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. 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.
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.
Restaurants
Lennon's Bistro, George Bernard Shaw Centre for Visual Arts, Carlow. Good value and well prepared food from local ingredients. Family run. One of our favourites. (059) 917 9245 www.lennons.ie
Mimosa Tapas Bar, College Street, Carlow. Good food, service and atmosphere. Good fun. 059 9170888 www.mimosawinebar.com
Brasserie 15, Tullow Street, Carlow French inspired cuisine. Enjoyable. 059 914 3455 www.15brasserie.com
Lemongrass, Hanover Square, Kennedy Avenue, Carlow Asian fusion cuisine. Restaurant franchise offering decent food and value for money. Monday – Sunday 12 to 10pm www.lemongrass.ie/restaurants/lemongrass-carlow 059 9139392
Sha Roe, 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) Not cheap, but worth it. Top international chef Henry and friendly maitre Stephanie will treat you in their family bistro.
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. 059 915 1674
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. Not cheap but good food.
Cafes
The Forge Food & Craft Centre, Kilbride Cross, Ballon, Co. Carlow. Tel: + 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 Mary Jordan and family.
The Chantry, Bunclody. Value for meny buffet lunches, lovely garden.
Road House Cafe, Potato Market, Carlow. Tel: + 353 (0) 59 9130499 American style diner. Open from 9.00 a.m 'til late.
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.
Pubs
The Ardattin Inn (formerly The Half Way House), Ardattin. Pub with restaurant run by Ger and Margaret Mellett.
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