Paris Texas Bar & Smokehouse
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
Fun bars for groups: 8 bars
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Left Bank
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
Biddy Early's
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
Kyteler's Inn
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
Langton's
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
McSorley's
Bar
A lively bar with two-for-one deals on its specialty drinks and Sip and Paint nights.
📍 Parliament Street, Kilkenny
Matt the Millers
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)
John Cleere's
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
Map: fun bars for groups
Tap a pin for the bar. Numbers match the list.
Your questions
What are the best bars for groups in Kilkenny?
Start with Paris Texas Bar & Smokehouse, Left Bank, Biddy Early's, Kyteler's Inn and Langton's. Our full list has 8 bars.
More Kilkenny bar guides
- Cocktail barsCocktail bars in Kilkenny: Hibernian Bar, The Dylan Whisky Bar, Bridie's Bar and Biddy Ear
- Date nightDate night bars in Kilkenny: Hibernian Bar, Petronella, Bridie's Bar and Rive Gauche and m
- Live musicLive music bars in Kilkenny: The Dylan Whisky Bar, Biddy Early's, Kyteler's Inn and Langto
- Whisky, gin and agaveWhisky, gin and agave bars in Kilkenny: The Dylan Whisky Bar, Paris Texas Bar & Smokehouse
- Cocktails and foodCocktails and food bars in Kilkenny: Paris Texas Bar & Smokehouse, Petronella, Rive Gauche
- Pubs and beer barsPubs and beer bars in Kilkenny: Kyteler's Inn, Tynan's Bridge House, John Cleere's and The
- Late nightLate night bars in Kilkenny: Left Bank, Biddy Early's and Matt the Millers.
- Cocktail trailA ready-made Kilkenny cocktail trail on foot: The Medieval Mile to John Street, with walki
Who wrote this guide
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
Want your bar in this guide?
Run a bar in Kilkenny that should be here? Get in touch at hello@cocktail-week.com and tell us about it.