City Centre Location

Rafter’s Gastro Pub is based in the heart of Kilkenny city, 2 minutes walk from Kilkenny Castle. Combining old world charm with a modern elegance, this award winning bar offers a friendly and relaxing atmosphere.

Food + Drink

Rafter’s Gastro Pub specialises in local and craft beers, stout, lagers and ciders, as well as the more conventional ones. Great food is a very large part of the offering being served and customers can get food from 8am to 7pm daily in the winter season, and from 8am to 9pm in the summer season. Sunday’s from 8am to 5pm.

View Food Menus

Entertainment

Live music is very popular in this city centre location every Saturday night with local bands playing great music from the 60’s right through to today’s chart’s. Rafter’s Gastro Pub pride themselves in catering for private parties and will organise everything required for any party, from D.J, live band, decorations and food including the cake … the Lot! Just book your party and let us do all the worrying for you.

Rafter’s Beer Garden

Our rooftop beer garden has a fully covered sunroof…. open to the heavens in the summer and heated to comfort in the colder months. We cater for all sporting enthusiasts and all popular sports are shown on our big screens, including the one in our rooftop Beer Garden.

  • Rafter's Gastro Pub Kilkenny
  • Rafter's Gastro Pub Kilkenny

Private Lounge for all Occasions

Our private lounge can cater for groups of up to 100 persons. This include catering for Bus Tours as well as all types of private groups. We at Rafter’s Gastro Pub will also cater for groups that need outside entertaining and can organise for any group requiring golf, horse riding, karting, outdoor pursuits , and much more! We also provide Cocktail Training courses which are catered for in-house by our expert bar staff.

Call us today on 056 7722970

“Customers Say”

  • Highly recommend the accommodation was very comfortable and clean with all u need in rooms and plenty of space. The food was fabulous and the breakfast was out on it's own. The staff were very friendly, helpful and just really nice people good not meet nicer people. I would recommend for a meal, drink and a great session could not find any faults A1

    Nici0405 - tripadvisor

  • Perfect setup for a stag. I organised a group of 21 to stay here for a stag. Dealing with the manager, Josephine, was an absolute pleasure. The bar and accommodation were perfect for our needs. The rooms are fine, the staff were all friendly and the food (breakfast and dinner) were very good. The location was perfect and the price was really good. 100% spot on for our purposes.

    Escape802945, Dublin - tripadvisor

  • Excellent service from start to finish Gerry and Josephine are a pleasure to deal with the food was lovely and the beer reasonably priced. There staff go out of there way to make u feel welcome. Will definitely be going bk in the near future. Very good value for money

    stuart1386, Carmarthenshire, United Kingdom - tripadvisor

  • I couldn't recommend Rafter 's enough! The location, the cocktails, accommodation, breakfast - but mostly the staff. They were so helpful, accommodating, thoughtful and welcoming before and during our visit.

    gkeane, Ireland - tripadvisor

  • Had an outstanding weekend in Kilkenny for stag party. Highly recommended Rafter Dempsey's ,, great friendly service from the minute we arrived until we departed., Food was top quality,, for breakfast get the full Irish, beats any hotel. Rooms were ideal and clean. We will be back!

    - tripadvisor

  • My friend and I stayed here in June when she was home from NY, it was very nice, the staff were wonderful and breakfast was famtastic , I definitely recommend staying here. It's close proximity to the centre of town whilst still being quiet was a great advantage. The room was spotless and comfortable and the price was great.

    Geraldine C - tripadvisor

  • Fantastic staff and great location. I was planning on visiting Rafter Dempsey’s this coming New Years but unfortunately had to cancel my trip. The staff were extremely understanding and I couldn’t recommend this place enough from reviews I’ve been told by close friends. Will definitely plan on visiting soon.

    Lauren B (via tripadvisor)

  • We had had a long afternoon wandering around Kilkenny and found this pub while looking for somewhere to eat. We had a great meal, the publican was very friendly and the food was great. My partner especially enjoyed the steak that came on a sizzling stone so cooked at the table as he ate! My fish and chips with mushy peas were just great. Good local ales. We left well fed.

    Jatvla Hobart, Australia (via tripadvisor)

  • Delicious lunch. We happened upon this place while looking for restaurants with gluten-free options. The owner, Jerry, had the chef cook up a chicken breast from scratch (stuffed breast was on the menu) with an amazing gluten-free free gravy, veggies and potatoes. And my husband had a chicken sandwich with fries. We were very pleased with both the service and quality of the food.

    EsthernowDC (via tripadvisor) Washington, DC

  • What can I say about Olive, Gerry and Mikayla. We went to a stag all 20 something of us. We where treated like royalty from the second we went in until we left this morning. Gerry and Olive couldn't do enough for us. Our steak was unreal thank u very much between the whole lot of ye you know exactly what you are at. Gerry. Olive and Mikayla, thank u so much.

    Pa Murphy (via facebook)

  • Just back from my hen party, stayed for 2 nights very welcoming, fab food and hosts. Would definitely stay here again, plus it's very central everything within walking distance. Had an amazing weekend great place

    Marylin Brosnan

  • Couldn't fault this place. Just back from a hens there. Rooms spotless, food great, and cocktail glass with Donal was great laugh!! Couldn't fault the customer service in the place in particular Olive who went above and beyond while we were there, an asset to the team. Would definitely return and recommend 🙂 hopefully we'll see you soon.

    Joanne Davin via facebook)

  • Just back from a fantastic hen weekend! I have to say everyone in Rafter Dempseys were amazing! Looked after us all so well, very friendly & welcoming. Nothing was too much bother for them. Rooms are lovely with everything you need! Will definitely be back & would highly recommend!! Thanks again xxx

    Niamh Crowley (via facebook)

  • One of the most delicious steaks I've ever had! Management is amazing, room is clean and fresh. I didn't come across an ocean to stay in a hotel that reminds me of home AT ALL! Will be recommending this place to everyone!

    Malynne Maloney (via facebook)

  • After staying for two nights ... can't recommend the place any more... unbelievable service and the rooms are 100%. I'll definitely be back here in the near future. Top class... Gerry was honestly one of the nicest men I have ever met... Runs a top class place and it's a credit to him

    Paul Finnegan (via facebook)

  • Just back from a two night stay. What can I say we enjoyed ourselfs down to the ground. Celebrating my sister's hen party , the staff were great there was nothing they wouldn't do for us. The food was fantastic both breakfast and dinner was included, great selection on both days. Big thanks to Michael who kept us entertained with the cocktail class on Saturday evening...still feeling the effects from it. Not forgetting the night porter who must be the most patient man in ireland. Thanks again to Josephine for organising everything. Great place to stay for hen and stag parties.

    Laura Roche (via facebook)

  • We arrived on Saturday evening with no booking and they very kindly found a room for us. Lovely warm friendly atmosphere. Spotless clean. Olive the next morning served us up our breakfast which was really nice. I notice Olive spoke with everyone who came through the door like she knew them years I would defo be back and would highly recommended. Thank you.

    Adele Twamley (via facebook)

  • Went here today for my Birthday Lunch and had the Sizzling steak on a stone. It was unbelievable savage. Can't wait too go back again. Will definately recommend this place too friends and family. Staff were very friendly and helpful too. Such a lovely place.

    Sam Mullally (via Facebook)

  • We happened on to this pub/restaurant on a side street. The service was terrific and the staff so welcoming. I had Fish and Chips and my husband had lamb cutlets. Both dishes were delicious. I would highly recommend this restaurant.

    Patricia Joyce Poston (via facebook)