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Rafter'S Gastropub

3.0 star property
Guesthouse with free breakfast, 5-minute walk to Kilkenny Castle

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Photo gallery for Rafter'S Gastropub

Rooftop terrace
Front of property
Reception hall
Breakfast, lunch, dinner served; Irish cuisine
Double or Twin Room | Blackout drapes, iron/ironing board, free WiFi

Reviews

8.0 out of 10
Very good

Popular amenities

  • Free WiFi
  • Restaurant
  • Bar
  • Laundry
  • Room service

Explore the area

View in a map
4 Friary Street, Kilkenny, County Kilkenny, R95 VY62
  • Place, Kilkenny Castle
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Place, Butler House
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Place, St. Canice's Cathedral
    ‪8 min walk‬

Room options

View all photos for Double or Twin Room

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

Double or Twin Room

8.6 out of 10
Excellent
(4 reviews)
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Double Bed OR 1 Twin Bed

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)
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 Double Bed and 3 Twin Beds

View all photos for Triple Room

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

Triple Room

  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 Double Bed and 2 Twin Beds

View all photos for Double Room

Blackout drapes, iron/ironing board, free WiFi

Double Room

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(2 reviews)
  • City view
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

View all photos for Twin Room

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

Twin Room

  • Sleeps 2
  • 2 Twin Beds

About the neighborhood

Kilkenny

Located in Kilkenny City Centre, Rafter'S Gastropub is within a 5-minute walk of Kilkenny Castle and within 15 minutes of other popular attractions like Butler House. This 16-room, 3-star guesthouse welcomes guests with free breakfast, free in-room WiFi, and a rooftop terrace.
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What's nearby

  • Kilkenny Castle - 3 min walk - 0.2 miles
  • Butler House - 3 min walk - 0.2 miles
  • Smithwick's Brewery Tour - 6 min walk - 0.4 miles
  • Black Abbey - 6 min walk - 0.4 miles
  • St. Canice's Cathedral - 8 min walk - 0.5 miles

Getting around

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

Restaurants

  • ‪Left Bank - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪The Field Bar & Restaurant - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪Lanigan's Bar & Restaurant - ‬3 min walk
  • ‪Tynan's Bridge House Bar - ‬3 min walk
  • ‪Zuni Restaurant & Townhouse - ‬3 min walk

About this property

Rafter'S Gastropub

Guesthouse with free breakfast, 5-minute walk to Kilkenny Castle
Guests of Rafter'S Gastropub enjoy a rooftop terrace, free WiFi in public areas, and coffee in a common area. Staff members are on hand to provide luggage storage and a safe deposit box at the front desk. Additional amenities include an arcade/game room, free newspapers, and a terrace.
Guests can expect free WiFi and flat-screen TVs. Bathrooms offer hair dryers and free toiletries.
The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or nearby; fees may apply.

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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
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Access methods

Host will greet you

Pets

  • Service animals exempt from fees

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
  • Check-in: 3:00 PM—-11:00 PM
  • Check-out: 11:30 AM
  • Minimum check-in age: 18

We should mention

Details about charges, deposits, or other important information:

  • This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business, or profession.
  • Charges for extra guests may apply and vary depending on the property's policy.
  • A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges, as well as a government-issued photo ID, may be required at check-in.
  • Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in and can't be guaranteed. Certain requests may come with additional charges.
  • No parking is available onsite.
  • This property accepts credit cards. Cash is not accepted. 
  • Cashless payment methods are available for all transactions.

Additional information about polices, regulations, and more:

  • There are no elevators.
  • No rollaway or extra beds are available.

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 a free cancellation option available at Rafter'S Gastropub?

Rafter'S Gastropub provides free cancellation on certain room rates. For more details, review the cancellation policy on our site.

What's there to see close to Rafter'S Gastropub?

This guesthouse is situated in Kilkenny City Centre, just steps from St. Mary’s Medieval Mile Museum and Tholsel, and within a short walk of Kilkenny Castle. You'll also find Butler House and Smithwick's Brewery Tour less than a mile away.

