Cheap Eats in Kilkenny

Arán Artisan Bakery and Bistro ★ 4.7

barrack-street · 8 Barrack Street, Kilkenny, R95 YF30

Arán on Barrack Street is Kilkenny's most acclaimed bakery-bistro, winner of Ireland's Best Brunch at the Georgina Campbell Irish Breakfast Awards.

Savour Kilkenny Market ★ 4.6

medieval-mile · The Parade, Kilkenny

Savour Kilkenny fills The Parade each October Bank Holiday with 100 artisan food vendors, cookery demos, and a free Craft Brewers and Distillers Marquee.

Cakeface Patisserie ★ 4.5

irishtown · 16 Irishtown, Kilkenny, R95 W634

Cakeface on Irishtown is Laura and Rory Gannon's patisserie, French and London pastry training returned to Kilkenny, plus the city's only coffee roastery.

Arán Artisan Bakery and Bistro ★ 4.5

barrack-street · 8 Barrack Street, Kilkenny, R95 YF30

Arán on Barrack Street is Kilkenny's most-awarded cafe, Ireland's Best Brunch winner, with stone-baked sourdough and seasonally driven plates.

Low Lane ★ 4.4

st-kierans-street · 45 Saint Kieran's Street, Kilkenny

Low Lane on St Kieran's Street opened in 2022, Robyn and Mark Butler bringing 3fe-trained coffee skills home in a walk-in-only specialty cafe.

Tip: Walk-in only, no bookings. Opens at 08:30. The room fills fast from 10:00 at weekends so arrive early or be patient.

Low Lane ★ 4.4

st-kierans-street · 45 Saint Kieran's Street, Kilkenny

Low Lane on St Kieran's Street opened in 2022, Robyn and Mark Butler bringing 3fe-trained coffee skills home in a walk-in-only specialty cafe.

Tip: Walk-in only. Opens around 08:30. Arrives fast to a queue on weekend mornings so plan accordingly.

Low Lane ★ 4.4

st-kierans-street · 45 Saint Kieran's Street, Kilkenny

Low Lane opened in 2022 when Robyn and Mark Butler brought 3fe-trained specialty coffee back to Kilkenny, a walk-in-only room with all-day breakfast.

Cakeface Patisserie ★ 4.4

irishtown · 16 Irishtown, Kilkenny, R95 W634

Cakeface on Irishtown is Laura and Rory Gannon's patisserie cafe, French and London pastry training applied to a room housing Kilkenny's only coffee roastery.

Kilkenny Farmers Market ★ 4.4

medieval-mile · The Parade, Kilkenny

Kilkenny Farmers Market on The Parade draws up to 20 artisan producers every Thursday with farmhouse cheese, smoked trout, organic meat, and home-baked goods.

Kilkenny Farmers Market ★ 4.4

medieval-mile · The Parade, Kilkenny

Kilkenny Farmers Market every Thursday on The Parade offers soda bread, farmhouse cheese, honey, and vegetables from €3, the best budget food in the city.

Louie's Cafe and Wine Bar ★ 4.2

medieval-mile · 3 Patrick Street, Kilkenny

Louie's on Patrick Street is a Parisian-inspired cafe bar with leather banquettes, high ceilings, natural wines, and a covered terrace open day to evening.

Mountain View Markets ★ 4.2

kilkenny-environs · Ballyhale, County Kilkenny

Mountain View Markets at Ballyhale runs seasonal outdoor food-truck events with African street food, lobster rolls, and barbecue, reviewed by the Irish Times.

The Gourmet Store ★ 4.1

medieval-mile · 56 High Street, Kilkenny

The Gourmet Store on High Street has been Kilkenny's best deli since 1997, with farmhouse cheese, locally sourced meats, and sandwiches on artisan bread.

Tip: Opens at 08:00 daily, closes around 16:00. The cheese counter rivals anything in the city at a fraction of restaurant prices.

