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Rafter'S Gastropub

3.0 star property
Guesthouse with free breakfast, a quick walk to Kilkenny Castle

Choose dates to view prices

Photo gallery for Rafter'S Gastropub

Rooftop terrace
Front of property
Reception hall
Family Room | Blackout drapes, iron/ironing board, free WiFi
Serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Rafter's Gastropub, near medieval Kilkenny Castle, offers a unique blend of history and comfort. Enjoy rooftop views, full breakfast, games, or barbecue grills. Guests consistently praise the attentive staff.

Reviews

8.0 out of 10
Very good

Popular amenities

  • Bar
  • Room service
  • Laundry
  • Housekeeping
  • Free WiFi

Room options

Check availability for these dates

Tonight

Sep 14 - Sep 15
Check availability for tonight Sep 14 - Sep 15

Tomorrow

Sep 15 - Sep 16
Check availability for tomorrow Sep 15 - Sep 16
Available filters for rooms
Showing 5 of 5 rooms

View all photos for Triple Room

Triple Room | Blackout drapes, iron/ironing board, free WiFi

Triple Room

Highlights

Heating
Free cribs/infant beds
Flat-screen TV
Blackout drapes/curtains
Hair dryer
Private bathroom
Daily housekeeping
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 Double Bed and 2 Twin Beds

View all photos for Twin Room

Twin Room | Blackout drapes, iron/ironing board, free WiFi

Twin Room

Highlights

Heating
Flat-screen TV
Blackout drapes/curtains
Hair dryer
Private bathroom
Daily housekeeping
  • Sleeps 2
  • 2 Twin Beds

View all photos for Family Room

Family Room | Blackout drapes, iron/ironing board, free WiFi

Family Room

8.6 out of 10
Excellent
(4 reviews)

Highlights

Heating
Free cribs/infant beds
Flat-screen TV
Blackout drapes/curtains
Hair dryer
Private bathroom
Wardrobe or closet
Daily housekeeping
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 Double Bed and 3 Twin Beds

View all photos for Double Room

Blackout drapes, iron/ironing board, free WiFi

Double Room

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(1 review)

Highlights

Heating
Flat-screen TV
Blackout drapes/curtains
Hair dryer
Private bathroom
Daily housekeeping
  • City view
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

View all photos for Double or Twin Room

Double or Twin Room | Blackout drapes, iron/ironing board, free WiFi

Double or Twin Room

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(3 reviews)

Highlights

Heating
Free cribs/infant beds
Flat-screen TV
Blackout drapes/curtains
Hair dryer
Private bathroom
Wardrobe or closet
Daily housekeeping
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Double Bed OR 1 Twin Bed

About the neighborhood

Kilkenny City Centre, a neighborhood in Kilkenny, is home to Rafter'S Gastropub. Kilkenny Castle and Butler House are notable landmarks, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Kilkenny Golf Club and Callan Golf Club. Check out an event or a game at The Watershed, and consider making time for Gowran Park, a top attraction not to be missed. Take an opportunity to explore the area for outdoor excitement like hiking/biking trails.
Visit our Kilkenny travel guideOpens in a new window
View more Guest Houses in KilkennyOpens in a new window
Map
4 Friary Street, Kilkenny, County Kilkenny, R95 VY62

What's nearby

  • Kilkenny Castle - 3 min walk - 0.2 miles
  • Butler House - 3 min walk - 0.2 miles
  • St. Canice's Cathedral - 8 min walk - 0.5 miles
  • St. Lukes General Hospital - 3 min drive - 1.3 miles
  • The Hub - 5 min drive - 2.4 miles

Getting around

  • Kilkenny Station - 12 min walk
  • Dublin Airport (DUB) - 94 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Left Bank - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪Lanigan's Bar & Restaurant - ‬3 min walk
  • ‪The Field Bar & Restaurant - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪Harkin Syd - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪Caffé500 - ‬2 min walk

About this property

Rafter'S Gastropub

Guesthouse near Kilkenny Castle
Located close to Butler House and St. Canice's Cathedral, Rafter'S Gastropub provides free full breakfast, a rooftop terrace, and a garden. The on-site restaurant offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Free in-room WiFi is available to all guests, along with an arcade/game room and laundry facilities.
You'll also find perks like:
  • A TV in the lobby, luggage storage, and coffee/tea in the lobby
  • A billiards/pool table, barbecue grills, and smoke-free premises
  • Free newspapers and a front-desk safe
  • Guest reviews give top marks for the helpful staff
Room features
All guestrooms at Rafter'S Gastropub include comforts such as free WiFi and room service.
Other amenities include:
  • Bathrooms with showers and free toiletries
  • Heating and daily housekeeping

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • No onsite parking available

Food and drink

  • Free full breakfast available daily 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM
  • A bar/lounge
  • A restaurant
  • Coffee and tea in common areas
  • Snack bar/deli

Things to do

  • Arcade/game room
  • Billiards/pool table
  • TV in common areas

Family friendly

  • Arcade/game room
  • Laundry facilities
  • Snack bar/deli

Conveniences

  • Free newspapers in lobby
  • Laundry facilities
  • Luggage storage
  • Safe at front desk

Guest services

  • Housekeeping (daily)

Outdoors

  • Barbecue grill
  • Garden
  • Rooftop terrace

Accessibility

  • No elevator

More

  • Smoking not allowed

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Blackout drapes

Bathroom

  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Private bathroom
  • Shower
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • Flat-screen TV

Food and drink

  • Room service

More

  • Heating
  • Iron/ironing board on request

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: 11:00 PM
Contactless check-in available
Late check-in subject to availability
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before 11:30 AM
Contactless check-out available

Special check-in instructions

There is no front desk at this property
The host will greet guests on arrival

Access methods

Host will greet you

Pets

Pets not allowed (service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees)

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Rollaway/extra beds are not available

Property payment types

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards; cash is not accepted
Cashless transactions are available

We should mention

This property does not have elevators

National rating

This property does not have a Ireland Tourist Board rating. For the benefit of our customers, we have provided a rating based on our rating system.

