Langton's Bar and Restaurant is a traditional irish restaurant in John Street, Kilkenny.
Langton's on John Street is a Kilkenny institution, winner of Best Gastro Pub Kilkenny 2025, serving hearty Irish food and an extensive Irish whiskey list.
Signature dishes: Seafood chowder, Kilkenny steak
Must order: Hearty seafood chowder or the Angus beef steak; the Guinness here is poured with care.
Tip: Food runs noon to 21:00 daily. Live music starts at 21:00; arrive before 20:30 if you want to eat in peace.
Address: 67-69 John Street Lower, Kilkenny, R95 XN44
Billy Byrnes on John Street Upper is a Kilkenny social institution serving locals since the 1980s, a gastro bar with food, pints, live music, plus sport.
Signature: Fresh fish and chips, Daily specials
Order: Fresh fish and chips; the daily specials built from local seasonal produce consistently impress.
Tip: Featured in Kilkenny Arts Festival 2025 dining listings. Book ahead during festival weeks in August.
Kyteler's Inn on St Kieran's Street traces brewing roots to 1324 and serves traditional Irish food from noon to 21:00 alongside 90 curated Irish whiskeys.
Signature: Irish stew, Seafood chowder
Order: Traditional Irish stew or the beef and Guinness pie; Kyteler's own-brand Irish whiskey for a local toast.
Tip: Food served noon to 21:00 seven days. Traditional music from 20:00 weeknights, two sessions at weekends. Book for groups.
Aroi on Friary Street has been Kilkenny's Asian restaurant of choice since 2015, chef Fadilah named Best Asian Fusion Chef in Ireland in 2019 and 2020.
Signature: Red duck curry, Kimchi chicken ramen
Order: Red duck curry or the spicy kimchi chicken ramen; vegan options are built with equal seriousness.
Tip: Open Monday through Sunday noon to 22:00-22:30. TripAdvisor Travellers Choice for four consecutive years.
Billy Byrnes on John Street Upper is a Kilkenny social institution serving locals since the 1980s, a gastro bar with food, pints, live music, plus sport.
Signature: Fresh fish and chips, Daily specials
Order: Fresh fish and chips; the daily specials built from local seasonal produce consistently impress.
Tip: Featured in Kilkenny Arts Festival 2025 dining listings. Book ahead during festival weeks in August.
Foodworks on Parliament Street is the most direct farm-to-fork address in Kilkenny, the pork sourced from pigs the owners raise on a family farm nearby.
Signature: Pulled pork benedict, Angus steak burger
Order: Pulled pork benedict at brunch or the Angus steak burger; the spit-roast free-range pork is occasional.
Tip: Closed Monday and Tuesday. Brunch from 08:30; weekday close 16:00, Friday and Saturday kitchen runs to 21:30.
Petronella on Kilkenny's medieval Butterslip Lane serves simple, seasonal Irish cooking with global influences, sourcing from Mountain View's own farm.
Signature: Seasonal Irish plates
Order: The seasonal lunch plates that change with supply from Mountain View's farm and local artisan producers.
Tip: Find the entrance through the medieval arch off High Street. Butterslip Lane is Kilkenny's most overlooked dining lane.
The Cavaliere family has run Rinuccini opposite Kilkenny Castle since 1989, importing Italian produce and building a cellar of over 12,000 bottles.
Signature: Homemade pasta, Italian seafood
Order: Homemade pasta with seasonal sauce; the homemade tiramisu is the best in the city.
Tip: Sunday lunch runs to 17:00 and is the best-value sitting of the week. Book for dinner Friday and Saturday.
