Kilkenny Art Cafe

Only popped in for a quick cup of tea. To meet friends. The staff were friendly & helpful. There was a great selection of breads & sweets. It was warm & comfortable

A unique arts café run by a lovely Hungarian woman called Nikki, café tables on the street, sells the usual cappucinos — but Irish Stew for a fiver!
A virtual Alladin’s Cave of Object d’Arts, paintings and photographs, even sculptures upstairs.
Not to be missed on your visit to Kilkenny.
Nikki is doing well, so well she’ll be moving to High Street soon, she tells me.
Michael McGrath
Professional Photographer
Studio 2
Kilkenny./

Food/​Cost: (4) My traveling companion and I came here for a quick bite to eat after a long, cold walk around the city. I got a Raisin Scone (1.90 euros) and Veggie Soup (3.50 euros). I think the soup consisted of pureed veggies — perhaps celery, carrots, and peas? The soup was well seasoned but I can’t quite place the specific spices used; it smelled slightly of curry though. Overall, the soup was enjoyable and thoroughly warmed me up. What really impressed me was the scone. The raisins were large and plump and the softness of the interior was nicely done. Definitely worth the price.
Ambiance: (5) This café was a artsy, cool vibe to it. There is an upstairs area as well, but I’m not sure if its dedicated to the art aspect of the café. The baked goods and foods are in the back wall of the Café, and the rest of the Café is filled by glass tables and leather chairs. The décor may seem a bit disjointed at first glance, but it works for the artsy aspect of this place.
Location: (5) Kilkenny Art Café is conveniently located in one of the many small streets in the City Center of Kilkenny. It’s a short walk from the Castle and all of the shopping (Kilkenny isn’t that big to begin with).
Service: (4) The girl who took our orders and waited on us was friendly and accommodating. We waited 5 – 10 minutes for our food and it was served hot — particularly my soup, which nearly burned my tongue. We were in a bit of a rush, so we had to ask for our scones to be packed up for take-​away (after our waitress already plated it and brought it to our table) which the waitress did with no attitude.
Overall: (4) I would highly recommend Kilkenny Art Café for tourists who need a place to rest and eat while visiting Kilkenny. Actually, I would even recommend it if you aren’t a tourist. In fact, my friend and I came here upon a recommendation by a local man who said he comes here weekly for the 5 euro stew. If I lived in Kilkenny, I would definitely come to the Art Café to meet up with friends, study, relax, and attend the interesting art classes that they offer here.