Rathfarnham Castle Cafe — Restaurant in South Dublin

RATHFARNHAM CASTLE IS SITUATED ALMOST DIRECT LY OPPOSITE THE TINY OLD VILLAGE OF RATHFARNHAM.THE CASTLE WAS LAST INHABITED BY PRIESTS JESUITS I THINKTHIS BEAUTIFUL HISTORIC BUILDING IS NOW A CAFE RUN BY THE BRAMBLES OUTFIT. BEFORE YOU EVEN ENTER THE GROUND FLOOR OF THIS CASTLE WHICH HOUSES THE EATINGSPACE ONE IS.IS STRUCK BY THE BEAUTY OF THE PLACE. THE TWO DOORWAYS ARE ANY ARTISTS DELIGHT TO PAINT OR DRAW. THE TABLES ARE DECKE WITH LITTLE VASES OF FLOORS, THE CHINA CROCKERY IS GORGEOUS.THE CAKES ARE JUST TOO TEMPTING NOT TOO INDULGE. ONE YOU PURCHASE SOME FOOD YOU CSN BUY SOME WINE IN SMALL.BOTTLES I I CANNOT REMEMBER IF YOU HAVE THE CHOICE OF BUYING WINE BY GLASS ALSO I THINK YOU CAN I SUPPOSE IF YOU ARE A MAN WITH A BIG APPETITE.THE LUNCH / DINNER MENU IS NOT SUBSTANTIAL ENOUGH FOR YOU.BUT IF YOU BELIEVE IN THE SAYING QUALITY NOT QUANTITY THE FOOD WILL NOTLET YOU DOWN ON FLAVOUR. THE NICE THING ABOUT RATHFARNHAM CASTLE IS THAT ITS CLIENTELE IS VERY VARIED. MOTHERS WITH TOTS, WOMEN OF GOLDEN YEARS, COUPLES, LONERS ANYONE FITS INTO THIS PLACE. ALSO IF YOU LIKE RETAIL THERAPY THERE IS A NICE SELECTION OF ITEMS TO.GIFT YOURSELF OR A FRIEND EG. TEAPOTS. MUGS SIGNAGE.HOWEVER THE STOCK IS FAIRLY EXPENSIVE. BUT. OF HIGH QUALITY . YOU DO IN SOME CASES GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR ! IF YOU ARE TRAVELLING BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT THE 16 BUS STOPS OUTSIDE THE CASTLE. AFTER EATING IN BRAMBLES CAFE YOU CAN TAKE A TOUR OF THE REST OF THE HOUSE OR WALK IN THE PARK BEHIND THE BUILDING. I FOUND LOTS OF FALLEN ACORNS WHEN LAST I VISITED. IF YOU ARE DRIVING THERE ARE PARKING SPACES WITHIN THE GROUNDS WHERE YOU PAY PER HOUR. IF YOU HAVE CHILDREN IN TOW THERE IS AN EXCELLENT CHILDRENS PLAY GROUND AREA. THIS PLACE WHEN VISITED IS LIKE WALKING INTO A HUG. IF YOU DECIDE TO VISIT RATHFARNHAM CASTLE BECAUSE OF THIS REVIEW MAYBE YOU MIGHT MENTION AVE ? YOU ARE COMPLETELY FREE TO ACCEPT OR REJECT...

Hi went here on Monday the 18th of September. I usually enjoy going here but this time was a disaster. The time was approx 13:10 when my daughter myself and the baby arrived . The place was busy there was a good few tables but they were filthy. Cups, plates , teapots , cutlery and crumbs everywhere. We cleaned off a table with baby wipes and I went to queue up . I realised why it was so busy .There was one person working working in thr whole restaurant working between the food counter the drinks the till and the floor . I felt sorry for her being under so much pressure . I said it to her but she said no pressure. People were walking out as the dirty tables were so bad there was no where left to put the stuff . I was giving a pot if tea with no lid on the teapot as they had run out of lids No one to wash them . How dangerous is that when you have a baby at the table of 18 months. No high chairs visible to put babies in Eventually some lad joined the staff to help start cleaning the table . To tell you the truth I've never seen such a unorganised dirty cafe I don't know what's gone wrong as usually it's...

I decided to do something different so I visited Rathfarham castle and Brambles Cafe on the 31st of July 2025 just to add morning , the 1st thing I came across was the que , the 2nd thing I noticed very quickly there was two staff members doing everything, taking orders, making orders cleaning tables and constantly apologising to customers over the wait times for food , I watched for awhile and nobody else ( staff wise ) was around , no to me thats bad management, not the two employees that where ran off there feet doing what they could do with only two sets off hands , cleaning, clearing tables, taken orders and getting the orders to tables, it's impossible, so I am not surprised with the bad reviews, I won't becoming back as to as I watched the staff handled the situation very well and there was customers leaving over wait times for food and customers asking for tables to be cleaned, Brambles and management need to look into getting extra staff and I wouldn't be surprised if the staff even stay as working conditions wouldn't be put up with any...