Mid-Range in Kilkenny

Arán Artisan Bakery and Bistro ★ 4.7

barrack-street · 8 Barrack Street, Kilkenny, R95 YF30

Arán on Barrack Street won Ireland's Best Brunch at the Georgina Campbell Awards, with fresh-baked sourdough and seasonal brunch plates all day.

Arán Artisan Bakery and Bistro ★ 4.5

barrack-street · 8 Barrack Street, Kilkenny, R95 YF30

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.

Tip: Closed Tuesday. Last brunch orders at 15:15. Private evening dining available with advance notice.

Arán Artisan Bakery and Bistro ★ 4.5

barrack-street · 8 Barrack Street, Kilkenny, R95 YF30

Arán on Barrack Street serves award-winning brunch and lunch plates built on stone-baked sourdough, voted Ireland's Best Brunch at Georgina Campbell awards.

Tip: Closed Tuesday. Last food orders at 15:15. Natural wines available alongside coffee. Dogs welcome in the garden.

Cakeface Roastery ★ 4.5

irishtown · 16 Irishtown, Kilkenny, R95 W634

Cakeface Roastery is Kilkenny's only in-house roastery, with Laura and Rory Gannon sourcing from small producers and roasting at their Irishtown patisserie.

Cakeface Patisserie ★ 4.5

irishtown · 16 Irishtown, Kilkenny, R95 W634

Cakeface on Irishtown brings French pastry training to Kilkenny brunch, with daily-changing bakes by Laura and Rory Gannon and single-origin filter coffee.

Cakeface Patisserie ★ 4.4

irishtown · 16 Irishtown, Kilkenny, R95 W634

Cakeface on Irishtown is Kilkenny's premier French-trained patisserie, run by Laura and Rory Gannon and housing the city's only dedicated coffee roastery.

Tip: Monday through Saturday 09:00-17:00, Sunday 10:00-16:00. The roastery produces beans for the cafes and for retail.

Low Lane ★ 4.4

st-kierans-street · 45 Saint Kieran's Street, Kilkenny

Low Lane opened in 2022 after 3fe Coffee training, Robyn and Mark Butler running Kilkenny's most serious walk-in-only specialty cafe on St Kieran's Street.

Low Lane ★ 4.4

st-kierans-street · 45 Saint Kieran's Street, Kilkenny

Low Lane on St Kieran's Street is Kilkenny's most serious specialty coffee spot, opened 2022 after 3fe Coffee training in Dublin, walk-in only.

Aroi Asian Fusion ★ 4.3

medieval-mile · Friary Street, Kilkenny

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.

Tip: Tuesday Movie Night includes a main, gelato and cinema ticket for €24. TripAdvisor Travellers Choice for four consecutive years.

Aroi Asian Fusion ★ 4.3

medieval-mile · Friary Street, Kilkenny

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.

Tip: Open Monday through Sunday noon to 22:00-22:30. TripAdvisor Travellers Choice for four consecutive years.

Arán Artisan Bakery and Bistro ★ 4.3

barrack-street · 8 Barrack Street, Kilkenny, R95 YF30

Arán on Barrack Street serves specialty filter coffee from Irish artisan roasters, the selection rotating seasonally alongside its award-winning brunch menu.

Smithwick's Experience ★ 4.3

medieval-mile · 44 Parliament Street, Kilkenny, R95 VK54

Smithwick's Experience at Parliament Street sits on the abbey site where John Smithwick founded Ireland's oldest brewery in 1710, pint included in entry.

Cleere's Bar and Theatre ★ 4.3

medieval-mile · 28 Parliament Street, Kilkenny

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.

Knockdrinna Farmhouse Cheese Cafe ★ 4.3

kilkenny-environs · Stoneyford, County Kilkenny (approx. 12km from Kilkenny city)

Knockdrinna's farm cafe in Stoneyford, 12km out, serves lunch built on Helen Finnegan's Supreme Champion cheeses and Goatsbridge trout, worth every kilometre.

Stathams by Pembroke Kilkenny ★ 4.3

medieval-mile · Patrick Street, Kilkenny

Stathams at Pembroke won Best Hotel Breakfast in Ireland at the Georgina Campbell Awards, with loaded hash browns and full Irish plates on weekend brunches.

Louie's Cafe and Wine Bar ★ 4.2

medieval-mile · 3 Patrick Street, Kilkenny

Louie's on Patrick Street is a Parisian-inspired cafe bar with natural wines, small plates, high ceilings, and leather banquettes in the heart of Kilkenny.

Tip: First-come, first-served during the day; no daytime bookings. Evening small plates require advance booking via the inquiry form.

Sullivan's Taproom and Brewing Co ★ 4.2

john-street · 16 John Street Lower, Kilkenny

Sullivan's Taproom at The Glasshouse on John Street serves the award-winning Malting's Red Ale on rotational craft taps with wood-fired pizzas and burgers.

Sullivan's Taproom ★ 4.2

john-street · 16 John Street Lower, Kilkenny

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.

