Attended Galway for a conference and had a wonderful time. Conference hotel (The Harbour) booked solid for the first night so stayed at the Imperial. First impressions not that good - tiny reception (although reception staff very welcoming), dated carpets but the room was perfectly adequate with kettle, tea and coffee. Soap dispenser on the wall of the bathroom and no shampoo provided, so take your own toiletries.Taxi driver advised us it was a good thing we were moving out on the Friday as sleepless night pretty much guaranteed at the weekend (I guess this is fine for anyone planning to stay out anyway, but husband and I a bit too long in the tooth for this and need our beauty sleep!) The breakfast was extensive - cereals, fruit, full Irish breakfast - good for fuelling up for the day. Had a superb meal at Kirwans Lane restaurant, fantastic sea food and steak. An outstanding restaurant in Clifden (Connemara) was Mitchells - had the best seafood platter ever! Highly recommended.
This hotel is good value (around £54 for our Thursday night) and well placed in Eyre Square although to be fair it doesn't take long to walk anywhere in Galway.
Taxi fare from the airport (Galway) is 15 euros, fixed price.

My Self and my wife stayed at this Hotel The Imperial Hotel in Galway and I just have to tell you for location you could not get better. It is right in the heart of Eyre Square which is just a stone through away from shop street and Quey street. This is where all of the Pubs and night clubs are and great restaurants also. We ate in the hotel and the food was just wonderful the bar is clean and bright with verg good staff. the staff could not do enough for us they supplied maps of the city and also gave directions perfectly. Breakfast was included in our rate and that was also very good, excellent selection of both hot and cold buffet. We did not even need lunch on our first day we had such a good breakfast. The bedrooms are a good size and ver clean and they also have a lounge on the first floor where you can go for a drink and watch what is happening in Eyre Square. Excellent Hotel all round really could not fault it no matter how hard i tried.

We traveled around Ireland for a week, and this was the most expensive AND the worst hotel we stayed in on the trip. The room was FREEZING and right next to the elevator. Every time we would try to brush our teeth or take a bath GROSS rusty chunks would plop out of both the bath and sink faucets. You couldn't have paid me to eat the free breakfast. From their Web site, I envisioned a small hotel with lots of charm, instead it reminded me more of a Super 8 motel. Complaints aside, staff was accommodating- they allowed us to check-in at 9am, and also found a space heater for our room. The location of The Imperial was super convenient to shops, restaurants, and bars, as well as close enough to the rail/bus station so you didn't have to carry your luggage all through town.

******I would not recommend the Imperial to other travelers. Instead, consider Skeffington Arms. It’s a half a block away from the Imperial. Skeffington Arms was cleaner, cheaper, had a beautiful bar, rooms were tastefully decorated, and they offered a decent breakfast.

I have stayed at the Imperial in the past, myself and 13 family members. I have nothing but great things to say about the Imperial, friendly waitstaff, clean rooms, great food. The bar is fantastic, the bartenders are personable and knowledgable. The location is perfect, stones throw from anywhere in the city. Even after a long night out, hitting last call at every bar in Galway, you will always find the Imperial bar open until at least 4AM, for residents only. I am going in 2 weeks with 14 family members, and I did not even shop around, I knew exactly where we were all staying. Great place!!!!