Cocktails, wine bars and dives: drinking in Kilkenny for grown-ups.
Cocktail bars, wine bars, dive bars and gastropubs: drinking in Kilkenny for grown-ups.
15 places
Drink Kyteler's own-brand Irish whiskey
Kyteler's Inn on St Kieran's Street traces brewing roots to 1324 and curates over 90 Irish whiskey expressions, traditional music nightly in high season.
Drink Guinness and Smithwick's Red Ale
Langton's Bar on John Street is a Kilkenny institution, winner of Best Gastro Pub Kilkenny 2025, with a large whiskey list and live music every night.
Drink Smithwick's Original Red Ale
Matt The Millers on John Street is a live music pub with good food, the Kilkenny Red Ale beef pie a fitting local signature in a converted mill building.
10 of the bars on this list are in Medieval Mile. So are these tours and tastings.
Drink National Irish Pub of the Year whiskey selection
Paris Texas on High Street is Kilkenny's BBQ and whiskey specialist, a family-run pub since 1996 with National Irish Pub of the Year recognition.
Drink Guinness and local craft ales
Billy Byrnes on John Street Upper is a Kilkenny social institution, a no-frills gastro bar with Smithwick's on tap that feels more local than tourist.
Drink Smithwick's Original Red Ale on draft
The bar at the Smithwick's Experience pours a complimentary Smithwick's Red Ale at the end of every tour on the city's 13th-century brewing site.
Drink Natural wine by the glass
Rive Gauche on The Parade is Kilkenny's closest dedicated wine bar, a handsome room of exposed brick with seasonal Irish plates and a natural wine list.
Drink Natural wine by the glass
Louie's on Patrick Street is a Parisian-inspired cafe bar with natural wines, small plates from Thursday to Saturday, and leather banquettes from noon.
Drink Seasonal cocktails with Irish spirits
Zuni Bar on Patrick Street runs a better cocktail programme than its hotel-bar status suggests, a solid choice for a pre-dinner drink in the city centre.
Drink Pint of Guinness
Cleere's on Parliament Street has hosted Kilkenny's longest-running trad session every Monday since 1989 alongside a 100-seat theatre for national acts.
A sample of Kilkenny hotels from our booking partner, who list 28 here. Live prices and availability open on their site.
The Club House Hotel
The Club House Hotel is centrally located in Kilkenny, a 4-minute walk from Kilkenny Castle and 5 minutes b...
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Kilkenny Inn
With a stay at Kilkenny Inn, you'll be centrally located in Kilkenny, a 9-minute walk from St Mary's Cathed...
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Kilkenny House Boutique Hotel
When you stay at Kilkenny House Boutique Hotel in Kilkenny, you'll be in the business district, within a 5-...
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Launard House
With a stay at Launard House in Kilkenny, you'll be within a 5-minute drive of Talbots Tower and Butler Hou...
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Compare for next weekend: Holidu in Kilkenny from USD 66/night · Booking.com in Kilkenny
Stays are listed by our booking partners, not editor picks. We earn a commission if you book, at no cost to you.
Drink Natural wine by the glass
Petronella Bar on Butterslip Lane is a medieval building with seasonal cocktails and natural wines, the most evocative bar in Kilkenny's hidden alleyways.
Drink New Orleans-style cocktails
Paris Texas at 92 High Street pairs American whiskey and local spirits with a smokehouse food menu in one of Kilkenny's most awarded pub bars.
Drink Italian Aperol Spritz or Negroni
Rinuccini's bar at 1 The Parade draws on the family's 12,000-bottle Italian wine cellar, the best Italian wine by the glass in Kilkenny since 1989.
Drink Organic coffee with almond or soy milk
The Yard Cafe on St Kieran's Street serves organic coffee with plant milks, vegan lunch plates, and homemade cakes in a relaxed community-minded setting.
Drink Botanical teas and natural wine
Wildflower at Butler Gallery serves plant-based bowls, vegan raw cakes, and botanical teas in a walled gallery garden with genuine dietary inclusivity.
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