Looking for child friendly restaurants in Kilkenny? Eating out with kids is so much easier when you know in advance that a place will welcome buggies, have a highchair ready, and offer something on the menu your children will actually eat. Kilkenny has a great mix of cafés, diners and restaurants that tick these boxes, whether you’re after a quick lunch in town or a relaxed family dinner out.
Here’s our round-up of family-friendly spots to try around the city and beyond. As always, it’s worth checking current opening hours and menus directly with each venue before you head out, especially if you’re travelling any distance.
Workhouse Square
The city’s MacDonagh Junction Shopping Centre is home to Workhouse Square, a courtyard setting with a number of cafés under one roof. Each café has highchairs, plenty of room for pushchairs, and a good selection of food and drinks suitable for younger children. All are self-service with comfortable seating, and there’s often free musical entertainment on weekend afternoons.
Cafés here have included Bagel Factory/O’Brien’s Sandwich Bar (hot and cold bagel sandwiches, salads, wraps and smoothies), Costa Coffee (wraps, sandwiches, cookies and baked goods) and Quigley’s Bakery and Café (sandwiches, soups, hot dishes, desserts and bakery items).
Insomnia
Insomnia Café in Market Cross Shopping Centre is spacious and family-friendly, with an extensive menu of sandwiches, salads, soups and snacks alongside their coffee and drinks menu.
Kilkenny Design Centre Foodhall
The Foodhall at the Kilkenny Design Centre in the city is a lovely spot for barista coffee, teas or a light lunch. There are also sandwiches and drinks to go, perfect for an impromptu picnic in the park across the road at Kilkenny Castle.
Kilkenny Design Centre Restaurant
Upstairs at the Kilkenny Design Centre Restaurant, there’s a more extensive menu and plenty of room for pushchairs. Colouring materials are available on request, and it’s a popular meeting spot for parents catching up over coffee.
Eddie Rockets
Eddie Rockets in MacDonagh Junction is an American-style diner with large red leather booths that seat groups, plus individual jukeboxes on the tables. They serve gourmet hamburgers, subs, salads, nachos and hotdogs, with a dedicated kids’ menu and novelty gifts for children.
Mario’s Diner
Mario’s Diner in Smithlands Centre, Loughboy (behind Lidl), is a family restaurant serving traditional fish & chips, burgers, southern fried chicken, American-style hotdogs and more. There’s a kids’ menu and a play area for children.
La Rivista
La Rivista, on Parliament Street in Kilkenny, is a family-friendly Italian restaurant and pizzeria, a good option for an evening meal or Sunday lunch. They have a good children’s menu and are very welcoming towards kids.
Jarrow Café at Castlecomer Discovery Park
Jarrow Café at Castlecomer Discovery Park serves fresh, home-baked food including breakfast, lunch, snacks and treats. The children’s menu offers small and half-portions of the day’s specials, giving good choice and value for families.
The Watergarden
In Thomastown, The Watergarden is a café in a relaxed setting with seating both indoors and outdoors. It’s a great spot for a coffee or juice and a treat, or a full lunch with plenty of healthy options — soup, salads, sandwiches and hot lunches for all the family. There’s a selection of books for kids to browse while waiting, and you can stroll through the streamside gardens and visit the kitchen garden that supplies the café with many of its ingredients.
Primo Italian Restaurant
On Waterford Road in Loughboy, Primo serves authentic Italian food in a very family-friendly setting, with dough made fresh on site every day. There’s a kids’ menu with a main, dessert and drink, and a small play area for children.
The Langton Bar
This award-winning restaurant has a warm, friendly atmosphere and serves a mix of traditional Irish and international cuisine using locally-sourced ingredients. It’s spacious, with highchairs available for kids.
Lemongrass
Lemongrass, located at John’s Bridge in Collegepark, offers healthy, authentic Asian food and is very accommodating to children and families. Fresh, locally-sourced produce plays a big part in their extensive menu.
Paris Texas
On High Street in Collegepark, gastropub Paris Texas serves traditional American food influenced by New Orleans French Quarter cuisine. They offer a varied kids’ menu with a main, side and drink, plus a baby bowl option.
The Grapevine
The Grapevine is a wine and tapas bar on Rose Inn Street in Collegepark. They have delicious food and a great, kid-friendly atmosphere — a must for tapas lovers in the family.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Kilkenny restaurants have highchairs and space for buggies?
Most of the venues on this list — including Workhouse Square’s cafés, Insomnia, the Kilkenny Design Centre Restaurant, Eddie Rockets, Mario’s Diner and The Langton Bar — offer highchairs and enough room to manage pushchairs comfortably.
Are there restaurants in Kilkenny with a play area for kids?
Yes — both Mario’s Diner in Smithlands Centre and Primo Italian Restaurant on Waterford Road have small play areas for children.
Where can I get a proper kids’ menu in Kilkenny?
Several spots have dedicated children’s menus, including Eddie Rockets, Mario’s Diner, La Rivista, Jarrow Café, Primo and Paris Texas, so there’s plenty of choice whether you want a diner classic or an Italian meal.
Is there anywhere good for a family day trip with food included in Kilkenny?
Castlecomer Discovery Park’s Jarrow Café is a lovely option if you’re combining a family day out with lunch, offering home-baked food and generous portion choices for children.
Related Articles
If you found this useful, you might also like our guides on what makes a restaurant child-friendly, some fun games to play at a restaurant to keep little ones entertained while you wait for food, and our tips on how to survive eating out with kids.
Do you have a favourite family-friendly restaurant in Kilkenny? Let us know in the comments below.
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