudice bar in such an upscale area.

Pros: None

Cons: People tossing their cookies EVERYWHERE!! in the bar-OUTSIDE the Bar!! EVERYWHERE!!!

Posted 04/18/07

I was there a few times and i absolutely loved it!!!! Great atmosphere....the music is always great, the menu is very diverse and also the portions are very generous! Staff is very welcoming and attentive!! I met one of tha managers and she treated us very nice...lovely woman from Argentina!! Anyway, i give this place 2 thumbs way up!!!!!

Pros: Service, prices, music, staff!!!!

Cons: haven't got one!

Posted 03/25/07