Irish cooking is the backbone of Kilkenny's tables, served everywhere from formal dining rooms to old stone pubs. Lady Helen at Mount Juliet sits at the fine-dining end, while Zuni, Petronella, Foodworks and Stathams by Pembroke handle modern bistro cooking. The town's pub kitchens run deep, with Langton's Bar and Restaurant, Matt The Millers, Kyteler's Inn, Billy Byrnes Gastro Bar, Cleere's Bar and Theatre and Sullivan's Taproom alongside Lyla's, Rive Gauche, Arán Artisan Bakery and Bistro and The Fig Tree Restaurant.

Irish restaurants in Kilkenny

32 irish places in Kilkenny we have eaten in, sorted by editor score. All cuisines in Kilkenny · Irish across every city.

  • Lady Helen at Mount Juliet

    Order Seasonal tasting menu drawing on the estate's produce and local Co. Kilkenny suppliers.

    Lady Helen has held one Michelin star since 2013, chef John Kelly cooking modern Irish tasting menus at Mount Juliet Estate, 18km south of Kilkenny.

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  • Zuni

    Order Seasonal lamb or fish; the earlybird runs until 19:30 and delivers the full kitchen at a lower price.

    Zuni on Patrick Street is Kilkenny's most consistent hotel restaurant since 2000, chef Michael Thomas working seasonal Irish produce into modern menus.

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  • Petronella

    Order Seasonal menu changes with farm supply; the kitchen sources from Mountain View's own land and local producers.

    Petronella on Kilkenny's medieval Butterslip Lane serves simple, seasonal Irish cooking with global influences, sourcing from Mountain View's own farm.

    DetailsDirections

  • Langton's Bar and Restaurant

    Order The hearty seafood chowder or the Baileys and brown bread gateau dessert. The Guinness pour is precise.

    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.

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  • Foodworks

    Order Pulled pork benedict at brunch; spit-roast free-range pork at lunch is the weekly farm highlight.

    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.

    DetailsDirections

  • Matt The Millers

    Order Kilkenny Red Ale beef pie; traditional Irish stew with brown bread.

    Matt The Millers on John Street combines live music every night with good pub food, the Kilkenny Red Ale beef pie a fitting local signature for the city.

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  • Lyla's

    Order Crispy duck salad to start, miso black cod or signature shepherd's pie for mains.

    Lyla's on William Street pairs a 46-seat dining room with a cocktail bar, the third venue from the family behind Petronella and Mountain View Estate.

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  • Kyteler's Inn

    Order Traditional Irish stew or beef and Guinness pie; the Kyteler's own-brand Irish whiskey is worth a glass.

    Kyteler's Inn on St Kieran's Street connects to Kilkenny's 1324 distillation records.

    DetailsDirections

  • Stathams by Pembroke

    Order Seasonal sharing plates sourced from local Co. Kilkenny producers; the wine list is short and well-chosen.

    Stathams at the Pembroke Hotel serves seasonal modern Irish sharing plates in a smart room with a heated outdoor courtyard off Patrick Street.

    DetailsDirections

  • Arán Artisan Bakery and Bistro

    Order Stone-baked sourdough; the seasonal brunch plates that change with what the farm.

    Arán on Barrack Street is the most-awarded brunch address in Kilkenny, winner of Ireland's Best Brunch at the Georgina Campbell Irish Breakfast Awards.

    DetailsDirections

  • Billy Byrnes Gastro Bar

    Order Fresh fish and chips; the seasonal daily specials built from local suppliers are consistently strong.

    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.

    DetailsDirections

  • The Fig Tree Restaurant

    Order Full Irish breakfast; the handmade burger with local beef is the best in its price range in Kilkenny.

    The Fig Tree on High Street serves a full Irish breakfast and handmade local beef burgers in a casual space with an outdoor terrace, open seven days.

    DetailsDirections

  • Matt The Millers

    Order Kilkenny Red Ale beef pie or traditional Irish stew with soda bread.

    Matt The Millers on John Street blends reliable Irish pub cooking with live music every night, the Kilkenny Red Ale beef pie a natural city signature.

    DetailsDirections

  • Langton's Bar and Restaurant

    Order Hearty seafood chowder or the Angus beef steak; the Guinness here is poured with care.

    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.

    DetailsDirections

  • Kyteler's Inn

    Order Traditional Irish stew or the beef and Guinness pie; Kyteler's own-brand Irish whiskey for a local toast.

    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 selected Irish whiskeys.

