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Summary of reviewsThe Rafter's Gastropub enjoys a strategic location in the heart of Kilkenny, offering guests easy access to local amenities, tourist sites and nightlife. Its centrality, coupled with a friendly staff and the authentic Irish atmosphere of the pub itself, creates a welcoming and convenient base for exploring the vibrant city.
Guests frequently praise the breakfast at The Rafter’s Gastropub, highlighting the tasty, plentiful and diverse options, including a superb traditional Irish breakfast. The inclusion of breakfast in the room cost is seen as a valuable deal and the accommodating staff further enhance this delightful morning experience.
Dinner at The Rafter’s Gastropub also receives glowing reviews with the menu's variety and quality being consistently commended. Signature dishes like the steak on the hot stone, burgers and fish and chips are particularly noteworthy. The pub's cozy setting, engaging staff and ambiance, complete with an outdoor dining patio and sun terrace, contribute to an exceptional dining experience.
The rooms at The Rafter's Gastropub are generally appreciated for their spaciousness, cleanliness and comfort with many guests praising the huge beds and nice decor. Although some found the rooms a bit dated and in need of modern updates, the overall sentiment leans towards a positive stay experience due to the cleanliness and inviting atmosphere.
Cleanliness is a standout attribute at The Rafter’s Gastropub with the property frequently described as spotlessly clean and well-maintained. This exceptional attention to detail contributes significantly to the comfort and satisfaction of guests.
The staff is consistently highlighted for their exceptional service and friendliness with many reviews noting the welcoming and helpful demeanor of team members. Their dedication to ensuring a pleasant stay enhances the charm and appeal of the establishment.
However, The Rafter’s Gastropub struggles with providing reliable Wi-Fi with guests frequently reporting issues with connectivity, especially in the rooms. The Wi-Fi is mainly functional in the pub area, which may be an inconvenience for some guests.
The nightlife around The Rafter's Gastropub is lively and appreciated for its vibrant ambiance and live music, though some guests noted noise levels that subside after 11 PM. It's a great spot for those seeking an engaging night out and the convivial atmosphere in the evening is a definite draw.
Regarding the beds, while many guests find them very comfortable, there are noticeable inconsistencies in comfort and quality with some beds being too hard or sagging. Improvement in mattress quality and pillow conditions could enhance the overall sleeping experience.
In summary, The Rafter's Gastropub excels in its prime location, delightful breakfast and dinner offerings, cleanliness and exceptional service. While there are some areas for improvement, particularly in Wi-Fi reliability and bedding quality, the overall experience remains highly positive, making it a commendable choice for visitors to Kilkenny. Show more
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Categories
3-Star Guest House
The Rafter's Gastropub is centrally located. It provides a mix of accommodation and dining, making it a convenient choice for travelers.
Guest House near Nightlife Spots
Small Guest House
Room Types
Family RoomIncludes an en suite bathroom, complimentary tea and coffee is available on request.
Triple RoomThe unit has 3 beds.
Double RoomThe unit has 1 bed.
Standard Twin RoomThe unit offers 2 beds.
Double or Twin RoomThe unit has 2 beds.
Guest Reviews
7.8
Good
Location
Located in the heart of Kilkenny, The Rafter's Gastropub proves to be an excellent choice for those wanting to explore the city with ease. Guests repeatedly praise its superb central location, making it convenient to access all local amenities, tourist sites and the bustling nightlife. It is perfectly positioned within walking distance from major attractions such as Kilkenny Castle and a variety of shops and restaurants. The ambiance of the pub itself adds to the charm, creating an authentic Irish atmosphere. The convenience of nearby parking, coupled with a friendly and accommodating staff, enhances the overall experience. The centrality of The Rafter's Gastropub makes it an ideal spot to enjoy everything Kilkenny has to offer, from vibrant cultural sites to a cozy, welcoming atmosphere.
Breakfast
At The Rafter’s Gastropub, the breakfast experience has garnered enthusiastic praise from guests. Descriptions such as "very tasty," "plentiful," "very good," and "delicious" are frequently mentioned, painting a picture of satisfaction and delight among visitors. Many guests appreciate the variety and richness of the offerings with options catering to diverse preferences, including vegetarian choices.
Several reviews highlight the exceptional quality of the traditional Irish breakfast with terms like "superb," "top notch," and "amazing" recurrently used, underscoring a standout culinary experience. The breakfast is often noted to be generous and filling, providing a hearty start to the day. Guests also seem to value the inclusion of breakfast in their room cost, seeing it as a good deal.
While a few guests felt the breakfast service could improve in areas like clarity on available options or occasional freshness issues, the overwhelming consensus is one of satisfaction. The accommodating and friendly staff further enhance the breakfast experience, making mornings at The Rafter’s Gastropub truly memorable. For those who appreciate a good beginning to their day, this establishment appears to deliver commendably.
Dinner
Nestled in a cozy setting with a delightful ambiance, The Rafter's Gastropub offers an exceptional dining experience that consistently impresses its guests. The menu features a range of superb dishes with the steak on the hot stone frequently highlighted as fantastic and amazing. Burgers and fish and chips have also received praise for their tastiness, while the overall food quality is described as excellent and top-notch. The pub's simple yet hearty Irish fare earns accolades for its deliciousness and excellent value for money.
The staff contribute significantly to the positive dining atmosphere, often described as wonderful and engaging. Guests particularly appreciate the warm hospitality, noting that team members like Gerry and Damian go above and beyond to ensure a pleasant stay. The pub’s cozy environment, complete with a nice patio for outdoor dining and a sun terrace for drinks, adds to the overall enjoyment.
