Right so to make this easy let’s head back to where we started. We are at the Left Bank pub and this time we are heading down Rose Street and on over the bridge to John Street.
The first pub we come to is An Poc Fada, a sports bar and live music venue that dishes up some decent grub. The beef and Guinness stew was tasty and the pints of stout were solid enough.
A short stroll onwards and you come to Syd Harkins which is also on the left-hand side of the road. A lovely spot that is a lot bigger on the inside than it looks from the outside. It has a really nice homely/cosy feel to it. We sat down the back beside the stove which was lovely and toasty. The place is so homely, the aul lad sitting next to us was decked out with his paper, a pint of stout and the remote for the telly 🙂 This is a really nice spot and the Guinness is good as well.
Again just a short trip down the road you will come to Lanigans. This is a grand spot for stags and hens. When we stopped in it was quiet enough, just a few older lads in having a chinwag and a pint. As soon as the band came on the place started to fill up and there was plenty of heads-up dancing. We dropped in to catch some of the darts and ended up staying a little longer.
Before we get to the next pub, we are taking a pit stop at D & R Antiques. We popped in mid session and bagged ourselves a cracking Guinness jug. They have all sorts in there including plenty of Guinness bits and pieces. Worth sticking the head in for a gander.
The final spot we come to just before crossing the bridge and over to John Street is Tynans. Established in 1703 it is one of Kilkenny’s oldest pubs. I felt like I was in an episode of Only Fools and Horses when I dropped in. Don’t ask me why. Maybe it was the decor and the Christmas gear up or maybe it was a day’s worth of drinking taking effect. As you walk in you have an area of seats and tables, as you move further down there is more seating as well as some seats running along the wall. We sat down the back which was handy for the bar and the toilets. The service was lightning quick even though the place was fairly packed and the pints they were dishing up were absolute belters.
On over the bridge and you land at the door of Matt the Millers. This is a very popular spot. Another that would be a definite stop off for hens and stags. Live music every night, ranging from traditional Irish music, DJs and more. It’s a bar and restaurant so if you are feeling peckish you can get something in here. The Guinness was decent enough on our stop-off but not the best in town or on this street. It’s a cool spot with several floors and a good spot to go with a group.
As you walk further down John Street, Dylan’s whiskey bar and Bloody Earlys will be on your left. A little Ric Flair strut and on the right you will land at The Front Room. This is an absolute cracker of a spot. Like the name says, it does feel like you are sitting in someone’s sitting room. There is a really nice feel to the place. You have some old records on part of the ceiling and other interesting bits and pieces knocking about the place. Alan was on the day we were in and he was an absolute gent and great to have a chinwag with. He gave us a few tips for our next excursion down this way and a tour of the beer garden which is absolutely sensational. If the weather is half decent on St. Pintricks Day, definitely head out. If you are reading this during a hotter time of the year the same applies 🙂 A brilliant pub dishing up absolutely belting pints of Guinness. We would recommend you pencil this one down on your list.
The next spot on the right-hand side is a short 1-2 min walk away. Bridies looks like a cafe from the front but there is a bar. It has a general store/cafe/gift shop to the front and a little sign in the window boasting the best stout in town. We stuck our heads in to see if we could get our paws on some creamy pints.
When you pass through the front part of Bridies and through the saloon-style doors, you are greeted by a hidden bar. It’s a cracking spot, upstairs houses another small bar. The beer garden out the back is pretty solid as well, with plenty of covered seating stretching back down the garden. The pints of Guinness may not be the best in town but they were bang on the button. No complaints from us. This is an interesting spot worth checking out.
There is a clutch of pubs beyond Bridies’s. We didn’t hit a few of these so we will keep this part brief. We did stop into Langtons, I have been here before. It’s a nice spot to go on a date. The food is good the Guinness wasn’t great though, unfortunately. It is popular with Hen Parties and they also have rooms if you need somewhere to stick your head down.
Sticking to the right-hand side of the street we reach Brogans next. Brogans has a cracking beer garden called Brogan’s Yard. It is also a good spot for the cocktail crew. Further down on the left we land at Breathnacks which is another decent spot for parties (Hen’s, Birthdays) Regular live music, DJs and a party room that’s available to book upstairs. Food wise you have burgers, artisan pizza, and some decent steak options.
Between Breathnachs and O’ Faolains, there’s a Paddy Power, perfect for your Cheltenham bets or general bets all year round. O’Faolains Bar Kilkenny is built on three levels around a 16th-century stone church. It’s one to check out for the architecture alone and it’s also a late bar, opening until around 2 am later in the week and at the weekend. It’s usually Wed – Sat but double check beforehand.
The Kilford Arms is next up. It’s a hotel with a large bar/lounge downstairs. The last time we were in, the pints were ok. The grub was pretty much the same, it was ok. It’s a nice place and it’s in a handy location.
Egans, JB Burkes, and O’Gormans bring us to the top of the street. Loads of options for you so you won’t go thirsty.
Our top pubs from parts 1 & 2
- Cleeres
- The Pumphouse
- The Front Room
Our top pints from parts 1 & 2
- Cleeres
- The Front Room
- Tynan’s
Nice grub options
- The Italian Connection
- Aroi Thai
- Paris Texas
Things to do
- Smithwicks Brewery
Plenty of great places to stay in the town as well. The Rivercourt Hotel, and The Pembroke are nice spots. A little outside the main town (10 min drive approx) there’s the Kilkenny boutique hotel. It is reasonably priced and Dore’s Bar which is part of the hotel dishes up really good pints of Guinness. We would dodge the food though.
The Smithwicks Brewery tour is something we would recommend you get stuck into. Grand bit of craic, reasonably priced and you get a couple of lovely pints at the end. The tour lasts around 30 minutes and once you’ve finished your post-tour pint or three you can pop into the store if ya fancy some Smithwicks gear. There are hats, t-shirts, jumpers, pint glasses and much more.