    DetailsDirections

  • Billy Byrnes Gastro Bar

    Order Fresh fish and chips; the daily specials built from local seasonal produce consistently impress.

    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.

    DetailsDirections

  • Foodworks

    Order Pulled pork benedict at brunch or the Angus steak burger; the spit-roast free-range pork is occasional.

    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.

    DetailsDirections

  • Petronella

    Order The seasonal lunch plates that change with supply from Mountain View's farm and local artisan producers.

    Petronella on Kilkenny's medieval Butterslip Lane serves simple, seasonal Irish cooking with global influences, sourcing from Mountain View's own farm.

    DetailsDirections

  • The Fig Tree Restaurant

    Order Full Irish breakfast or the homemade burger with local beef; good gluten-free options throughout the menu.

    The Fig Tree on High Street serves a full Irish breakfast and handmade local beef burgers in a casual space with an outdoor terrace, open seven days.

    DetailsDirections

  • Zuni

    Order Seasonal lamb or seafood; the breakfast menu from 08:00 is among the best-value hotel dining in Kilkenny.

    Zuni on Patrick Street is Kilkenny's most consistent hotel restaurant since 2000, chef Michael Thomas working seasonal Irish produce into modern menus.

    DetailsDirections

  • Stathams by Pembroke

    Order Seasonal sharing plates on local Co. Kilkenny produce; the wine list is short and well built.

    Stathams at the Pembroke Hotel serves seasonal modern Irish sharing plates in a smart room with a heated outdoor courtyard off Patrick Street.

    DetailsDirections

  • Lady Helen at Mount Juliet

    • ★ 4.8
    • 1 MICHELIN star
    • Irish
    • €€€€
    • Thomastown

    Order Seasonal tasting menu built entirely on Irish produce from the estate and local suppliers.

    Lady Helen at Mount Juliet Estate has held one Michelin star since 2013, chef John Kelly serving modern Irish tasting menus 18km south of Kilkenny.

    DetailsBookDirections

  • Zuni

    Order Seasonal fish or lamb; the earlybird menu until 19:30 delivers the full kitchen at a lower price.

    Zuni on Patrick Street is Kilkenny's most consistent hotel dining room since 2000, chef Michael Thomas building modern Irish menus on local produce.

    DetailsBookDirections

  • Rive Gauche

    Order Seasonal sharing plates; the wine list leans natural and European with careful by-the-glass selection.

    Rive Gauche on The Parade delivers French-inflected seasonal Irish cooking in a room of exposed brick, with natural wines and hearty sharing plates.

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  • Petronella

    Order Seasonal menu from Mountain View farm supply; the kitchen prioritises local artisan suppliers.

    Petronella sits in a 1602 building on Kilkenny's medieval Butterslip Lane, serving seasonal Irish cuisine sourced from Mountain View's own farm.

    DetailsDirections

  • Foodworks

    Order Pulled pork benedict at brunch or the spit-roast free-range pork at lunch from the farm.

    Foodworks on Parliament Street runs a farm-to-fork bistro in a restored bank building, the pork from pigs the owners raise on their own family farm.

    DetailsDirections

  • Stathams by Pembroke

    Order Seasonal sharing plates on local Co. Kilkenny produce; the wine list favours Irish and European.

    Stathams Supper Club at the Pembroke Hotel serves built modern Irish sharing plates and hosts a heated outdoor courtyard in central Kilkenny.

    DetailsDirections

  • Kyteler's Inn

    Kyteler's Inn on St Kieran's Street serves over 90 Irish whiskeys with live trad music in a medieval building that stays open until 00:30 most nights.

    DetailsDirections

  • Matt The Millers

    Matt The Millers on John Street is a popular late-night pub for trad music and live acts in a converted mill, with food until 20:30 and late bar trading.

    DetailsDirections

  • Sullivan's Taproom

    Sullivan's Taproom at The Glasshouse is Kilkenny's best craft beer late-night option, with rotational taps and heated outdoor pods open on cooler evenings.

    DetailsDirections

  • Cleere's Bar and Theatre

    Cleere's on Parliament Street has run the city's Monday trad session since 1989, with a Wednesday session plus a 100-seat rear theatre for live shows.

    DetailsDirections

  • Foodworks

    Foodworks on Parliament Street offers farm-to-fork lunches under €14 that draw directly from the owners' family farm, consistently strong value for money.

    DetailsDirections

More cuisines in Kilkenny

Every cuisine in KilkennyThe Kilkenny food guide