Skip to Main Content.
List your propertySupportTrips
Unlock instant savings with Member Prices
Sign in
Learn more
Feedback

Rafter'S Gastropub

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

Choose dates to view prices

Photo gallery for Rafter'S Gastropub

Rooftop terrace - Rafter'S Gastropub (Kilkenny)
Serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner - Rafter'S Gastropub (Kilkenny)
Family Room | Blackout drapes, iron/ironing board, free WiFi - Rafter'S Gastropub (Kilkenny)
Reception hall - Rafter'S Gastropub (Kilkenny)
Front of property - Rafter'S Gastropub (Kilkenny)
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

Available filters for rooms
Showing 5 of 5 rooms

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
Private bathroom
Hair dryer
Daily housekeeping
Wardrobe or closet
  • 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)

Highlights

Heating
Free cribs/infant beds
Flat-screen TV
Blackout drapes/curtains
Private bathroom
Hair dryer
Daily housekeeping
Wardrobe or closet
  • 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

Highlights

Heating
Free cribs/infant beds
Flat-screen TV
Blackout drapes/curtains
Private bathroom
Hair dryer
Daily housekeeping
  • 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)

Highlights

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

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
Private bathroom
Hair dryer
Daily housekeeping
  • Sleeps 2
  • 2 Twin Beds
Mod logo
Earn OneKeyCash on thousands of hotels when you sign in and book. More rewards for more adventures!
Sign inSign up, it's free

About the neighborhood

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 - 4 min drive - 1.3 miles
  • The Hub - 6 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
  • ‪Zuni Restaurant & Townhouse - ‬3 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 billiards/pool table, smoke-free premises, and coffee/tea in the lobby
  • A TV in the lobby, luggage storage, and a front-desk safe
  • Barbecue grills and free newspapers
  • 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

Similar properties

Reception

Kilford Arms Hotel

  • Free WiFi
  • Restaurant
  • Game room
  • Breakfast available
8.4 out of 10, Very Good, 763 reviews
$114 nightly
The price is $130
Nov 19 - Nov 20
Total with taxes and fees
Kilford Arms Hotel

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 does it cost to stay at Rafter'S Gastropub?

As of Nov 2, 2025, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Rafter'S Gastropub on Nov 3, 2025 start from $89.77, excluding taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

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.

Have a question?

AI iconBeta

Get instant answers with AI powered search of property information and reviews.

Rafter'S Gastropub Reviews

Reviews

8.0

Very Good

Rating 10 - Excellent. 84 out of 211 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 69 out of 211 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 28 out of 211 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 18 out of 211 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 12 out of 211 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

10/10 Excellent

Richard

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

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

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
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

Nader

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Staff was very friendly.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 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

Nancy

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Friendly staff.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Sean

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

8/10 Good

James

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort

Friendly staff, great food

Staff were friendly and helpful. Room was clean but could have been better equipped. En suite could do with some maintenance. Food was excellent. Great location.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Christine

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Rafter’s is a lovely little pub and B&B. We were only there for one night, but it served our needs perfectly. Checkin was a breeze and we were able to grab a few pints once our luggage was sorted. The room was bright and clean. And the included breakfast in the morning was the perfect way to start our day. The only issue was the hunt to locate the electrical outlets. Impossible to find without help from James at the bar, who it should be noted was a wonderful help.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2022

2/10 Terrible

Marie

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
No hot water for shower the room was cold the heating not working, no tea facilities in the room, old fashioned hair dryer, rooms need updating.
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2024

4/10 Poor

julie

Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
The area of Kilkenny is absolutely beautiful. Our room was not beautiful. Shower did not work, no room to sit forward on the toilet as the space was far to narrow and I am only 5”5, bed frame was broken and even after fixing legs in the middle of the night found the legs came loose and found the bed tilted again. Then at 5:52 am the unloading of the flatbed of kegs was jolting! This lasted for 10 minutes. Figured the nightlife would keep us up but it was the early morning disturbance that got us.
Stayed 1 night in May 2024

2/10 Terrible

Cynthia

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

Just don’t do it.

Just awful. It smelled like cat urine. It was dirty everywhere. Said there was breakfast included at 7 am but the restaurant wasn’t open until just as we were driving away at 7:30. Not that I would have wanted to eat there after the co diction of the room and hallway. Most horrible stay I have ever had anywhere.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Trevor

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

8/10 Good

Jamie

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

10/10 Excellent

HIDEMI

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
スタッフがフレンドリー
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

8/10 Good

jerome

Liked: Cleanliness
Chambre bien située dans le centre à proximité d'un parking accessible et à 3€ la journée. Le logement était un peu bruyant à cause d'un moteur de climatisation sous la fenêtre. Petit déjeuné correct.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Riccardo

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Alloggio molto caratteristico all’interno di un pub nel pieno centro di Kilkenny. Consigliatissimo!
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Pierre

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Un lieu chaleureux où nous avons pu profiter de l’ambiance du pub. Une super adresse !
Stayed 1 night in Jul 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

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

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