Kitty Hoyne's Irish Pub & Restaurant

The Place

Kitty Hoyne’s has been an Armory Square staple since July 1999, when David Hoyne and his wife Cindy opened the doors in the historic Crown Building on the corner of West Fayette and Franklin. The pub is named after David’s mother, Catherine “Kitty” Hoyne, and the family’s roots in the hospitality trade run deep. David grew up in Thomastown, County Kilkenny, Ireland, helping his father Michael run the family business — Wm. Hoyne & Sons, Ltd., a pub, grocery, hardware store, and undertaking operation dating back to 1920. Look around the restaurant and you’ll spot bric-a-brac brought over from Ireland: stained glass doors from Kavanagh’s Pub, old clay jars from the family shop, and road signs from back home.

The Food

Chef Damien Brownlow runs the kitchen with a focus on freshness, seasonality, and locally sourced ingredients, all scratch-made. The menu goes well beyond standard pub fare. The Reuben Fritters — handmade corned beef balls with Swiss, cream cheese, sauerkraut, and Guinness whole grain honey mustard — were a hit when Guy Fieri visited for Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. He came back a second time to feature the lamb sliders and Kilkenny potato cakes. Other standouts include the Irish meatloaf with cabbage cream sauce and champ potatoes, the French Onion Stout soup made with Guinness and four kinds of onions, black pudding stuffed chicken, pan-seared crab cakes, and the Guinness Poutine topped with NY cheese curds and Guinness onion gravy. The corned beef Reuben and Irish whiskey smoked salmon sandwich are lunch staples.

Worth Knowing

The bar program is just as serious as the kitchen. Kitty Hoyne’s is home to the largest selection of Irish whiskey in Upstate New York, with pairings to match. The Guinness is poured properly, the draft list is solid, and the cocktail menu leans into Irish spirits. Live Irish and Celtic music is a regular feature. Reservations are available via Tock at exploretock.com/kittyhoynes; bar seating is available for walk-ins. It’s the kind of place where families come for dinner, friends come for pints, and everyone stays longer than planned.