Cocktails with a soundtrack: the Kilkenny bars where bands, DJs or jazz are part of the night.
Last checked 14 November 2026. No bar paid to be included.
Swipe to see all 7 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 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
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
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)
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
Tap a pin for the bar. Numbers match the list.
Start with The Dylan Whisky Bar, Biddy Early's, Kyteler's Inn, Langton's and Matt the Millers. Our full list has 7 bars.
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.
We use cookies to see how people use the site and to show you relevant ads. Nothing is set unless you say yes. Cookie policy