Wine bars in Kilkenny. natural, classical, and the grower-focused rooms worth the cab fare.

Where to drink wine

Rive Gauche ★ 4.2

medieval-mileMon-Fri 17:00 onwards, Sat-Sun 12:00 onwards

Rive Gauche at 2 The Parade is Kilkenny's closest thing to a wine bar, with seasonal Irish plates and a well-chosen European list in a handsome brick room.

Signature pour: Curated European selection by the glass

Wine focus: European natural and classic wines

Food: Seasonal Irish sharing plates with French influence

2 The Parade, Kilkenny

Louie's Cafe and Wine Bar ★ 4.2

medieval-mileMon-Wed 09:00-17:00, Thu-Fri 09:00-23:30, Sat 10:00-23:30, Sun 10:00-22:00

Louie's on Patrick Street is a Parisian-inspired cafe bar with natural wines and small plates in a leather-banquette room near Kilkenny Castle.

Signature pour: Natural wine of the week by the glass

Wine focus: Natural and European wines by the glass

Food: Small plates Thursday through Saturday

3 Patrick Street, Kilkenny

Arán Artisan Bakery and Bistro ★ 4.3

barrack-streetMon, Wed-Thu 09:30-15:30; Fri-Sun 09:00-15:30; Tue closed

Arán on Barrack Street keeps a short but considered natural wine list to pair with its award-winning brunch and lunch menu in a genuine farm-bistro setting.

Signature pour: Natural wine from small Irish and European producers

Wine focus: Irish and European natural wines

Food: Seasonal brunch and lunch plates

8 Barrack Street, Kilkenny, R95 YF30

Ristorante Rinuccini ★ 4.4

medieval-mileMon-Sun lunch and dinner

Rinuccini at The Parade maintains one of Ireland's most serious Italian wine collections, a cellar of 12,000 bottles sourced directly from Italian vineyards.

Signature pour: House Brunello di Montalcino or Barolo by the glass

Wine focus: Italian wines, cellar of over 12,000 bottles

Food: Full Italian dining menu

1 The Parade, Kilkenny, R95 XKR7

Campagne ★ 4.8

medieval-mileWed-Sat dinner, Fri-Sat lunch

Campagne's wine list matches its Michelin kitchen, a curated French and European selection chosen by sommelier Brid Hannon for each tasting-menu course.

Signature pour: Sommelier-selected pairing with the tasting menu

Wine focus: Classic French and European fine wine

Food: Full Michelin-starred tasting menu

Gashouse Lane, Kilkenny

Zuni ★ 4.1

medieval-mileDaily breakfast from 08:00, lunch from 12:30, dinner from 17:00

Zuni on Patrick Street keeps a well-curated wine list with genuine sommelier attention, matching the modern Irish kitchen's seasonal produce course by course.

Signature pour: Seasonal wine pairing with the dinner menu

Wine focus: Modern Irish and European wines

Food: Full modern Irish dining menu

26 Patrick Street, Kilkenny

The Grapevine Wine and Tapas Bar ★ 4.1

medieval-mileMon-Wed and Sun 17:00-22:00, Thu 17:00-23:00, Fri-Sat 12:30 until late

The Grapevine on Rose Inn Street is a long narrow tapas room near Kilkenny Castle, the wine list curated with Le Caveau and weighted toward small Spanish producers.

Signature pour: Spanish reds from the Light, Juicy and Full Opulent style sections, by the glass from approximately €6.65

Wine focus: Spanish and small-producer European wines supplied by Le Caveau, organised by style with bottles from approximately €25

Food: Spanish tapas, paella for two, antipasti boards and bruschetta

6 Rose Inn Street, Kilkenny, R95 DH59

Kyteler's Inn Whiskey Bar ★ 4.0

medieval-mileMon-Sat 12:00-00:30, Sun 12:00-23:30

Kyteler's Inn on St Kieran's Street is a whiskey bar with over 90 Irish expressions curated by JD Flynn, no Scotch or Bourbon, in a medieval setting.

Signature pour: Kyteler's own-brand single malt Irish whiskey

Wine focus: Irish whiskey, 90+ expressions curated by JD Flynn

Food: Full Irish pub food menu

St Kieran's Street, Kilkenny
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