Galway City Council is delighted to announce the return of Café Lates this August, with five cafes across the city extending their opening hours on Thursday evenings, inviting people in for a mix of workshops, DJ nights, spoken word events, and other creative experiences. The participating cafés are: Plámás (Dominick Street), 56 Central (Shop Street), Fairhill Café (Abbeygate Street), Little Lane Coffee Company (Bonham Quay), and Limited Coffee Co. (Woodquay), with some cafés hosting events weekly and others on a monthly basis. Café Lates, which will run until December, is a #GalwaybyNight initiative to support a vibrant evening café culture and a more welcoming, active and diverse city centre after 6pm. For more information, follow This is Galway’s social media platforms, participating cafés’ social media platforms and www.thisisgalway.ie/nighttime/
These events will showcase local creativity and provide opportunities for people to engage with arts and culture in relaxed and accessible settings, creating consistency in the city’s evening offer and strengthening Galway’s growing café culture.
The demand for more evening café offerings emerged strongly during public consultation undertaken as part of Galway City’s Night-Time Economy programme. Café Lates responds to this demand by encouraging people into the city centre during the early evening, creating opportunities to socialise, experience culture and enjoy Galway in a relaxed and inclusive setting.
Creating a welcoming environment from 6pm onwards helps build footfall for hospitality and retail businesses while making the city centre more attractive for residents and visitors.
By providing alternative evening activities and experiences, Café Lates supports local businesses, encourages people to spend more time in the city, and contributes to a more balanced and sustainable Night-Time Economy. Small interventions, delivered consistently over time, can have a significant impact on how people experience the city after 6pm.
Café Lates is funded by Galway City Council and the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport. It forms part of Galway’s wider commitment to developing a more diverse, inclusive and sustainable Night-Time Economy by supporting non-alcohol-focused evening experiences, increasing footfall across the city centre, and encouraging greater use of public spaces and local businesses after dark.