Property is also known as

Rafter Dempsey's
Rafter Dempsey's Inn
Rafter Dempsey's Inn Kilkenny
Rafter Dempsey's Kilkenny
Rafter Dempsey's House Kilkenny
Rafter Dempsey's House
The Rafter Dempsey's Guesthouse
Rafter Dempsey's Guesthouse Kilkenny
Rafter Dempsey's Guesthouse
The Rafter Dempsey's
RAFTER'S GASTROPUB Kilkenny
RAFTER'S GASTROPUB Guesthouse
RAFTER'S GASTROPUB Guesthouse Kilkenny

Frequently asked questions

Is Rafter'S Gastropub pet-friendly?

No, only service animals are welcome at the property.

How much is parking at Rafter'S Gastropub?

This property doesn't offer parking.

What time is check-in at Rafter'S Gastropub?

Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: 11:00 PM. Late check-in is available during limited hours.

What time is check-out at Rafter'S Gastropub?

Check-out is at 11:30 AM.

Where is Rafter'S Gastropub located?

Located in Kilkenny City Centre, this guesthouse is within a 10-minute walk of Kilkenny Castle and Butler House. St. Canice's Cathedral and Kilkenny Golf Club are also within 1 mi (2 km). Kilkenny Station is 12 minutes by foot.

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Rafter'S Gastropub Reviews

Reviews

8.0

Very Good

Rating 10 - Excellent. 80 out of 202 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 65 out of 202 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 27 out of 202 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 18 out of 202 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 12 out of 202 reviews

8.2/10

Cleanliness

8.8/10

Staff & service

7.8/10

Amenities

7.4/10

Property conditions & facilities

8.2/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Anthony

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
3rd time guests…we really enjoy Rafters!
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Manuela

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great place to stay central to the castle and friendly staff
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2024

4/10 Poor

Peter

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Amenities, property conditions & facilities
Staff were friendly, Breakfast was good,location was good
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Anna

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Great location and place to stay

Lovely homely place to stay. Room for three was large, warm and beds comfortable. Full tasty Irish breakfast included. Location right in the center of Killkenny.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Pierre

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great location. Breakfast was good. Close to many tourist sites
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2024

8/10 Good

Sandra

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
We enjoyed our stay. It is a lively part of town, and we were there during the Music Festival. There was some maintenance to be done, and I have privately messaged the owner in hopes it is can be fixed so others do not have the same problem.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Sarah

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
We loved our stay here! Great dinner and breakfast, we got to enjoy live music, and the staff is so friendly. Comfy room upstairs too. Would definitely stay here again.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2024

6/10 Okay

Ellen

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Amenities
Wasn’t happy with rooms.
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

8/10 Good

Beth

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Cute convenient location above the pub. Had great entertainment that evening with live music. Food was delicious at the pub. No parking on site. The parking garage next door does not allow for parking over night. We parked .5 miles down the road at a parking lot. Beds we a little lumpy but the location was ideal
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Anthony

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great place to stay in the heart of Kilkenny! Jerry is a great host, food is as good as anywhere, breakfasts are top!
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Caroline

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great location in the centre of the town, rooms basic but well kept and clean. Good breakfast in the morning.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Brian

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We stayed at Rafter's for our first night in Ireland, and it was a great start to the trip. The location was perfect, only about a five minute walk to Kilkenny Castle. Gerry was an awesome host, he made us feel so welcome and even invited my mother-in-law behind the bar to make an Irish coffee to compete with his. After dinner, we had a drink at the pub and there was live music; it only played until 9:30, so it didn't keep us from sleeping! The breakfast was included and there were many options, all amazing and made fresh. Would recommend to anyone looking for a more authentic Kilkenny experience.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Eamonn

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Fantastic place. Musiciannij the pub was excellent
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2024

8/10 Good

Teresa

Liked: Staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great location! Easy to walk anywhere!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Charlie

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Really cool place to stay. Close to everything a very friendly staff
Stayed 1 night in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Anthony

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This place is great! Jerry is a wonderful hosts and we’re glad we met him and stayed here…their fish and chips is as good as anywhere else in Ireland…loved it!
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Deanna

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Close to shops
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Tracy

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Great location & great food

Convenient location, great food--and breakfast! Easy walking distance to the Medieval Mile.
Stayed 1 night in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

sandy

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Thanks for being such a great staff. Wonderful breakfast as well.
Stayed 1 night in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Michael

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Owner was so friendly, kind, funny and met all our needs and expectations. Food was awesome!!! Room was clean, quiet, and comfortable. Would highly recommend staying and eating here!
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2024

8/10 Good

Timothy

Pub stay

The food was delicious. Had lunch and included breakfast. Real pub with good atmosphere. Room very clean.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kristine

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Fun spot in the middle of everything
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Michael

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
I loved the old style of accommodation above a pub. Super charming and the staff was top notch!
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2024

6/10 Okay

Elizabeth

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We had one night here. The wifi was down which makes life tough when traveling. The room was big. It was mostly clean. Some stains on the carpet. The breakfast was good and staff were nice. Not too noisy but it was a week night. Good shower and hot water/pressure
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Sean

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great spot to view Kilkenny.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2022

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