Aran Artisan Bakery and Bistro

Pavel and Nicole don’t hold back when creating their dishes in Arán. Every creation is super generous, every dish is a tribute to their devoted Kilkenny artisan suppliers, and every dish is designed to hit the spot, and then some. 

It’s fitting that, for instance, they label their iteration of shakshuka as: Shakshuka 2, and this upgrade adds Dizzy Farm wild boar sausage to the Ballon Farm eggs which come in a spiced tomato, pepper and chorizo sauce, and don’t forget the rubble of feta cheese, and their own toasted sourdough. Wow! Now that's brunch.

Add in skilled baking and skilled cooking and you can see why Arán has won a reputation as Kilkenny’s best café, in just two short years. Demand has been so intense that they have doubled in size, opening the deli and bakery across the street, at No. 14. And so, when you have wrapped up brunch or lunch, then it’s time to do what everyone else does, and cross the street, and buy everything in the shop. Start with the custard tarts, and take it from there.