Wondering where to dine out with your family while on holiday in Kilkenny? With the excellent variety of top quality gastro pub food, a wide range of Irish and international family restaurants, casual yet sophisticated hotel restaurants, quirky cafes and tea rooms – Kilkenny has such a great choice of food emporiums for you and your family to enjoy. Check out our list of family friendly restaurants below. Choose from old favourites to the latest culinary hot spots and from award-winning restaurants to gourmet gems throughout the city and county. There is a foodie fix to suit all families in Kilkenny!
Kilkenny Cafés
Cakeface Patisserie
Cakeface Patisserie a must visit on any trip to Kilkenny and a cake lovers paradise. Cakeface was born out of the desire to create unique, quirky and unusual cakes pastries and desserts. It specialises in the unexpected and delicious, their range of desserts is designed to wow and surprise and they do just that! The lovely counter has pastries all displayed like sweet jewels. You can also enjoy tasty vegetarian sandwiches, soup and salads, scones, gâteau and brioches. They have recently added a charming medieval style Al Fresco dining area at the back of the café. It is a great spot to chill with a coffee and treat the kids to a crafty delicious cake while exploring Ireland’s Medieval Mile. The service is impeccable in this unmissable café.
Email: info@cakfeface.ie
Visit: www.cakeface.ie
Muse Café
MUSE is the perfect place to enjoy their inspired food and specialty coffee, celebrating the best of local, seasonal, homemade produce. A destination in itself or the perfect start or end to an exploration of Butler Gallery’s magnificent collection of Irish art and visiting exhibitions. Lunch in their café or garden courtyard against the backdrop of this magnificently restored building with a history spanning 800 years and enjoy views of the monastic site of St John’s Priory. Delight in the perfect weekend Brunch in their outdoor seating area. Parents can unwind while the kids explore our children’s garden and gallery workshops.
Call: 056 7741169
Visit: www.musecoffeefood.ie
Canal Square Café
Nestled alongside the historic walls of Kilkenny Castle, overlooking the River Nore, is where you will find Canal Square. Offering locally roasted, specialty coffee, freshly baked pastries, and delicious breakfast and lunch items prepared in-house by our fantastic team, headed up by Head Chef Cormac Rowe, it is the perfect place for a pit stop. They offer delicious, seasonally-inspired food throughout the day, to eat in or takeaway. They believe that the customer always comes first – and that means exceptional produce, quality ingredients and a friendly service.
Visit: www.canalsquare.ie
Call: 056 7816245
Family Restaurants Kilkenny
John Street Tea Rooms at Langton's Hotel Kilkenny
Langton’s Hotel is an award winning four star city centre hotel in one of Irelands oldest medieval cities. Originally Langtons Bar, they have grown throughout the years to become a Restaurant, Hotel, Music Venue/Theatre, Wedding Venue, Shop/Bakery and a Tea Rooms. John Street Tea Rooms, a Viennese Style Room is a delicate David Collins designed eatery. Open from 9am daily it serves barista coffees, fresh pastries, breakfast, brunch, lunch & Afternoon Tea. Their Pastry Chefs freshly prepare many decadent pastries and treats. Langtons macarons, financiers and delicious scones are the perfect accompaniment when enjoying a barista coffee or one of their specialty teas. The Langtons Tearooms extends into its very own covered and heated courtyard. The John Street Tea Rooms at Langton’s Hotel Kilkenny is also inspired by the famous Alice in Wonderland. It is also the perfect place to dine alfresco or to enjoy some Afternoon Tea. They have a wide range of Afternoon Teas to choose from including a very special Kiddies Afternoon Tea!
Call: 056 7765133
Visit: langtons.ie
Petronella Restaurant
Petronella restaurant and café combines medieval Kilkenny with what is best in the city’s dining and evening entertainment today. Petronella’s unique location on the Butterslip, one of the busiest tourist routes in the city and its modern Irish and European cuisine, create an irresistible welcome that you are sure to return to time and again. A charming dining experience, whether over a brisk lunch, leisurely evening meal or time set aside for an all important coffee, will always be guaranteed by their friendly and attentive staff.
Call: 056 7761899
Visit: petronella.ie
Rive Gauche Kitchen and Cocktails
Rive Gauche is the latest addition to The Left Bank, one of Kilkenny’s most popular bars and venues. This Kilkenny restaurant offers a French feel combined with an Irish passion for the finest local foods from land & sea. Guests of all needs are invited to soak up the atmosphere in our historic and impressive restaurant and bar.
Call: (056) 777 5604
Visit: www.rivegauche.ie
Hotel Restaurants in Kilkenny
Statham’s Bar & Restaurant at Pembroke Kilkenny
Taste the best of Kilkenny’s local food at Statham’s bar & restaurant at Pembroke hotel, Patrick Street! At Statham’s, savour prime local farm-to-fork food, sharing plates, delicious desserts, coffees & cocktails throughout the day and into the evening. From breakfast and brunch, to lunch, dinner and special occasions, each dish is perfectly planned by Executive Chef Ken Harker and his team. Sharing, meeting, chatting, caring; in this new reality that we are all adapting to, one thing has not changed – Bringing their customers the very best food experience has always been at the heart of Statham’s. Dine indoors in a cosy, well-ventilated space, or in the heated outdoor courtyard.
