Rive Gauche is a french-irish restaurant in Medieval Mile, Kilkenny.
Rive Gauche on The Parade pairs French-inflected cooking with seasonal Irish produce in an exposed-brick room facing the castle gates on The Parade.
Signature dishes: Seasonal sharing plates
Must order: Seasonal sharing plates; the wine list leans natural and European with strong by-the-glass options.
Tip: Open from 17:00 weekdays and noon at weekends. The covered terrace is the best outdoor seat in the city centre.
Address: 2 The Parade, Kilkenny
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.
Signature: Smoked brisket, Pulled pork, Jambalaya
Order: Smoked brisket or the mixed grill with ribs and pulled pork; the jambalaya is a cut above pub-food norms.
Tip: National Irish Pub of the Year and Whiskey Specialist. Walk-in only on bank holidays and festival weekends.
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, Spit-roast pork
Order: Pulled pork benedict at brunch; spit-roast free-range pork at lunch is the weekly farm highlight.
Tip: Closed Monday and Tuesday. Brunch from 08:30 Wednesday through Sunday; evening service Wednesday through Saturday.
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.
Signature: Crispy duck salad, Miso black cod, Shepherd's pie
Order: Crispy duck salad to start, miso black cod or signature shepherd's pie for mains, Sicilian lemon tart to close.
Tip: Reserve the six-seat Table Six counter for the chef-led tasting; standard dining runs Wednesday through Saturday evenings only.
Kyteler's Inn on St Kieran's Street connects to Kilkenny's 1324 distillation records. Food served noon to 21:00 daily alongside 90 curated Irish whiskeys.
Signature: Irish stew, Traditional pub fare
Order: Traditional Irish stew or beef and Guinness pie; the Kyteler's own-brand Irish whiskey is worth a glass.
Tip: Traditional music from 20:00 Monday through Thursday, 18:30 and 22:00 on Fridays and weekends. Groups should book ahead.
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: Seafood chowder, Baileys brown bread gateau
Order: The hearty seafood chowder or the Baileys and brown bread gateau dessert. The Guinness pour is precise.
Tip: Live music starts at 21:00 every night. Food runs until 21:00; arrive before 20:30 to eat without rushing.
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.
Signature: Smoked brisket, Pulled pork, Jambalaya
Order: Smoked brisket or the mixed grill with ribs and pulled pork; the jambalaya is a cut above pub-food norms.
Tip: National Irish Pub of the Year and Whiskey Specialist. Walk-in only on bank holidays and festival weekends.
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, Spit-roast pork
Order: Pulled pork benedict at brunch; spit-roast free-range pork at lunch is the weekly farm highlight.
Tip: Closed Monday and Tuesday. Brunch from 08:30 Wednesday through Sunday; evening service Wednesday through Saturday.
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.
Signature: Kilkenny Red Ale beef pie, Traditional Irish stew
Order: Kilkenny Red Ale beef pie; traditional Irish stew with brown bread.
Tip: Food served noon to 20:30 daily. Live music every night. The bar stays open until 02:30 Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
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.
Signature: Crispy duck salad, Miso black cod, Shepherd's pie
Order: Crispy duck salad to start, miso black cod or signature shepherd's pie for mains, Sicilian lemon tart to close.
Tip: Reserve the six-seat Table Six counter for the chef-led tasting; standard dining runs Wednesday through Saturday evenings only.
Kyteler's Inn on St Kieran's Street connects to Kilkenny's 1324 distillation records. Food served noon to 21:00 daily alongside 90 curated Irish whiskeys.
Signature: Irish stew, Traditional pub fare
Order: Traditional Irish stew or beef and Guinness pie; the Kyteler's own-brand Irish whiskey is worth a glass.
Tip: Traditional music from 20:00 Monday through Thursday, 18:30 and 22:00 on Fridays and weekends. Groups should book ahead.
