This is a cute boutique hotel was nice rooms and an excellent restaurant. You enter through the bar which is the original box office for Kilkenny Theater. The lobby is tiny but check in was quite fast.
Similar to other European hotels that converted old buildings, getting to the rooms can be a bit odd. Our "300" level rooms were accessed by taking the elevator to second floor and going down a hall which took us down a few steps and then up another few steps. While a bit of a challenge with luggage, it wasn't insurmountable. The room was chic with a modern bathroom. The bed was comfortable.
The best part of the stay though was dinner at the restaurant. They have an extensive wine and drink menu. They served bread with flavored butter to the table. There were two types of bread, one that was like a country loaf and one that reminded me of focaccia served with a pesto butter. They were small but delicious bites. For my main course I had the Slow Braised Hereford Irish Beef Featherblade which comes with sweet potato puree, sweet corn, green beans & smoked bacon, red pepper polenta, fried corn crumb and jus. This was an amazing meal. The succulent beef was slow cooked before being crisped for serving. This gave the exterior some caramelization which contrasted nicely with the tenderness from the slow braise. The sweet corn & green beans provided the same kind of textural and flavor contrast to the sweet potato puree. And the polenta was savory and warm. Everything was a dance of complimentary contrasts. I only spent one night in Kilkenny but wish I had spent more just to enjoy more of the Zuni's excellent food.
If you're looking for a place to stay, put Zuni on your list. If you're looking for a place to dine, Zuni is a must visit! read more