Will I be able to park at Rafter'S Gastropub?

No, this guesthouse doesn't offer parking.

Does Rafter'S Gastropub include a casino?

No, Rafter'S Gastropub doesn't have a casino.

Will I find an indoor pool at Rafter'S Gastropub?

No, there is no indoor pool at this guesthouse.

Is Rafter'S Gastropub good for couples?

Couples staying at this guesthouse will appreciate amenities like a bar and a restaurant plus some accommodations include city views.

Does Rafter'S Gastropub have a hot tub?

No, this guesthouse doesn't have a spa tub.

Does Rafter'S Gastropub have a restaurant that serves breakfast?

Yes, Rafter'S Gastropub serves free full breakfasts each morning from its restaurant.

Will Rafter'S Gastropub allow pets to stay free of charge?

No, pets aren't allowed at Rafter'S Gastropub though service animals are welcome.

Are there connecting rooms at Rafter'S Gastropub?

No, there aren't connecting guestrooms at this guesthouse.

Are there rooms with balconies at Rafter'S Gastropub?

No, at Rafter'S Gastropub, there aren't any accommodations that list a balcony.

Rafter'S Gastropub Reviews

Reviews

8.0

Very Good

Rating 10 - Excellent. 86 out of 215 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 71 out of 215 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 28 out of 215 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 18 out of 215 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 12 out of 215 reviews

8.2/10

Cleanliness

8.8/10

Staff & service

8.0/10

Amenities

7.4/10

Property conditions & facilities

8.2/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

8/10 Good

Andrew

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Place was good. Got the job done. Helpful friendly staff
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Richard

Traveled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great location and very friendly and helpful staff. Excellent value.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Trevor

Liked: Amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great place!
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

6/10 Okay

Andrew

Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

8/10 Good

Jamie

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Staff was very nice. Great value. Rooms and hotel clean, but beds were not the most comfortable. Right around the corner from shops and castle. Parking was about a block away, very doable.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

8/10 Good

Alexander

Business traveler
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Great breakfast and great location in the centre of town.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Mike

Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Bradley

Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

2/10 Terrible

sandra

Traveled with family
Disliked: Staff & service

Don't stay here!

The room had two bathrooms but the toilet in one didn't work and they did't fix it. There is no on-site laundry as stated in the Hotels.com description. The internet doesn't work except for local providers. Also our roaming didn't work there only outside on the street. I needed the internet so we had to leave and book another hotel. The owner is horrible and kept our $400!!!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 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

Brian

Traveled with family
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

6/10 Okay

Ellen

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

8/10 Good

Sandra

Traveled with family
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

6/10 Okay

Elizabeth

Traveled with group
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

Anthony, Oakdale

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

10/10 Excellent

Anna

Traveled with group
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

8/10 Good

Verified traveler

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

Bare necessities

Stayed 1 night in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Deanna, Daly City

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

6/10 Okay

Cynthia

Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Donna

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

Wonderful Stay

Rafters was so easy to check in and the young lady checking us in was so sweet and friendly. The accommodations were so cute and comfortable. Gerry and his wife were wonderful. He allowed us to hold our luggage downstairs and was delightful to visit with. The bar was beautiful and the lunch and breakfast was delicious. Saying again the rooms were precious and I didn’t hear any road noise with the window open. Clean rooms and comfortable beds. The location was perfect for walking to castle and pubs. I would definitely recommend staying here.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Caroline

Traveled with partner
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

6/10 Okay

Verified traveler

Business traveler
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness
Comfortable enough room, I stayed in no 3 - didn’t hear much noise during the night but it was mid week . no bottles of water in the room- bathroom bin wasn’t emptied of tissues from the previous guest, shower had a poor out flow - ages to get hot - never got really hot either - light coming from an upstairs restaurant outside my window and people could walk past my window in an alley from a side door- curtains seemed thin - I did need 2 nights but I was glad after I only booked one night there - good breakfast in the morning though - friendly staff at check in and at breakfast next morning. Breakfast was good.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 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

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