Rive Gauche is a fine-dining restaurant in Medieval Mile, Kilkenny.
Rive Gauche on The Parade delivers French-inflected seasonal Irish cooking in a room of exposed brick, with natural wines and hearty sharing plates.
Must order: Seasonal sharing plates; the wine list leans natural and European with careful by-the-glass selection.
Tip: Open Monday through Friday from 17:00, Saturday and Sunday from noon; the covered terrace faces the castle gates.
Address: 2 The Parade, Kilkenny
Lyla's on William Street is the third venue from siblings Michael O'Neill and Bee O'Grady, sister restaurant to Petronella, with a 46-seat room and Table Six chef-led tasting counter.
Order: Crispy duck salad to start, miso black cod or risotto with crabmeat and grilled king crab for mains, Sicilian lemon tart to finish.
Tip: Book the six-seat Table Six counter for the chef-led tasting menu with paired drinks; standard service runs Wednesday to Saturday evenings only.
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.
Order: Pulled pork benedict at brunch or the spit-roast free-range pork at lunch from the farm.
Tip: Closed Monday and Tuesday; open Wednesday through Sunday with evening service from Wednesday to Saturday.
Aroi on Friary Street has been Kilkenny's most-awarded Asian kitchen since 2015, chef Fadilah named Best Asian Fusion Chef in Ireland in 2019 and 2020.
Order: Red duck curry and the spicy kimchi chicken ramen; the vegan options are as strong as the meat dishes.
Tip: Tuesday Movie Night: a main, gelato and a cinema ticket for €24 per person. Great value for the quality.
Stathams Supper Club at the Pembroke Hotel serves curated modern Irish sharing plates and hosts a heated outdoor courtyard in the heart of Kilkenny.
Order: Seasonal sharing plates on local Co. Kilkenny produce; the wine list favours Irish and European.
Tip: The heated outdoor courtyard is one of the better al fresco dining options in the city on a clear evening.
Campagne in Kilkenny holds one Michelin star in the 2026 guide, Garrett Byrne earning the recognition every year since 2014 with exemplary French technique.
Order: Tasting menu showcasing seasonal Irish produce with French technique and precise saucing.
Tip: Book the Friday or Saturday dinner sitting at least three weeks ahead; the midweek early-bird lunch offers the same kitchen at a gentler price.
Petronella sits in a 1602 building on Kilkenny's medieval Butterslip Lane, serving seasonal Irish cuisine sourced from Mountain View's own farm.
Order: Seasonal menu from Mountain View farm supply; the kitchen prioritises local artisan suppliers.
Tip: Tuesday through Saturday for lunch and dinner; Sunday lunch only. Book dinner at weekends, walk-in at lunch most weekdays.
Lyla's on William Street is the third venue from siblings Michael O'Neill and Bee O'Grady, sister restaurant to Petronella, with a 46-seat room and Table Six chef-led tasting counter.
Order: Crispy duck salad to start, miso black cod or risotto with crabmeat and grilled king crab for mains, Sicilian lemon tart to finish.
Tip: Book the six-seat Table Six counter for the chef-led tasting menu with paired drinks; standard service runs Wednesday to Saturday evenings only.
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.
Order: Pulled pork benedict at brunch or the spit-roast free-range pork at lunch from the farm.
Tip: Closed Monday and Tuesday; open Wednesday through Sunday with evening service from Wednesday to Saturday.
Aroi on Friary Street has been Kilkenny's most-awarded Asian kitchen since 2015, chef Fadilah named Best Asian Fusion Chef in Ireland in 2019 and 2020.
Order: Red duck curry and the spicy kimchi chicken ramen; the vegan options are as strong as the meat dishes.
Tip: Tuesday Movie Night: a main, gelato and a cinema ticket for €24 per person. Great value for the quality.
Stathams Supper Club at the Pembroke Hotel serves curated modern Irish sharing plates and hosts a heated outdoor courtyard in the heart of Kilkenny.
Order: Seasonal sharing plates on local Co. Kilkenny produce; the wine list favours Irish and European.
Tip: The heated outdoor courtyard is one of the better al fresco dining options in the city on a clear evening.
Campagne in Kilkenny holds one Michelin star in the 2026 guide, Garrett Byrne earning the recognition every year since 2014 with exemplary French technique.
Order: Tasting menu showcasing seasonal Irish produce with French technique and precise saucing.
Tip: Book the Friday or Saturday dinner sitting at least three weeks ahead; the midweek early-bird lunch offers the same kitchen at a gentler price.
