27 editor picks in Kilkenny.
27 cafe places in Kilkenny we have eaten in, sorted by editor score. All cuisines in Kilkenny | Cafe across every city.
The cafe is central to how Kilkenny eats by day, from quick coffee stops to all-day kitchens. Cafe La Coco, Low Lane, Teds Coffee House and The Yard Cafe cover the casual end, while The Gourmet Store, Arán Artisan Bakery and Bistro and The Fig Tree Restaurant pair food with a sit-down feel. The Wildflower Cafe at Butler Gallery, Fragola Cafe, Knockdrinna Farmhouse Cheese Cafe and the Smithwick's Experience Bar add local colour, with Cakeface Patisserie, Foodworks, Petronella, Louie's Cafe and Wine Bar, Kyteler's Inn and Zuni filling out the field.
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.
OrderFreshly made sandwich on sourdough baguette with the local farmhouse cheese of the day.
TipOpens at 08:00 daily, closes around 16:00. The cheese counter rivals anything in the city at a fraction of restaurant prices.
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.
OrderBasque cheesecake; the seasonal vegan salad or the chai latte with oat milk.
TipOpen Monday to Saturday 08:00-16:00. Walk-in only; the room is small and fills quickly at lunch.
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.
OrderFilter coffee and the seasonal brunch plates, which rotate with local supplier arrivals.
TipWalk-in only, no bookings. Opens at 08:30. The room fills fast from 10:00 at weekends so arrive early or be patient.
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.
OrderSandwich on sourdough baguette with the local farmhouse cheese selection; the coleslaw is homemade daily.
TipOpens at 08:00, closes around 16:00. The cheese counter is worth a dedicated visit before heading to the farmers market.
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.
OrderBasque cheesecake; the seasonal vegan superfood salad or the chai latte with oat milk.
TipMonday through Saturday 08:00-16:00. The room is small; walk-in lunch is first-come, first-served.
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.
OrderFilter coffee or espresso with the all-day breakfast bap; the seasonal lunch plates are consistently strong.
TipWalk-in only. Opens around 08:30. Arrives fast to a queue on weekend mornings so plan accordingly.
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.
OrderVegan soup with sourdough; the seasonal salad plate or gluten-free cake from the rotating bake selection.
TipTuesday 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.
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 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.
Wildflower at the Butler Gallery serves plant-forward food, botanical teas, and gluten-free bakes in a walled garden and glass outdoor pods.
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.
Arán on Barrack Street is Kilkenny's most-awarded cafe, Ireland's Best Brunch winner, with stone-baked sourdough and seasonally driven plates.
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 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.
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.
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.
Teds Coffee House at Kilkenny House Boutique Hotel serves coffee, teas, soups, and sandwiches in a central Patrick Street location with free parking nearby.
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 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.
Petronella on Butterslip Lane is a charming daytime cafe in a medieval building, offering seasonal Irish cooking and a genuine commitment to local produce.
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.
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.
Fragola on William Street sits off the tourist strip in a quiet cobbled pocket with serene garden, known to locals for its strawberry latte and French toast.
Low Lane on St Kieran's Street is Kilkenny's most serious specialty coffee spot, opened 2022 after 3fe Coffee training in Dublin, walk-in only.
Knockdrinna's farm cafe in Stoneyford, 12km out, serves lunch built on Helen Finnegan's Supreme Champion cheeses and Goatsbridge trout, worth every kilometre.
The Gourmet Store on High Street has offered the best-value farmhouse cheese counter since 1997, with fresh-baked bread assembled on the spot.
Fragola on William Street is a cosy daytime cafe with a serene garden, excellent French toast, and specialty flavoured coffees at genuine budget prices.
Guided tour · 2h 30m
Eat your way around the beautiful medieval city of Kilkenny with a friendly local guide! Over 2.5 hours, you will sample delicious produce from artisanal producers whi...
Guided tour · 1 hour
Experience one of Kilkenny's most visited attractions at the Smithwick's brewery in Kilkenny. Learn about the brewing innovations and discover the family behind one of...
35 minutes
Unleash your inner chocolatier and immerse yourself in the world of delicious chocolate! With chocolate at your fingertips, explore the art of creating your own chocol...