The Gourmet Store ★ 4.1

medieval-mile · 56 High Street, Kilkenny

The Gourmet Store on High Street has been Kilkenny's best deli since 1997, with farmhouse cheese, locally sourced meats, and sandwiches on artisan bread.

Tip: Opens at 08:00, closes around 16:00. The cheese counter is worth a dedicated visit before heading to the farmers market.

Kilkenny Farmers Market Bakery Stalls ★ 4.1

medieval-mile · The Parade, Kilkenny

The Kilkenny Farmers Market on The Parade every Thursday brings artisan bakers with home-baked breads, soda bread, and tray bakes in front of Kilkenny Castle.

Ristorante Rinuccini Desserts ★ 4.1

medieval-mile · 1 The Parade, Kilkenny, R95 XKR7

Rinuccini at 1 The Parade produces the best tiramisu in Kilkenny from imported Italian ingredients in a kitchen opposite the castle since 1989.

The Gourmet Store ★ 4.1

medieval-mile · 56 High Street, Kilkenny

The Gourmet Store on High Street has been Kilkenny's best deli-cafe since 1997, with farmhouse cheeses, local cold meats and sandwiches on artisan bread.

Petronella ★ 4.1

butterslip · Butter Slip Lane, Kilkenny, R95 A030

Petronella on Butterslip Lane is a charming daytime cafe in a medieval building, offering seasonal Irish cooking and a genuine commitment to local produce.

Fragola Cafe ★ 4.1

medieval-mile · 3 William Street, Kilkenny, R95 XE36

Fragola on William Street is a cosy daytime cafe with a serene garden, excellent French toast, and specialty flavoured coffees at genuine budget prices.

Wildflower Cafe at Butler Gallery ★ 4.0

medieval-mile · Evans Home, John's Quay, Kilkenny, R95 YX3F

Wildflower Cafe at Butler Gallery serves plant-based soups, bowls, and vegan raw cakes in a walled garden, Kilkenny's most dedicated plant-forward cafe.

Tip: Tuesday through Saturday 10:00-17:00, Sunday 11:00-17:00. The glass outdoor pods in the walled garden are the best seats in Kilkenny on a clear day.

The Gourmet Store ★ 4.0

medieval-mile · 56 High Street, Kilkenny

The Gourmet Store on High Street has been a Kilkenny bakery and deli since 1997, fresh daily bread and the city's most extensive farmhouse cheese counter.

Petronella ★ 4.0

butterslip · Butter Slip Lane, Kilkenny, R95 A030

Petronella on Butterslip Lane produces artisan desserts from Mountain View's farm, seasonal baked goods forming the most farm-connected dessert menu in town.

Wildflower Cafe at Butler Gallery ★ 4.0

medieval-mile · Evans Home, John's Quay, Kilkenny, R95 YX3F

Wildflower at the Butler Gallery serves plant-forward food, botanical teas, and gluten-free bakes in a walled garden and glass outdoor pods.

Smithwick's Experience Bar ★ 4.0

medieval-mile · 44 Parliament Street, Kilkenny, R95 VK54

The bar at the Smithwick's Experience pours a free Smithwick's Red Ale at the end of every brewery tour on the city's 13th-century brewing site.

Foodworks ★ 4.0

medieval-mile · 7 Parliament Street, Kilkenny, R95 X577

Foodworks on Parliament Street is one of the city's best brunch cafe-bistros, the farm credentials genuine with pork from the owners' own family farm.

Zuni ★ 4.0

medieval-mile · 26 Patrick Street, Kilkenny

Zuni's breakfast service from 08:00 is among Kilkenny's most consistent hotel dining options, with full Irish or lighter plates and coffee on Patrick Street.

Lana Kilkenny Asian Street Food ★ 4.0

medieval-mile · Upper New Street, Kilkenny, R95 VXK7

Lana on Upper New Street brings authentic Thai and Asian street food to Kilkenny, a menu marked for vegan and gluten-free diets with outstanding Pad Thai.

