Eat and stay in Carlow

Carlow is a working market town, so it has a full range of cafés, pubs, restaurants and places to stay without the crowds of a major tourist destination.

Eating and drinking

• Town centre: the streets around the castle, the Potato Market and the main shopping area are where most cafés, pubs and restaurants are found. Walk a couple of streets and compare menus.
• Saturday market: Carlow Farmers' Market in the Potato Market sells local produce, baked goods and hot food on Saturday mornings.
• VISUAL: the arts centre has a bar and restaurant, which works well around a gallery visit or an evening show.
• Pubs: Carlow has plenty of traditional pubs. Ask at the bar about live music nights.

Where to stay

• In Carlow town: hotels and guesthouses sit within walking distance of the castle and the main street.
• In the Barrow valley: the villages of Leighlinbridge, Borris, Bagenalstown (Muine Bheag) and St Mullins have smaller B&Bs and inns, and suit walkers on the Barrow Way.
• Day trip option: Carlow is about 85 km from Dublin, so it works well as a day out if you would rather not stay overnight.

Tips

• Book ahead for weekends, and for any event at VISUAL or the theatre.
• Opening hours for cafés and restaurants change seasonally, so check before you go, especially on Sundays and Mondays.
• Ask your host or the staff at the museum for local recommendations. They usually know what is on.