Langton's Bar and Restaurant ★ 4.1

john-street · 67-69 John Street Lower, Kilkenny, R95 XN44

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.

Tip: Live music starts at 21:00 every night. Food runs until 21:00; arrive before 20:30 to eat without rushing.

Langton's Bar and Restaurant ★ 4.1

john-street · 67-69 John Street Lower, Kilkenny, R95 XN44

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.

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.

Fragola Cafe ★ 4.1

medieval-mile · 3 William Street, Kilkenny, R95 XE36

Fragola on William Street sits off the tourist strip in a quiet cobbled pocket with serene garden, known to locals for its strawberry latte and French toast.

Scalini Italian Restaurant ★ 4.1

st-kierans-street · 34 St Kieran's Street, Kilkenny

Scalini on St Kieran's Street serves 72-hour Roman-style pizzas and daily handmade pasta, far better known to Kilkenny residents than visiting tourists.

Bridie's Bar and General Store ★ 4.1

john-street · 72 John Street Lower, Kilkenny

Bridie's Bar on John Street Lower serves weekend brunch in its walled courtyard garden with French toast, Eggs Benedict, and signature cocktails at weekends.

Paris Texas Bar and Restaurant ★ 4.0

medieval-mile · 92 High Street, Kilkenny, R95 V6TE

Paris Texas on High Street is Kilkenny's BBQ specialist, a family-run pub since 1996 with a wood-smoking oven and New Orleans-inspired smokehouse plates.

Tip: National Irish Pub of the Year and Whiskey Specialist. Walk-in only on bank holidays and festival weekends.

Foodworks ★ 4.0

medieval-mile · 7 Parliament Street, Kilkenny, R95 X577

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.

Tip: Closed Monday and Tuesday. Brunch from 08:30 Wednesday through Sunday; evening service Wednesday through Saturday.

Matt The Millers ★ 4.0

john-street · 1 John Street, Kilkenny

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.

Tip: Food served noon to 20:30 daily. Live music every night. The bar stays open until 02:30 Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Matt The Millers ★ 4.0

john-street · 1 John Street, Kilkenny

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.

Tip: Food served noon to 20:30. Live music every night; bar open until 02:30 Thursday through Saturday.

Paris Texas Bar and Restaurant ★ 4.0

medieval-mile · 92 High Street, Kilkenny, R95 V6TE

Paris Texas on High Street is Kilkenny's BBQ house, family-run since 1996 with a wood-smoking oven for American South West and New Orleans-inspired dishes.

Tip: Walk-in only on bank holidays and festival weekends; book ahead during Savour Kilkenny week in October.

Foodworks ★ 4.0

medieval-mile · 7 Parliament Street, Kilkenny, R95 X577

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.

Tip: Closed Monday and Tuesday. Brunch from 08:30; weekday close 16:00, Friday and Saturday kitchen runs to 21:30.

Kyteler's Inn ★ 4.0

medieval-mile · St Kieran's Street, Kilkenny

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.

Matt The Millers ★ 4.0

john-street · 1 John Street, Kilkenny

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.

Ember Restaurant at Kilkenny Hibernian Hotel ★ 4.0

medieval-mile · 1 Ormonde Street, Kilkenny, R95 WTK3

Ember at Kilkenny Hibernian Hotel runs a Saturday bottomless brunch with a classic cocktail, open-fire brunch plate, and 90 minutes of bottomless prosecco.

Billy Byrnes Gastro Bar ★ 3.9

john-street · 39 John Street Upper, Kilkenny, R95 K091

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.

Tip: Arts Festival dining spot from 7-17 August 2025; book ahead during festival weeks when the city fills rapidly.

Billy Byrnes Gastro Bar ★ 3.9

john-street · 39 John Street Upper, Kilkenny, R95 K091

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.

Tip: Featured in Kilkenny Arts Festival 2025 dining listings. Book ahead during festival weeks in August.

Cafe La Coco ★ 3.9

medieval-mile · Patrick Street, Kilkenny

Cafe La Coco uses locally roasted Kilkenny coffee in small batches with a rotating guest Irish artisan roaster selection alongside the house espresso blend.

Kyteler's Inn ★ 3.8

medieval-mile · St Kieran's Street, Kilkenny

Kyteler's Inn on St Kieran's Street connects to Kilkenny's 1324 distillation records. Food served noon to 21:00 daily alongside 90 built Irish whiskeys.

Tip: Traditional music from 20:00 Monday through Thursday, 18:30 and 22:00 on Fridays and weekends. Groups should book ahead.

Kyteler's Inn ★ 3.8

medieval-mile · St Kieran's Street, Kilkenny

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.

Tip: Food served noon to 21:00 seven days. Traditional music from 20:00 weeknights, two sessions at weekends. Book for groups.

Foodworks ★ 3.8

medieval-mile · 7 Parliament Street, Kilkenny, R95 X577

Foodworks on Parliament Street serves Irish specialty coffee as part of its farm-to-fork programme, poured from the same counter as its fresh sourdough.