Kilkenny is a small city, so its best bars are a few minutes apart: along High Street, Parliament Street and the medieval lanes on one side of the River Nore and John Street on the other. This guide covers 16 of them. Cocktail bars come first, from an award-winning hotel bar to a whiskey bar with more than 200 bottles, then the old pubs, trad sessions and craft beer that Kilkenny is famous for, with our top picks, a map and a walking route.
Last checked 14 November 2026. No bar paid to be included.
If you only have one night, start here.
Best City Bar in Leinster 2026.
The Medieval MileMore than 200 whiskeys and live music.
John StreetA huge whiskey list with smokehouse food.
The Medieval MileAn award-winning bar in an old bank.
The Medieval MileCocktails in a medieval lane.
The Medieval MileCocktails and a terraced garden.
John StreetKilkenny's party bar since 1996.
John StreetA witch's inn with its own red ale.
The Medieval MileWine and a terrace below the castle.
The Medieval MileGigs and whiskey on John Street.
John StreetTap a pin for the bar. Numbers match the list.
The old city between Kilkenny Castle and St Canice's Cathedral: High Street, Parliament Street, The Parade and the narrow slips and lanes between them.
Swipe to see all 11 bars →
Hotel cocktail bar
Best City Bar in Leinster, Irish Bar and Cocktail Awards 2026
The bar at the Hibernian Hotel, in a handsome old building in the city centre. In June 2026 it was named Best City Bar in Leinster at the Irish Bar and Cocktail Awards.
📍 Hibernian Hotel, 1 Ormonde Street, Kilkenny
Hotel cocktail bar
The bar at the Zuni boutique hotel on Patrick Street, with a seasonal cocktail list using Irish spirits. A good pick for a drink before dinner.
📍 26 Patrick Street, Kilkenny
Whiskey bar and smokehouse
A family-run bar on High Street with one of the largest whiskey selections in the south east of Ireland and a smokehouse food menu to go with it.
📍 92 High Street, Kilkenny
Bar in a former bank
Best bar in Ireland and best designed bar, Sky Bar of the Year awards
A big bar in the old Bank of Ireland building on The Parade. It was once named the best bar in Ireland and the best designed bar at the Sky Bar of the Year awards.
📍 The Parade, Kilkenny
Restaurant and bar
Tucked into a medieval building on Butter Slip Lane, one of Kilkenny's narrow old alleyways, with seasonal cocktails and natural wines.
📍 Butter Slip Lane, Kilkenny
🕒 Fri and Sat noon to 3pm (OpenStreetMap; check before you go)
Historic inn
Named after Dame Alice Kyteler, its first owner, who was accused of witchcraft. Order The Witches Brew, its own Irish red ale, or one of its own-label whiskeys.
📍 St Kieran's Street, Kilkenny
Wine bar and restaurant
A French-inspired wine bar and restaurant on The Parade, looking up to the castle, with a covered terrace that is one of the best outdoor seats in town.
📍 2 The Parade, Kilkenny
Bar
A lively bar with two-for-one deals on its specialty drinks and Sip and Paint nights.
📍 Parliament Street, Kilkenny
Traditional pub
A traditional pub, a Fodor's Choice and one of The Guardian's six best traditional pubs in Ireland.
📍 2 John's Bridge, Kilkenny
Pub and theatre
A pub on Parliament Street with a 100-seat theatre at the back, Monday night trad sessions, poetry readings and plays.
📍 22 Parliament Street, Kilkenny
Historic pub
Formerly the Castle Tavern, this High Street pub dates from 1620 and keeps its old-world feel, with traditional music sessions. Fodor's names it among the ten best pubs in Ireland.
📍 High Street, Kilkenny
Across the bridge over the River Nore, John Street is Kilkenny's late-night strip, with party bars, music bars and hotel bars side by side.
Swipe to see all 5 bars →
Whiskey and cocktail bar
Kilkenny's whiskey specialist, with more than 200 premium whiskeys behind the bar and regular tasting sessions. It doubles as a cocktail bar and live music venue, so it works for a nightcap or a full night.
📍 John Street, Kilkenny
Cocktail bar
Known locally for its cocktails, with a terraced garden out the back for warmer evenings.
📍 John Street, Kilkenny
Cocktail and party bar
Kilkenny's party bar since 1996, on John Street in the heart of the nightlife. There is a cocktail terrace, karaoke, live bands and DJ sets, plus private cocktail classes and whiskey masterclasses.
📍 6 John Street, Kilkenny
Hotel bars
A Kilkenny institution on John Street. The hotel's bars are known for big-name gigs and shows. The hotel is a member of the Kilkenny Whiskey Guild.
📍 John Street, Kilkenny
Bar
A big riverside bar at the start of John Street with DJ sets and traditional Irish music.
📍 1 John Street, Kilkenny
🕒 Mon and Thu to Sat 9.30am to 2am (OpenStreetMap; check before you go)
One route in walking order, with the time between each bar. See them all on a map.
8 bars · about 21 minutes on foot in total
Start with Hibernian Bar and The Dylan Whisky Bar, then Paris Texas Bar & Smokehouse. Our top 10 above covers the rest.
High Street and The Parade for cocktails and whiskey, then cross the river to John Street for later nights.
Yes. The Dylan has more than 200 whiskeys, Paris Texas has one of the biggest lists in the south east and the Kilkenny Whiskey Guild runs events with pubs across the city.
Yes. The whole city centre is walkable. John Street is just over the bridge from The Parade.
Not yet. Our nearest are Dublin Cocktail Week and Cork Cocktail Week.
This guide is written by the team at M.AD Agency. We run Cocktail Week, the ten-day cocktail festival held town by town across the UK and Ireland, including Dublin and Cork. Since 2022 we have taken it to more than 20 towns and cities and worked with hundreds of bars. We put this guide together from our own research and trusted local guides, including Visit Kilkenny.
No bar paid to be included and nobody can buy a place. We check the guide regularly as bars open, change and close.
Our nearest Cocktail Weeks
Run a bar in Kilkenny that should be here? Get in touch at hello@cocktail-week.com and tell us about it.
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