A food-lover's plan for a day in Kilkenny

Kilkenny is small and walkable, so a day of eating here is about pacing rather than travel. Start with breakfast near where you are staying, take a long walk before lunch, and book dinner if it is a weekend. Because everything is close, you can change your mind without losing an hour.

Why Kilkenny suits a slow day

The centre is compact. You can walk from one end to the other in a short time, which means you can choose a place after you have looked at the street rather than before. That is useful in a small city where many places are small themselves.

It also means busy places feel busy. At weekends and holidays, tables fill, so a little planning goes a long way.

Breakfast and the first coffee

Choose a cafe close to your door. Look at recent photographs to see portions and read the hours. If you plan an early start, check that the place opens when you need it.

The morning walk

Walk first, eat second. Keep an eye out for places you might come back to and note them. On Mosey you can save places to a list as you go, so your evening choice is made from what you actually saw.

Lunch: light enough for a second walk

Lunch in a walking city works best when it is not too heavy. Soup, sandwiches and a plate of the day suit a day of walking. If you want a long lunch, plan it as your main meal and keep dinner light.

Afternoon: a rest and a sweet thing

Early afternoon is a good time for a coffee and something baked. It is also when to look at dinner. Check the hours, check the photographs and book.

Dinner: book, especially for a group

Because Kilkenny has so many visitors, popular tables go early. A group of six or more should book as soon as the date is fixed. A deposit is common and usually comes off the bill. Our guide to planning a special occasion meal in Kilkenny goes into detail.

Following a route

If you like a theme, a self-guided food trail through Kilkenny gives you a ready-made route. You can also build your own by saving three or four places to a Mosey list and walking between them.

Where to read more about Kilkenny

Our full food-lover's guide to Kilkenny covers the city in depth, and the Kilkenny hub lists the places people have rated.

Making the most of a short stay

If you only have a day, decide on the single meal you most want to have and plan the day around it. Everything else can be flexible. A late morning coffee, a long walk and one booked dinner makes a full and satisfying day without feeling rushed.

If you have a whole weekend, repeat the shape. One anchor meal each day, and walk-in cafes and bakeries in between. It keeps the cost and the stress low, and leaves room for the small discoveries that make a trip.

Eating with a group

Smaller cities have smaller dining rooms. A table for six or eight is a large part of a room, so it needs notice. Book early, confirm the number a day before, and tell the place about any dietary needs when you book rather than at the table. It is kind to the kitchen and almost always leads to a better meal.

A worked example for a day in Kilkenny

Have breakfast near where you are staying, then walk the main street and its lanes before the day-trippers arrive. Take lunch as a light meal so that you can keep walking, and save your appetite for an early dinner. Book that dinner when you book your room, because a city this popular with visitors fills its good tables early. If you are in a group, tell the place the number and any dietary needs when you book.

Why a small city rewards a short list

In a small city, a short list does more work than a long one. Three places you have actually checked, with hours and photographs, beat a dozen you half remember. Save them to a list, walk the streets, and let your feet choose among them on the day.

Where to eat now

Below is a live list of Kilkenny places that have earned their page on Mosey, ordered by rating.