Whether opting for a delightful dinner or a lovely evening meal, visitors are consistently impressed by the food and service at The Rafter's Gastropub, making it a memorable part of their vacation experience. The restaurant's commitment to serving excellent cuisine shines through in every meal, solidifying its reputation as a must-visit dining destination.
Rooms
The accommodations at The Rafter's Gastropub feature a range of reviews, many highlighting the spaciousness, cleanliness and comfort of the rooms. Guests often praised the rooms for being generous in size and spotless with some mentioning lovely, bright decor and a cozy atmosphere. The huge beds were a standout for several reviewers, contributing to an inviting and comfortable stay. Some rooms also offered scenic views and the overall ambiance was described as nice with traditional decor.
However, there were recurring notes on areas needing improvement. Some guests felt the rooms were a bit dated and could use modern updates. Issues such as outdated bathrooms, insufficient blackout curtains and the need for modernisation were common themes. Comfort-related concerns included rooms being occasionally warm, noisy or inadequately soundproofed.
Despite some mentions of basic and simple accommodations, the overall sentiment leaned towards a positive experience with many guests appreciating the cleanliness, space and comfortable conditions provided by the rooms.
Beds
The 'Rafter's Gastropub' hotel presents a mixed experience when it comes to the comfort of its beds. A significant number of guests have found the beds to be very comfortable, often describing them as comfy and of good quality. However, several reviews also suggest inconsistencies in comfort with mentions of beds being too hard, mattresses being a bit hard and sagging or lumpy issues. Some guests pointed out cleanliness issues, such as stained mattresses, while others highlighted the beds being old and in need of replacement.
There are mentions of double beds being small and firm as well as some beds being shaky. Pillows received mixed feedback with some needing a refresh while others were described as very firm or flat. Noise from bed locations was noted as a drawback by some guests. Despite these issues, many visitors still found the beds to be comfortable and clean overall.
The repeated feedback indicates that while there are generally comfortable beds available, there is a noticeable variability that could affect a guest’s experience. Improvements in mattress quality and pillow conditions could significantly enhance the overall comfort of a stay at the hotel.
Cleanliness
The 'Rafter's Gastropub' consistently receives glowing remarks for its cleanliness. Guests frequently describe the rooms and bathrooms as "spotlessly clean" and "immaculate," with many emphasizing the exceptional attention to detail. The hotel's property is often noted as being beautifully maintained and consistently cleaned, creating a comfortable and tidy environment for guests. Whether discussing the carpets, bedrooms or overall hotel amenities, cleanliness is a standout aspect, providing a classic, clean environment that guests appreciate. Although some comments pointed out minor areas for improvement or occasional signs of wear, the overwhelming consensus highlights the superb cleanliness, contributing to a well-maintained and comfortable stay.
Staff
The Rafter's Gastropub staff consistently receive high praise from guests for their exceptional service and friendliness. Visitors frequently highlight the welcoming and helpful nature of the staff, noting their attentiveness and professionalism. The owner, Gerry and key team members like Alan and Jeremy, are often mentioned for going above and beyond to ensure guests have a pleasant stay. The efficient check-in process, coupled with a warm and friendly ambiance created by the staff, enhances the overall experience. Despite a few isolated incidents of less favorable service, the overwhelming majority of reviews emphasize the courteous, kind and accommodating nature of the staff. This level of dedication and friendliness contributes significantly to the charm and appeal of The Rafter's Gastropub.
Wi-Fi
The Rafter's Gastropub offers a cozy atmosphere and delightful dining options, yet it struggles significantly with providing a reliable Wi-Fi experience. Guests have frequently reported that the Wi-Fi does not work properly in the rooms and it is often described as slow, spotty or entirely unavailable. Several reviews mentioned that the Wi-Fi worked adequately only within the pub area itself but not in the individual rooms. For those seeking consistent internet access from the comfort of their room, it's advisable to keep this limitation in mind. The management would do well to address these connectivity problems to enhance the overall guest experience.
Nightlife
The nightlife around The 'Rafter's Gastropub' receives a mix of reviews, predominantly highlighting its vibrant and lively atmosphere, but also notes about the noise levels. Guests have appreciated the ambiance, especially during live music events and enjoy the beer garden and pub terrace. The pub itself offers a good buzz in the evenings with great live bands and a lively atmosphere, making it a great spot for a night out.
However, noise from the pub, especially heavy bass, can be heard in the rooms, particularly those facing the terrace. This noise often continues until the pub closes around 11pm, thereafter calming down significantly. Although some guests found the street and pub too noisy at night, others appreciated the quiet comfort of their rooms post 11pm, noting a considerable reduction in noise.
The hotel's location is well-regarded for being close to shopping, nightlife and tourist attractions. While the rooftop dining area receives positive mentions, the rooftop beer garden appears to be exclusive to locals. The residents' bar, on the other hand, did not impress some, being described as a bit dreary and crowded with locals.
In summary, The 'Rafter's Gastropub' offers a bustling nightlife scene with engaging live music and a vibrant bar atmosphere, though it may come with some nighttime noise. Guests looking for a lively evening will find it highly suitable, while those seeking quiet may wish for the noise to end after 11pm.
No, The 'Rafter's Gastropub doesn't have any pool.
No, a spa isn't available at The 'Rafter's Gastropub.
No, The 'Rafter's Gastropub doesn't allow dogs.
No, parking facilities aren't available at The 'Rafter's Gastropub.