Wining and Dining
Quick Guide Restaurants Cafes Fine Foods Pubs
Updated December 2002. If you have comments, please let us know so that we can add them below. Thanks.
Quick Guide
5-10 Minutes
Both Ardattin and Clonegal have traditional pubs serving Irish food and
hospitality. New restaurant Sha Roe in Clonegal is popular with guests.
15 Minutes
Tullow and Bunclody both offer a range of options from Chinese take-away and "chip shops" to pubs and restaurants. The Forge near Ballon and Altamont provides lunches in a craft centre. The Chantry in Bunclody does a good buffet lunch. Mount Wolsley (T: 059 915 1674) in Tullow offers a more formal restaurant.
Leighlinbridge (20 minutes)
The Lord Bagenal Inn (T: 0503 21668) is generally well regarded for meals. Also, Mulberry Restaurant for lunch at the Arboreteum Garden Centre 0503 - 21558 can be very pleasant.
Carlow (25 minutes)
Carlow has a greater selection of eating places including several pubs and nightclubs refurbished in the last couple of years. There are over a dozen pubs and eating places in the main street (Tullow Street) alone. For international cuisine Carlow has Indian, Chinese, Thai, and Italian restaurants. Beams Restaurant in Dublin Street has an adventurous French inspired a la carte menu and good wine list T: 0503 - 31824.
Kilkenny (50 minutes)
Kilkenny offers the widest range of places to eat out. As well as the normal range of bars, cafes, pubs and restaurants, there are a couple of well reputed up-market restaurant. Pordylo's, just off High Street, can be anything from average (for a good restaurant) to excellent (056 70660 - for dinner).
Restaurants
Pordylo's, just off High Street, Kilkenny can be anything from average (for a good restaurant) to excellent Dinner only. T: 056 - 70660.
Beams Restaurant in Dublin Street, Carlow has a French inspired a la carte menu and good wine list T: 059 9131824.
Brook Lodge Hotel, Aughrim High standard and uniquely offers a full organic/wild menu. Modern, adventurous sometimes extravagant menu but weak vegetarian offering. Good wine list. Overpriced but good.
Belmont Restaurant, The Dolmen Hotel, Kilkenny Road,
Carlow. Tel; + 353 (0)59 9142002
Award winning restaurant, which serves the fine foods and wines from around
the world. Special dietary requirements catered for.
Brook's Cafe, Ostan Dinn Ri, Hadden's Car Park, Carlow. Tel: + 353 (0)59 9133111 International a la Carte cuisine served in a modern, lively atmosphere. Extensive range of wines to suit all palates. After your meal enjoy a drink in a relaxing surroundings.
Reddy's Restaurant, Tullow Street, Carlow. Tel: + 353 (0) 59 914 2224 Located in the centre of town. Carvery open daily 12.15 p.m. Restaurant open daily from 5.50 p.m. for a la Carte and full dinner menus. Serving a variety of food.
Sha Roe Restaurant,
Clonegal. Tel: + 353 (0)53 937 5636 Very popular since opening in early
2006. Reservation essential. Open: eves Wed - Sat (6-9.30pm or 10 at
weekends)and Sun lunch (12.30-430) Prices not cheap, but worth it. Top international standard.
T.D. Molloy's. The Seven Oaks Hotel, Athy Road, Carlow. Tel: + 353 (0) 59 9131308 An established restaurant offering an extensive Table d'Hote and a la Carte menu. Quality fresh local produce and traditional cooking.
The Carlovian Restaurant, Tullow Street, Carlow. Tel: + 353 (0) 59 9130911
The Forge Food & Craft Centre, Kilbride Cross, Ballon, Co. Carlow. Tel: + 353 (059) 915 9136 Fax: + 353 (059) 915 9136 A range of teas, coffees, light snacks and lunches the Forge offers an immediate feeling of warmth and comfort, with a blazing open hearth. Friendly service offered by the Jordan Family.
The Green Drake Inn, Main Street, Borris, Co. Carlow. Tel: + 353 (0) 503 73116 Excellent traditional fare using the freshest local ingredients. Full a la carte menu available. Warm welcoming atmosphere guaranteed. Lunch 12.30 p.m. - 2.00 p.m. Snack menu 2.30 p.m. - 6 p.m. Evening meals: 6p.m. - 9.30p.m. Sunday 6p.m. - 9p.m.
