Best Coffee Shops and Cafes in Carlow

"Cafe La Coco is a bright, sweet and cosy café on Patrick’s Street in Kilkenny City Centre. The warm and welcoming atmosphere is mirrored in their very friendly staff. If you can tear your eyes away from the interior, have a look at it’s jaw dropping brunch menu."

"We were seated in the airy interior with colorful feminine wallpaper. A slice of walnut cake and a cup of tea rounded out our mid-day eats."

"When it comes to brunch the key essential is the bread on any plate. Aran Artisan Bakery & Bistro serves delicious brunches served with seasonal local produce and stone baked breads with natural Irish ingredients. Combine that with the very best of local produce from bacon, eggs, freshly made pastries and you have the perfect Brunch compliments of the folk at Aran!"

"Bart Pawlukojc and his wife Nicole Server-Pawlukojc brought a wealth of experience at top restaurants in Europe and beyond when they settled in Kilkenny and opened their superb bakery and daytime restaurant, Arán Artisan Bakery & Bistro, in ..."

"Opened in 1954, Billy Byrnes has undergone refurbishments in recent years and now houses a a secret garden, an outdoor terrace and a bunker beach bar. The beach bar sports bright colours and funky furniture, creating an ocean like atmosphere in the heart of Kilkenny!. In the secret garden area is where you’ll get the opportunity to listen to local and international musicians, including the genres of rock, jazz and folk."

"Bring a touch of the sea and sand to your outdoor drinks gathering at Billy Byrnes Bar on John’s Street. Scattered with rescued sofa’s and hand-made tables, this funky beer garden resembles a beach bar in the middle of the city!. Visit: www.billybyrnesbar.com"

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"The Foodhall at the Kilkenny Design Centre in the City is an iconic spot for barista coffee, teas or a light lunch. There are also sandwiches and drinks “to go” which is the perfect option for an impromptu picnic in the park across the road at Kilkenny Castle."

"Upstairs from the craft shops at the Kilkenny Design Centre, this arty, organic-oriented, self-service cafeteria has a vast array of salads, seafood chowder with home-baked bread, gourmet sandwiches, hot specials... Ice Cream in Kilkenny City"

"The food hall at the Kilkenny Design Centre is a great place to grab a quick breakfast or lunch in Kilkenny. Enjoy a homemade sausage roll with savory dipping sauce and a pot of tea. Nab the corner table for lovely views of Kilkenny Castle."

"Enjoy Muse’s Garden Lunch Menu + Weekend Brunch, it’s a truly unique al fresco experience in the heart of Kilkenny city and the opportunity to take in the spectacular serene courtyard garden and medieval surrounds of Butler Gallery. From Tuesday to Friday, Muse serve their Garden Lunch Menu with lots of locals’ favourite lunch dishes and some additions, as well as Cloudpicker coffee, desserts and their signature hot chocolates. At weekends, kick back in a sun-soaked glass pod with a glass of prosecco in hand and choose from their new family-friendly Weekend Brunch menu."

"MUSE Coffee + Food is a family-run café, offering delicious, fresh, wholesome food served in the stunning garden courtyard of Butler Gallery. Enjoy scrumptious toasties and fresh sandwiches, homemade cakes, tarts and specialty coffee in a truly unique al fresco experience in the heart of the city and the opportunity to take in the spectacular serene courtyard garden and medieval surrounds."

"The Butler Gallery you’ll find MUSE coffee, they offer a large menu of lunch, brunch, treats and sharing boxes"

"In this crowded little deli, takeaway wraps, paninis, baps, bagels and thick-cut-bread sandwiches are assembled using choice imported meats and cheeses (plus a few top-notch local varieties). Market in Kilkenny City"

"Located in the restored Chapter house rooms in St. Mary’s Cathedral, the Cathedral Cafe is the perfect place to eat in Kilkenny for breakfast, brunch or lunch. Open Mon – Fri 9am – 4pm. Delicious and locally sourced food to suit all appetites, all found in a serene setting in the heart of Medieval Kilkenny."

"An excellent choice if you want to be in the heart of Kilkenny, this 200-year-old hotel built in the 1800s still keeps its old-world charm but with updated, modern amenities. With Kilkenny’s top shops on your doorstep and a bar on-site with live music on Saturday’s, there’s no shortage of entertainment in and around this prime hotel."

"Welcome to The Club House Hotel Kilkenny As Kilkenny's oldest hotel, The Club House boasts 220 years of service. Our mission is for your comfort and enjoyment. The Hotel is situated on Patrick's Street in Kilkenny City Centre in a wonderfully restored Georgian building."

"Nestled in the back of Bridie’s Bar and General food store, visitors will find a classy, partly covered beer garden, set in an exotic walled garden!. You will find plenty of seating here, so you can be guaranteed a relaxing evening in a truly unique setting!. Visit :Bridies Bar & General Store | Facebook"

"Bridie’s is part of Langton’s hotel complex – it’s a bar which doesn’t look like a bar from the exterior. Apart from the massive sign that says ‘Bar’, that is.  You’d swear it was a sweet shop otherwise. In fact, when you walk through the doors, it’s like an olde world general store."

"As soon as you enter the Bridie’s Bar you find yourself immersed in another era and, above all, in a place that seems all but a bar. At the entrance, there is a sweets shop but as soon as the last door goes, you enter the real pub, a surprise for everyone."

"Address: Irishtown, Kilkenny, Republic of Ireland, IE Tel: +353 056 776 4971 The second-largest cathedral in Ireland, this stunning medieval landmark was constructed 800 years ago, is a major visitor draw, and has been in regular use since its founding. Careful restoration over the years has ensured that the cathedral remains well-preserved. Situated next-door is a 9th-century Round Tower, which measures around 30 metres / 100 feet in height and when climbed, gives magnificent views of the city and surrounding countryside."

"On an ancient spot where there has been a church since the 500s, St Canice’s Cathedral is an Early Gothic monument from the 13th century. At 68 metres it’s the second longest cathedral in Ireland and both its architecture and fittings will keep you rapt for good hour or two. Outside you’ll notice the faux battlements that give the cathedral a fortified air."

"In the 6th century a monastery was built on the site of the cathedral by St Canice, who is Kilkenny’s patron saint. There used to be a wooden church which apparently was burned down in 1087. The round tower is located just outside the cathedral and is the oldest building on the site."

"Dating to 1225, this Dominican monastery was built outside Kilkenny’s city walls as a way of staying independent from the old Irish and English quarters. The abbey is close to a tributary of the River Nore, and over 800 years has suffered repeated floods. Like all abbeys in Ireland and Britain the Black Abbey was shut down during Henry VIII’s Dissolution of the Monasteries in the 16th century, but unlike most, it was preserved as a courthouse."

"Originally home to a group of peaceful Dominican Friars, Black Abbey has been standing since the year 1220 and got its name from the colour the friars wore. While on the outside it may look like any other ancient stone structure, the inside is where you can witness the beauty and character of the church. It is home to the largest and most impressive Rose Window in Ireland depicting the five mysteries of the Rosary."

"This priory of the Dominican Order was founded in 1225 by William Marshal the Younger, son of the above-mentioned William Marshal. The Dominicans were often called “Black Friars” because they used to wear a black cloak. Hence the name Black Abbey."