The best restaurants in Carlow

07/09/2026: Always a great experience here, atmosphere, food and staff

29/08/2026: Excellent food, reasonably priced. Possibly the best restaurant in the midlands

11/10/2026: There's a reason people queue to get something from here! The food is delicious and the staff so friendly. It's worth the wait!

06/10/2026: Every time I visit Carlow, I need to grab a good coffee first! There are three specialty coffee shops in Carlow, but on Sundays, Waterlilies is the one to go to. And judging by how busy it gets, I’m definitely not the only one who thinks so. 😄 It can actually be quite challenging to find a free seat here on a Sunday — the place is extremely popular, especially around lunchtime. They serve excellent specialty coffee, using beans roasted by FarmHand, a small Dublin-based roastery. I’m not sure which beans they use for the daily espresso, but you can also buy bags of freshly roasted beans, including some excellent coffees from Ethiopia and Brazil. Waterlilies is also, as far as I know, the only proper sourdough bakery in Carlow. They have freshly baked sourdough bread available daily, as well as pastries and other treats. And then there’s the cheesecake. 😍 I’m not sure if it’s available every day, but if you spot it on the counter, definitely give it a try. Finding genuinely good cheesecake in Ireland can be surprisingly challenging, but they absolutely nailed it here, creamy, rich and perfectly balanced. A great little spot for specialty coffee, proper sourdough and, if you’re lucky, an excellent slice of cheesecake. Definitely worth a stop when you’re in Carlow.

24/09/2026: We arrived with a booking and got table straight away with no wait. Mind you it was early enough 6pm on Saturday. Place is small but cosy. Lovely decor with Fiat 500 etc, however atmosphere was lacking. I ordered glass of prosecco and got wine in champagne glass instead so asked to change that. All good. Food is really good though. Lasagna tasted amazing and flavoursome. Pizza is made in woodfire oven and yoi can see and taste the difference. We ordered garlic bread too and please be careful when ordering it. It was great no complaints but it was full 12 inch size you basically get second pizza. Impossible to eat and the staff doesn't warn you. Maybe they expect us to know it. So we got half pizza and half garlic bread take away. No biggie just be aware of it. We have made another booking again and will be more aware now.

17/09/2026: very bad experience , the staff dont know how to speak and the are so rude and unprofessional.

05/09/2026: Spotless, very friendly service. Food piping hot, 10/10 Whoever is running this store is doing a bang up job.

26/08/2026: Called here after the community games in Carlow it was busy but there was no problem getting a seat, staff were very friendly

01/10/2026: Very cool place with a lot of interesting things! Some of them weren't workinh however but still I'd go back.

10/09/2026: Very nice place to visiti. Run by local volunteers and well attended. Cafe inside too for a quick bite to eat and tea or coffee. I took my mum there to have a walk around and it was all very accessible. Recommended.

19/07/2026: Garden centre is fabulous, food is so good you will want more, staff are always very pleasant and helpful

15/07/2026: As a family we love a ramble around, it's a lovely afternoon visit for all the family. We all love to pick out flowers and accessories for our garden, then pop in for a coffee and bun while the kids have a run round in the playground and maze. We love checking out all the newest garden furniture and ornaments in the store itself, and the kids love picking out new books. So much in this establishment.

20/07/2026: Lamberts coffee house is rhe place to go if you want to experience beautiful coffee i would highly recoommed anyone to pop in when passing

15/05/2026: One of my favourite places to get coffee. Old world trendy and hip vibe.

05/09/2026: The teach is famous in Carlow for consistently providing good service and meals with knowledgeable staff and skilled chefs. But the introduction of the specials board has shaken things up with new choices and delicious food. I had the ribeye steak with sauté mushrooms and onions, French fried onion in tempura batter, cherry tomatoes and a delicious Guinness and tarragon butter. The steak was mouth watering tender cooked perfectly and every month full was a joy. Thanks Teach we will be back.

05/09/2026: The service was absolutely amazing and epic. Friendly, fast, efficient... cannot complain one bit about the staff. My issue was with the food. I ordered wings as a main and the wings were overly dry and lacking in any flavour. The rest of the party ordered the beef lasagna and that was utterly brilliant. It was voiced garlic bread with cheese would have been a better side than the chips. We requested chips as the side to each meal. Chips were crisp on the outside and soft on the inside lovely!

11/09/2026: Very cool 😎 place for any meal or snack. Excellent choice and super service.

11/09/2026: Nice place to eat in Carlow. Food was okay but presentation was good. It’s nice quiet place with good staff. There bakery options was very limited.

21/05/2026: Lovely atmosphere and visually nice. A few sups of the black stuff which tastes mighty there

28/09/2026: Very handy coffee spot to stop in while waiting for bus owner is very generous local business 👍

28/09/2026: Such a lovely guy this place has saved me with last minute supplies on many a trip to dublin on the bus

14/08/2026: Amazing food! Really clean and spicey. Staff was amazing

12/08/2026: Delicious food and friendly service

29/09/2026: This is the best kebab spot for me! Perfectly spicy, with amazing people working there. The atmosphere is always great, and we always have a laugh while I'm waiting for my order.

26/09/2026: Kebabs are amazing. I have came here a few times after a night out and I don’t think I have had a better kebab. They are also very fast

01/02/2026: The Thatch is everything you want in a local pub and more. From the moment you walk in, you’re greeted with such a warm, friendly atmosphere that instantly makes you feel at home. The hostess is absolutely wonderful—welcoming, attentive, and genuinely lovely, which really sets the tone for the whole experience. There’s always a great buzz in the place, made even better by the live music, which creates such an enjoyable and relaxed vibe. Whether you’re popping in for a quiet drink or heading out for a lively evening, The Thatch never disappoints. A true gem of a pub with heart, character, and a fantastic atmosphere. Highly recommend 🍀🎶

06/01/2026: One of the best if not THE best bar in Carlow/Laois. Staff are always pleasant, friendly and efficient. Always a good atmosphere no matter what time or day of the week. Decent price for an always fantastic pint, not one of your overpriced rip off pubs we see so much of now. Very clean and extremely well run establishment.

15/07/2026: Bought a takeaway last night after swimming. Wow, it was delicious! Gusto is definitely due for another visit soon. On another note I left my purse behind and they went above and beyond to try to find me to return it, so thanks for that! It had my house and car keys in it too! Thank you.. 😊

23/06/2026: 10/10 pizza. Highly recommend best in a long time