The Gourmet Store ★ 4.0

medieval-mile · 56 High Street, Kilkenny

The Gourmet Store on High Street has offered the best-value farmhouse cheese counter since 1997, with fresh-baked bread assembled on the spot.

Cafe La Coco ★ 3.9

medieval-mile · Patrick Street, Kilkenny

Cafe La Coco is a small, independent Kilkenny cafe serving in-house baked goods, specialty coffee, and a seasonal superfood salad, open Monday to Saturday.

Tip: Open Monday to Saturday 08:00-16:00. Walk-in only; the room is small and fills quickly at lunch.

Cafe La Coco ★ 3.9

medieval-mile · Patrick Street, Kilkenny

Cafe La Coco is a small, independent Kilkenny cafe serving in-house baked goods, specialty coffee, and a seasonal superfood salad, open Monday to Saturday.

Tip: Monday through Saturday 08:00-16:00. The room is small; walk-in lunch is first-come, first-served.

Wildflower Cafe at Butler Gallery ★ 3.9

medieval-mile · Evans Home, John's Quay, Kilkenny, R95 YX3F

Wildflower Cafe at Butler Gallery bakes gluten-free cakes and vegan treats daily, Kilkenny's most plant-forward bakery in a walled gallery garden setting.

Cafe La Coco ★ 3.9

medieval-mile · Patrick Street, Kilkenny

Cafe La Coco on Patrick Street is a small independent cafe with in-house baked goods, specialty coffee with plant milk, and superfood salads on the menu.

The Fig Tree Restaurant ★ 3.8

medieval-mile · 20 High Street, Kilkenny, R95 XW22

The Fig Tree on High Street serves a full Irish breakfast and handmade local beef burgers in a casual space with an outdoor terrace, open seven days.

Tip: Open seven days. Outdoor terrace with greenery is the place to sit in summer. Good gluten-free options.

The Fig Tree Restaurant ★ 3.8

medieval-mile · 20 High Street, Kilkenny, R95 XW22

The Fig Tree on High Street serves a full Irish breakfast and handmade local beef burgers in a casual space with an outdoor terrace, open seven days.

Tip: Open seven days. The outdoor terrace with greenery is the best casual outdoor seat on High Street.

The Fig Tree Restaurant ★ 3.8

medieval-mile · 20 High Street, Kilkenny, R95 XW22

The Fig Tree on High Street bakes fresh scones, baps, and pastries each morning, drawing a breakfast crowd for a full Irish on a busy pedestrian street.

Foodworks ★ 3.8

medieval-mile · 7 Parliament Street, Kilkenny, R95 X577

Foodworks on Parliament Street bakes bread from the owners' own family farm produce, the most direct grain-to-table baking operation in Kilkenny city centre.

Zuni Hotel Breakfast ★ 3.8

medieval-mile · 26 Patrick Street, Kilkenny

Zuni's breakfast service on Patrick Street offers the most consistent hotel morning spread in Kilkenny, with fresh brown bread and a full Irish each day.

The Fig Tree Restaurant ★ 3.8

medieval-mile · 20 High Street, Kilkenny, R95 XW22

The Fig Tree on High Street serves full Irish breakfasts and in-house beef patty burgers from local beef with an outdoor terrace on the medieval street.

The Yard Cafe ★ 3.8

st-kierans-street · 27 Saint Kieran's Street, Kilkenny

The Yard Cafe on St Kieran's Street serves organic coffee with plant milks, vegan and vegetarian lunch plates, and homemade cakes in a relaxed setting.

Kyteler's Inn ★ 3.8

medieval-mile · St Kieran's Street, Kilkenny

Kyteler's Inn on St Kieran's Street is the most historically weighted daytime stop in Kilkenny, with over 90 Irish whiskeys shortlisted by JD Flynn on site.