The Final Draft > The Best Beer Gardens in Kilkenny Summer 2025
The Best Beer Gardens in Kilkenny Summer 2025
Kilkenny’s summertime vibes are always fantastic - from families having picnics in the parklands surrounding the castle to kayakers and cruisers making their way down the Nore, there is nothing quite like Kilkenny in the sun.
But one of our favourite things about Kilkenny in summer is the bustling beer gardens, open again for the warm months and filled with people enjoying their pints al fresco. From riverside terraces to quirky courtyards, there is a broad selection of outdoor spots where you can sip under the sun. Here’s our rundown of Kilkenny’s best beer gardens for the summer.
Christy’s Beer Garden
Christy’s Bar, located in an area of Kilkenny known as ‘The Village,’ boasts one of Ireland’s largest beer gardens, and has even earned the title of ‘best outdoor space’ in Ireland’s Southeast. This is a lively spot that is always buzzing with energy, largely because they make it fantastic by hosting summer barbecues, featuring DJs and live music, and drawing large crowds who want to sit outside and watch sports. It's got generous seating and a retractable roof for those days when the Irish weather refuses to play nice, making it an ideal spot for groups looking to sip Smithwick’s or a craft beer outdoors whether under the sun, or in the rain!
Kyteler’s Courtyard
The Courtyard at Kytelers is a gorgeous suntrap courtyard that has been wonderfully kitted out and modernised. Punters can enjoy a full food and drink service, live music sessions, wide screen TVs for when the football’s on, and heaters as well as a roof if it's needed! It’s also just a 2-minute walk from the Smithwick’s Experience.
What’s extra interesting about this beer garden is its connection to our brewery. The courtyard features the freshwater wells that once provided St. Francis Brewery with the water to make the original Smithwick’s Beer.
The Barrel Yard
Want something even quicker to get to once you’ve finished our Smithwick’s Experience brewery tour for beer tasting? Grab a pint or two in the Barrel Yard, our very own summertime on-site beer garden that opens from May through to September.
The Barrel Yard used to be a repair and storage yard for wooden barrels, before they were filled with our ale and sent out to pubs all over the country. Now, it’s one of the busiest and best beer gardens and live music venues in the city. Check out the Barrel Yard Sessions, running all summer and featuring a host of great bands.
Sullivan’s Taproom
This lovely spot-on John Street is a modern, sleek, and bright addition to Kilkenny’s burgeoning beer garden scene. They've nailed a lovely summer vibe with a beer garden that features colourful beach huts that can fit up to six people.
Known for its craft beers, this spot pairs its own in-house pints with some great handmade pizza and is both dog and family-friendly (at least, during the day). It’s got heating and a temporary roof so that even on the cooler, wetter days we get here, you can enjoy a little outdoor refreshment, but this place really comes into its own when the sun is shining.
Bridie’s Garden
Langton’s hotel is a fabulous little spot in the city that has created a beautiful outdoor space that feels like a hidden gem. At the back of the iconic Bridie’s bar and shop, you’ll find Bridie’s Garden. It’s an idyllic walled garden, dotted with old-fashioned bus shelters that have been repurposed to provide shelter, so you can enjoy a drink outside even if the weather gets a bit Irish! You’ll feel like you have wandered into a secret garden where you can truly relax and enjoy a drink away from the
hustle and bustle of the busy city.
The Riverview Terrace
Perched along the River Nore, the lovely Terrace Bar at the Kilkenny River Court Hotel offers a serene outdoor escape that’s a little fancier than many of the other beer gardens in the city. You’ll enjoy some of the city’s best views of the castle and the river while you enjoy a delicious cocktail or a bite to eat.
This recently revamped spot makes for an elegant outdoor afternoon and is ideal for those who want a refined, relaxed experience.
Billy Byrnes Bar
Billy Byrnes on John Street has transformed its beer garden into a quirky beach-bar style oasis that will make you feel like you’ve landed at a surf camp, even though you’re right in Kilkenny’s heart. This is an eclectic and spacious spot, beloved for its laid-back charm, local brews, and lovely pub grub.
It’s perfect for casual summer evenings, and you’ll find it packed with people on most days, particularly when the sun is shining. Don’t miss the double-decker bus, which plays host to the Back Street Bistro during the week.