Kilkenny Food Brewery Tour: Medieval Streets Tastings

Smithwicks ale is brewed in the heart of the town you're walking through.

A guided food and brewery tour through Kilkenny's medieval streets and alleys, lasting three hours, with a local guide leading you to tastings of Irish cheese, sausage rolls, Smithwicks ale, handmade chocolates, local seafood or chowder, and Irish Coffee at Butler House. Children from age 4 are welcome. The tour includes pre-booked tastings, snacks, and the Smithwicks Brewery Experience.

The experience

Kilkenny's medieval layout (narrow streets and hidden alleys lined with colorful pubs and historic buildings) is built for wandering, and this tour uses that geography to move between stops without feeling rushed. A local guide leads the way, uncovering stories about Norman kings, monks, the fighting cats of Kilkenny's coat of arms, and the feudal history written into the town's architecture. The route is designed around food and drink, so you're not standing still listening. You're moving through the town and tasting as you go.

The tastings start with an award-winning Irish cheese platter at an authentic pub, then move into the streets for warm sausage rolls eaten while walking. The Smithwicks Brewery Experience is the centerpiece. The ale has been brewed in Kilkenny since it's one of Ireland's oldest breweries, and tasting it in the town where it's made changes what you're drinking. Between stops you'll visit a local chocolatier for handmade creamy chocolates, then settle into a light bite of local seafood or chowder at a popular Kilkenny spot. The tour ends at the 18th-century Butler House with an Irish Coffee, a chance to sit and absorb what you've learned about the town before heading back out.

The three-hour pace keeps the experience manageable without cutting corners on the tastings or the stories. Public transportation options are available nearby if you need to get to the starting point. Children from age 4 can join, though the tour involves walking the full route through the medieval streets.

What’s included

• Pre-booked tastings at each stop.
• Irish cheese platter at an authentic pub.
• warm sausage rolls eaten while walking through the streets.
• Smithwicks ale tasting from the historic brewery.
• handmade chocolates from the local chocolatier.
• light bite of local seafood or chowder.
• Irish Coffee at the 18th-century Butler House.
• the Smithwicks Brewery Experience.
• a local, knowledgeable guide in English throughout.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to SaturdayDeparts at 11:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Youth (14 to 17 years) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Under 4: can't be booked

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Bonner Travel

Is this one for you?This tour works best for small groups or individuals who want to learn Kilkenny's history while eating and drinking your way through it, rather than standing in one spot for a lecture. The three-hour walk keeps the pace steady and the tastings frequent, so you're never far from the next stop.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (14 to 17 years); Child (4 to 12 years). Children under 4 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the clash of the ash that the guide mentions in Kilkenny?

The clash of the ash is a reference to hurling, the traditional Irish sport played with wooden sticks called hurleys (made of ash wood). Kilkenny is one of Ireland's most famous hurling counties, and the guide weaves this sporting heritage into the town's story as you walk.

Does the tour include a visit inside the Smithwicks Brewery?

The Smithwicks Brewery Experience is included, which gives you access to tastings of the ale brewed at the historic brewery in the heart of Kilkenny town, though the exact scope of the brewery visit itself is arranged as part of the tour's itinerary.

How much walking is involved in the three hours?

The tour moves through Kilkenny's medieval streets and alleys between each tasting stop, so you're walking the whole time rather than standing in one place. The route covers the town's main areas, and you should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness to complete it comfortably.

Can I do this tour if I'm vegan?

The tour's tastings center on Irish cheese, sausage rolls, seafood or chowder, and handmade chocolates, so it is not recommended for vegan travelers. The menu is built around local animal products that are central to Kilkenny's food culture.

What time of day does the tour run?

The tour lasts three hours, though the specific departure time is arranged when you book. Public transportation options are available nearby to reach the starting point.