Delicious food.
The service was a little slow, but they were pretty busy.
The restaurant is nice and warm and cozy.
Nicely decorated. Comfortable.
We ordered the mussels as an appetizer. It’s a very big portion. Not a bad deal for €14. They were delicious! The sauce was great. You could use the bread that they brought to the table to eat the sauce, but the bread fell apart easily.
We both ordered a glass of wine with our meals. I ordered the catch of the day, Sol. My husband ordered the spaghetti bolognese. Both were excellent. The fish was a little greasy. I would have preferred it to be grilled, or baked instead of fried. But it was good and I liked the steamed vegetables on the side. I tried the potatoes. Not my favorite way to prepare them, so I skipped them. I was full anyway. My husband loved his pasta. He used to order that everywhere we went. He stopped because it started to give him heartburn. But he saw that it was their most popular menu item, so he decided to try it. Sure enough, it was prepared perfectly and he had no issues at all. He really enjoyed it.
Altogether our meal was around €80. I like that they have Italians working there. It’s more likely to get authentic Italian food.
I would return again. But I hope they get some healthier options for the menu.
Italian · Kilkenny City Centre, Co. Kilkenny
Italian Connection Restaurant Kilkenny City Centre
Open now Closes at 22:00 4.5 on Google · 954 reviews
Opening hours
--:-- Irish time ·
| Monday | 12:00 – 22:00 |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 12:00 – 22:00 |
| Wednesday | 12:00 – 22:00 |
| Thursday today | 12:00 – 22:00 |
| Friday | 12:00 – 22:00 |
| Saturday | 12:00 – 22:00 |
| Sunday | 12:00 – 22:00 |
Hours from the venue's published listing, checked October 2026. Holiday hours may differ.
Full hours & directions38 Parliament St, Gardens, Kilkenny, R95 Y966
- CuisineItalian
- Price€€
- Phone+353 56 776 4225
- Nearest stationKilkenny MacDonagh Station · 740 m
- AccessWheelchair friendly
About Italian Connection
Italian Connection is an Italian restaurant on 38 Parliament St in Kilkenny City Centre, Co. Kilkenny. The kitchen leans Italian, so pasta, risotto and wood-fired favourites are the natural picks.
Smithwick's Brewery Experience is around 40 m away, so it pairs well with a visit there. Arriving by train? Kilkenny MacDonagh Station is 740 m away, about 9 minutes on foot. Kilkenny City Centre has 182 restaurants, cafés and takeaways in our guide, and this is one of them. It shares the spot with Von Sandwich, which is just next door.
According to the listing data we hold, it offers wheelchair access. It is listed as catering for vegetarian diets. It opens every day from noon to 10pm. Diners rate it 4.5/5 on Google across 954 reviews, with recent reviewers most often mentioning tasty food, atmosphere and busy at peak times.
Key facts
| Cuisine | Italian |
|---|---|
| Type | Restaurant |
| Price guide | €€ (mid-range) |
| Google rating | 4.5 / 5 from 954 reviews |
| Address | 38 Parliament St, Gardens, Kilkenny, R95 Y966 |
| Eircode | R95 Y966 |
| Phone | +353 56 776 4225 |
| Wheelchair access | Yes |
| Vegetarian options | Yes |
| Open | 7 days a week · 70 hours in total |
| Nearest station | Kilkenny MacDonagh Station (740 m) |
| Nearby landmark | Smithwick's Brewery Experience (40 m) |
| From Dublin city centre | 102 km |
| Coordinates | 52.65467, -7.25457 |
At a glance
Services & amenities at Italian Connection
Accessibility
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance
- Wheelchair-accessible seating
- Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Details as published on the venue's public business listing; they can change, so confirm anything essential with the restaurant.
Menu highlights
What to order at Italian Connection
-
€8
Bruschetta al Pomodoro
Toasted sourdough, vine tomatoes, garlic, basil, olive oil
-
€9
Arancini
Crispy saffron risotto balls with mozzarella and tomato sugo
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€13
Penne Arrabbiata
Tomato, garlic and chilli sauce
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€17.50
Lasagne della Casa
Layers of beef ragù, béchamel and parmesan
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€15.50
Antipasto Misto
Parma ham, salame, mortadella, olives, pecorino
-
€8
Tiramisù
Mascarpone, espresso-soaked savoiardi, cocoa
Typical dishes and approximate prices for this style of restaurant. The restaurant's own menu and prices may differ.
Estimated busy times
Usually busiest around 7pm on Thursdays.
Estimate based on opening hours and typical dining patterns for italian venues — not live data.
Good to know
- Today is — hours: 12:00 – 22:00
- Sunset in Kilkenny City Centre today: 19:06
- Best time for a quieter table: 5pm or after 9pm
- One of 182 places to eat in Kilkenny City Centre
Photos
Reviews
What recent reviewers mention most:
Tasty foodAtmosphereBusy at peak times
I visited Italian Connection on a Monday evening with two of my siblings. The restaurant was busy and had a nice atmosphere. We were shown to our table. The customer service was excellent. All three of our dishes were served nicely presented and smelt delicious. All the food was well cooked and served hot. We had a really enjoyable meal at Italian Connection.
Wonderful meal. We were there on a Monday early but delighted to see more tables filling up as we left.
Quality and quantity of the food were excellent. Delicious.
Been to Italian Connection? Add your own honest review to help other diners decide.
Write the first reviewQuestions & answers
Where is Italian Connection?
Italian Connection is located at 38 Parliament St, Gardens, Kilkenny, R95 Y966. Use the map buttons above to open turn-by-turn directions in Google Maps, Apple Maps or Waze.
Is Italian Connection open on Sunday?
Yes. On Sundays the listed hours are 12:00 – 22:00.
What time does Italian Connection close tonight?
It is open right now and closes at 22:00 (Irish time).
Is Italian Connection wheelchair accessible?
Yes, the venue is recorded as wheelchair accessible.
What other restaurants are near Italian Connection?
The closest alternatives are Von Sandwich (20 m), La Rivista (20 m) and Baked By Italian (30 m).
How is Italian Connection rated?
Italian Connection has a rating of 4.5 out of 5 on Google, based on 954 public reviews. Reviewers often mention tasty food, atmosphere and busy at peak times.
What is the nearest train station?
Kilkenny MacDonagh Station is about 740 m away, roughly 9 minutes on foot.
Close by
