26 St. Patrick Street, Kilkenny

Tel: (056) 772 3999 , zuni.ie

Every bit as smart as its parent boutique hotel and located in the heart of the Marble City’s medieval centre, Zuni’s never fails to impress with its contemporary Irish cooking and inspired cocktail-list, which includes an extremely decadent Espressotini. The lengthy list of food suppliers at the bottom of the menu underlines their love of seasonal Irish produce.

Best Dish: Pan-Fried Hake with Saffron Gratin, Green Beans, Samphire, Tempura Prawns & Salsa Verdi – €25