Returning to Kilkenny: Rothe House, Rhubarb Scones & a Romantic Escape

We'd already raced through Kilkenny once — 24 sites in 24 hours — and loved every frantic minute. But we knew we'd left things on the table. This time we came back for a slower, more romantic version of the city we'd fallen for, with time to linger over rhubarb scones, finally tour Rothe House properly, and take an evening stroll beside the castle without anywhere else to be. First stop was Cafe La Coco, where we'd been dreaming about the scones since our last visit. We got the last two. You'll understand why that felt like a win. Then it was on to Rothe House — a merchant's home dating to 1594 that we'd walked past twice before without getting inside. It was worth the wait. The Irish oak ceiling held together by wooden dowels, the herb garden recreated with surprising accuracy from Cromwellian documentation, the 1604 well uncovered just fifteen years ago. The afternoon brought a visit to the Castle Yard and Kilkenny Design Centre, followed by a dinner bed and breakfast package at our hotel that turned out to be a good value. If you've already done Kilkenny at full speed and wondered what it would feel like to actually slow down there — this one's for you. 📍 Places mentioned: Cafe La Coco — Kilkenny Rothe House — Parliament Street, Kilkenny Castle Yard & Kilkenny Design Centre Kilkenny Castle Hoban's Bar 🇮🇪 Planning a trip to Ireland? Grab our free Ireland Insider guide — our favorite experiences for the culturally curious traveler: https://chrisplusmelissa.com/get-the-... Follow us on: Instagram:   / chrisplusmelissa   Pinterest:   / chrisplusmelissatravels   But first, our disclaimer - All products featured on Chris+Melissa are independently selected. When you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Are you moving to Europe? Wise is a good way to move money between the USA and Europe: https://wise.com/invite/dic/christian... Our Equipment, Applications, and Tunes: Graphics: https://www.canva.com/join/embrace-tu... Like the music we use in our videos? Want an easier way to find music for your videos? https://www.epidemicsound.com/referra... Other Music: https://www.bensound.com We're Chris and Melissa — a writing-focused travel couple sharing literary Ireland and beyond. Subscribe for honest, feeling-forward travel content for curious travelers.