Kilkenny’s medieval streets are packed with places to eat, from Michelin-starred fine dining to cosy neighbourhood spots. To help you find somewhere that fits the occasion, here’s a list of some of the best restaurants in Kilkenny, each bringing its own style to the table.
1. Campagne
Kilkenny’s only Michelin-starred restaurant, Campagne has been serving elegant, French-inspired modern cuisine since chef Garrett Byrne returned to his home city to open it in 2008. Set under the old railway arches near John’s Street, the restaurant pairs a comfortable, refined dining room with a menu built around classic French technique and the best of local, seasonal Irish produce.
Best For: A special-occasion, fine-dining experience from one of Ireland’s most respected chefs.
📍 Gashouse Lane, Kilkenny 🌐 campagne.ie
2. Petronella
Housed in a genuinely medieval building on Butterslip Lane — with beams and stone walls dating back to the 1600s — Petronella serves modern European cuisine rooted in traditional Irish values. Named after Petronella de Meath, a figure from Kilkenny’s history, it positions itself as a neighbourhood restaurant: somewhere locals and visitors alike can drop in any day of the week.
Best For: Diners wanting genuine medieval atmosphere alongside a modern European menu.
📞 056 776 1899 📍 Butterslip Lane, Kilkenny, R95 A030 🌐 petronella.ie
3. Statham’s by Pembroke Kilkenny
Based inside the Pembroke Kilkenny hotel on Patrick Street, Statham’s has built a strong reputation for farm-to-fork dining, working with named local producers including Ging Family Farm, Riversfield Farm and Kish Fish. Led by Executive Chef Ken Harker (formerly of the Michelin-starred Lady Helen restaurant at Mount Juliet), the restaurant covers everything from breakfast and brunch through to dinner and special occasions, and has picked up multiple Irish Restaurant Awards nominations and wins.
Best For: All-day dining with a genuine focus on local, seasonal Kilkenny produce.
📞 056 778 3500 📍 11 Patrick Street, Kilkenny, R95 VNP4 🌐 pembrokekilkenny.com/eat-and-drink
4. Rive Gauche
Rive Gauche brings a French kitchen-and-cocktails feel to Kilkenny city, blending Left Bank Parisian style with an Irish passion for the best local produce from land and sea. Centrally located on The Parade, it’s popular for both relaxed dinners and cocktails, and is well reviewed on Tripadvisor for its atmosphere and food.
Best For: A stylish French-inspired dinner or cocktails in the heart of the city.
📞 056 777 5604 📍 No. 2 The Parade, Kilkenny 🌐 rivegauche.ie
These restaurants each bring a different strength to the table, whether it’s Michelin-starred fine dining, genuine medieval surroundings, farm-to-fork produce, or French-inspired cocktails and cuisine. Whatever the occasion, Kilkenny has a table to suit it.