Call: 056 7783500
Visit: Statham’s Bar and Restaurant
Hoban Bar & Brasserie in the Ormonde Hotel
Hoban Bar & Brasserie at Kilkenny Ormonde Hotel in Kilkenny City Centre is where a relaxed atmosphere, excellent food and a genuine welcome awaits you. The bar is fabulously glamourous with a distinctly Art Deco feel and a cosy snug and warm fire providing the perfect backdrop to an extensive and impressive Cocktail and Drinks List.
Call: 056 7750200
Visit: www.kilkennyormonde.com
Hibernian Bar in the Hibernian Hotel
Kilkenny Hibernian Hotel has earned the reputation of offering a uniquely designed property with the perfect blend of contemporary and traditional. The Hibernian Bar serves contemporary food in a chic and urban setting. The ethos is to provide amazing food, quality wines, select craft beers and great service in a warm and friendly atmosphere.
Call: 056 7771888
Visit: www.kilkennyhibernianhotel.com
Pizza & Pasta Restaurants
The Kings Mill Restaurant, Kells
The Kings Mill offers unrivalled levels of Mediterranean dining in the legendary town of Kells. They are so proud to be based in a uniquely constructed mill in 1782. Steeped in local history, every local has a story to tell about this beautiful mill. All the staff of the Kings Mill Restaurant offer the warmest of welcomes where they use the finest, locally sourced Irish, as well as organic Italian ingredients to suit the tastes and demands of all food loving customers. They are the future of tradition, offering modern and classic Italian dishes with some Mediterranean influences served in a rustic, atmospheric interior deliver a real “trattoria” experience in the heart of Ireland. Whether you’re after a nutrient packed salad, quality pasta with homemade pesto or you want to enjoy an authentic, sourdough based, stone-baked pizza – You’ve found the right place. The Kings Mill is located in Mullins Mill, Kellsborough, Kells, Co. Kilkenny.
Call: 085 281 0161 or 05677 30654
Visit: www.thekingsmill.ie
La Rivista Market
Just a short walk from Kilkenny Castle, La Rivista’s new Market Café & Gourmet Pizza Market will appeal to those who enjoy great food in a casual setting, at reasonable prices. Located at 22 Parliament Street, La Rivista Gourmet Pizza Market offers a vegan and vegetarian friendly trendy ‘Night Time Menu’ serving customer favourites, from their ever popular delicious hand crafted pizza’s, salads, buffalo chicken wings along with a range of cocktails. Open Thursday to Saturday from 5pm and from 1pm on Sundays for customers to dine in or take out. The La Rivista Market Café, is also open for customers to sit in and enjoy an aromatic coffee and delicious freshly baked cakes and pastries as well as a wide selection of lunch options including paninis, salads, soups and vegan sandwiches. Open from 8.30am-4.30pm daily.
Call: 056 7771666
Visit: www.larivistamarket.ie
Sullivan's Taproom & Brewing Co.
Soak up the atmosphere and savour the ancient craft of independent, artisan brewing at Sullivan’s Taproom, located at 15 John Street Kilkenny. Combine internationally award winning craft beer with a delicious daily menu containing items such as wood fired pizzas, burgers, tacos, wings and more! Sullivan’s Brewing Company produces award winning beer – The Malting’s Red Ale was voted Best Draught Ale in the world, 2017/18! It also boasts rotational taps allowing you to sample a variety of craft beer each time you visit, as well as a new and improved heated outdoor dining area, including the extremely popular 8 person outdoor pods!
Visit: www.sullivanstaproom.com
Call: 056 7797980
Gastro Pubs
Paris Texas
Paris Texas, winner of the ‘Pub of the Year’ in the Irish Pub Awards 2019 is located on the main shopping street in the heart of Kilkenny City. Newly refurbished the pub has transformed into one of the leading Gastro pubs in the South East and is home to an in-house wood smoking oven offering a fusion of traditional American South West favourites with the sophistication of New Orleans French Quarter. Paris Texas delivers restaurant quality food at affordable prices ensuring its popularity with local and visitors alike.
Call: 056 7761822
Visit: www.paristexas.ie
Rafter's Gastro Pub
As one of Kilkenny’s leading pubs, Rafter’s Gastro Pub serves superb food in a friendly atmosphere. It’s great place to relax and nourish your appetite. Saturday nights are very lively at Rafter’s Gastro Pub, as they always have one of the best bands in Kilkenny belting out their tunes! With 14 en suite bedrooms, Rafter’s Gastro Pub offers quality accommodation, centrally located in the heart of Kilkenny.
Great food is a very large part of the offering being served at Rafter’s Gastro Pub and customers can get food from 9.00am to 9.00pm daily.
Call: 056 7722970
Visit: www.raftersgastropub.ie
Matt the Millers
Matt the Millers is arguably one of the most popular pubs in Kilkenny. The energetic bar features four floors with a bar on each and with an expanse of ground space to dance the night away under the sparkling disco ball and warm atmosphere. Customers are spoilt for choice with great food, a lively bar and music venue in a pub that has maintained its true Medieval Character. So come on down and soak up the atmosphere for yourself!
Call: 056 7761696
Visit: www.mattthemillers.com