The Lord Bagenal Inn, Leighlinbridge, Co. Carlow. Tel: + 353 (0) 59 9121668 Good value for money and family atmosphere. The menu offers a wide selection of fresh seafood in season and the restaurant has won many national and international awards. Recommended by John & Sally McKenna of the Irish Times, Egon Ronay and Les Routiers.
Mount Wolsely Restaurant, Tullow. Formal dining at the golf and country club close to BT.(T: 059 915 1674)
Cafes
The Chantry, Bunclody. Fine buffet lunches, lovely garden.
Picasso, The Green, Carlow. Illy coffee served here!
Cafe Le Monde, Carlow Shopping Centre, Carlow. Tel: + 353 (0) 59 9130808 Located in the heart of Carlow's main shopping area, Cafe Le Monde Is open daily from 8.30 a.m. Breakfast, lunch and snacks are served.
Road House Cafe, Potato Market, Carlow. Tel: + 353 (0) 59 9130499 American style diner, serving the best in fast food for breakfast, lunch and nighttime food. Open from 9.00 a.m 'til late.
The Pepper Pot, Dublin Street, Carlow. Tel: + 353 (0) 59 9140533 Serving the best in fresh and homemade foods. Open Monday -Saturday 8.30 a.m. - 4.00 p.m. for breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea,
Fine Food
Harvest Treats, Ballycrogue, Carlow. Tel: + 353 (0) 59 9132295 Harvest Treats are a local based company who produce delicious jams, chutneys and olive oils which are sold individually and in attractively prepared food hampers.
Hennessy's Fine Food Store - The Ultimate Food Experience, Dublin Street, Carlow. Tel: + 353 (0) 59 9132849 Hennessy's Fine Food Store offers a varied sandwich menu and e wide selection of cheeses, foodstuffs and Cloisters produce including House Dressing, Red Onion Marmalade, Chilli Jam and Red Pepper Pesto.
Pubs
The Half Way House, Ardattin
Joyce's
Bar, Borris, Co. Carlow. In the main street, this old world pub with
a handsome stone-cut frontage is noted for the quality and friendliness
of service. The regular traditional music sessions featured are very
popular with locals and visitors alike. Tel: +353 (0)59 9173114.
Rathcrogue House, Wexford Road, Carlow Tel + 353 (0) 59 9131185
The Seven Oaks Hotel, Athy Road, Carlow Tel + 353 (0) 59 9131308
Scragg's Alley, Tullow Street, Carlow Tel + 353 (0) 59 9142233
The Green Drake Inn, Main Street, Borris Tel + 353 (0) 59 9173116
Buzz's Bar, Tullow Street, Carlow .Tel + 353 (0) 59 9143307
The Tower - Club 23, Dinn Ri, Hadden's Carpark, Carlow .Tel + 353 (0) 59 9130334
The Border Inn, Palatine, Co. Carlow .Tel + 353 (0) 59 9141364
The Carlovian, Tullow Street, Carlow Tel + 353 (0) 59 9130911
Lawlor's, Kilcarrig Street, Bagenalstown Tel + 353 (0) 59 9121181
Racey Byrne's The Plough, Tullow Street, Carlow Tel + 353 (0) 59 9131790
Teach Dolmain, Tullow Street, Carlow Tel + 353 (0) 59 9130911
The Bridge House, Tullow, Co. Carlow Tel + 353 (0) 59 9152190
Phelan's, Market Place, Bagenalstown Tel + 353 (0) 59 9121106
Jos Murphy, Fenagh, Co. Carlow Tel + 353 (0) 59 9127155
Tully's Bar, Tullow Street, Carlow Tel + 353 (0) 59 9131862
Buzz's, Tullow Street, Carlow Tel + 353 (0) 59 9143307
The Foundry Nightclub & Tower, Dinn Ri, Hadden's Carpark, Carlow Tel + 353 (0) 59 9130334
Smyths of Newtown, Bagenalstown, Co. Carlow Tel + 353 (0) 59 9127159
TaraArms, Tullow, Co. Carlow Tel + 353 (0) 59 9151305
The Fighting Cocks, Nurney, Co. Carlow Tel + 353 (0) 59 9148744
The Fleece, Tullow, Co. Carlow Tel + 353 (0) 59 9156163
Osborne's, Clonegal, Co. Carlow Tel + 353 (0) 54 77359
Joe Doyle's, Ballon, Co. Carlow Tel + 353 (0) 59 9159112
Railway House, Kilree Street, Bagenalstown Tel + 353 (0) 59 9121525
Rainbows, Leighlinbridge Tel + 353 (0) 59 9121382
