- Overall (Best Restaurant): Sha-Roe Bistro, Clonegal: A multi-award-winning fine dining bistro in the picturesque village of Clonegal, run by chef/owner Henry Stone and his wife Stephanie. Renowned for exceptional gastronomy, innovative use of local ingredients, and consistent accolades (including past Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition), it’s a standout destination for refined, high-quality dining.
- Café: Rachel’s Garden Café at Arboretum (Leighlinbridge) A charming garden café set within the Arboretum home and garden center in Leighlinbridge. It specializes in freshly baked goods, homemade delights (like bread from scratch), hearty main courses, roasts, and seasonal menus, offering a welcoming spot for breakfast, lunch, or treats amid beautiful surroundings.
- Casual Dining: Waterlilies Café Tullow Market Square: A neighborhood artisan bakery and café in Tullow’s Market Square, focusing on freshly baked sourdough breads, pastries, breakfast and lunch options, and speciality coffee. It emphasizes local, seasonal, and organic ingredients in a relaxed, community-oriented setting with a second location in Carlow town.
- Chef: Alan Foley, The Cellar Restaurant at Step House Hotel, Borris: An accomplished and multi-award-winning executive chef at The Step House Hotel. Known for his passionate advocacy of Carlow’s local food heritage, he creates upbeat, classic dishes using the finest seasonal and artisan ingredients from nearby producers in an elegant dining environment.
- Contemporary Irish Cuisine: The Cellar Restaurant at Step House Hotel (Borris): The multi-award-winning fine dining venue at The Step House Hotel, set in the atmospheric old kitchens with vaulted ceilings and archways. It offers elegant, classical dining featuring contemporary Irish cuisine rooted in local, organic, and seasonal produce for an intimate and memorable experience.
- Customer Service: Lennons @ Visual, Carlow town: An award-winning restaurant and café located on the lower ground floor of the VISUAL Centre for Contemporary Art in Carlow town. Housed in a cultural venue, it provides casual dining with excellent service, drawing on its long history (since 1999) for a welcoming and highly regarded customer experience.
- Employee Excellence Award: Courtney Burke, Goodly Barrow, Goresbridge: Courtney Burke was recognized for outstanding employee performance at Goodly Barrow, a museum and café in Goresbridge (opened in 2021). This award highlights her exceptional dedication, likely praised by customers and nominators for her contributions to the venue’s welcoming atmosphere and service.
- Gastro Pub: Conway’s Bar & Restaurant, Kildavin: A family-run gastro pub and restaurant in Kildavin, at the foot of Mount Leinster and near the South Leinster Way walking route. It serves delicious, freshly prepared homemade food daily (lunch and evening), in a warm, community-focused setting with a reputation for quality pub dining and events.
- Hotel and Guesthouse Restaurant: The Cellar Restaurant at Step House Hotel, Borris: The acclaimed fine-dining venue at the boutique Step House Hotel, set in the atmospheric vaulted cellars of a historic building. It delivers elegant contemporary Irish cuisine using seasonal, local, and artisan ingredients, with a longstanding reputation for excellence (including past Leinster and Carlow awards for hotel restaurant and chef Alan Foley).
- Innovator of the Year: The Green Lemon Cafe and Bakery, Rathvilly: A charming, family-run café and bakery in picturesque Rathvilly, celebrated for creative approaches to daytime dining, fresh baking, and innovative menu offerings. It stands out for its broad, quality-focused selections and fresh take on café experiences in a welcoming setting.
- Local Food Hero: John Whelan, The Devils Menu, Tinnahinch: Chef John Whelan, owner of The Devils Menu (a boutique chef’s table and cookery school experience in his home kitchen near Graiguenamanagh/Tinnahinch area). Recognized as a passionate advocate for local ingredients and modern Irish cuisine with classical roots, known for immersive, playful gourmet dining and prior accolades like Best Restaurant in Ireland.
- Newcomer: Brew Stop Café, Hacketstown: A recently opened, independent café on Main Street in Hacketstown, offering a warm community spot with top-notch coffee, brunch menus (served certain days), hearty breakfast/lunch options, and sweet treats. It operates seven days a week and has quickly gained praise for its friendly service and quality food.
- Pub of the Year: Tully’s Bar Carlow: A hugely popular, longstanding pub in Carlow town, honored for its outstanding hospitality, atmosphere, and pub dining. It consistently excels in community vibe, drinks, and food offerings, earning repeated recognition as a top pub destination in the county.
- Restaurant Manager: Maya Dzianach, Pimento, Carlow: The restaurant manager at Pimento, a tapas and world cuisine spot in Carlow town. She was recognized for exceptional leadership, team management, and delivering outstanding front-of-house experiences, contributing to the venue’s multiple nominations and high customer satisfaction.
- Sustainable Practices: The Green Lemon Cafe and Bakery, Rathvilly: This Rathvilly café and bakery earned the award for its strong commitment to eco-friendly operations, including sustainable sourcing of ingredients, waste reduction, and environmentally conscious practices in daily café and bakery management.
- Use of Social Media: Mullichain Café, Saint Mullins: A delightful riverside café on the banks of the River Barrow in scenic Saint Mullins, providing snacks, meals, and waitress service with indoor/outdoor seating. It was highlighted for its effective and engaging social media presence that showcases its magical location, menu, and welcoming vibe to attract visitors.
- Wine Experience: Lord Bagenal Inn, Leighlinbridge: A multiple award-winning family-run hotel and restaurant on the River Barrow in Leighlinbridge, renowned for its extensive, high-quality wine list (with past accolades from Wine Spectator and others). It offers an exceptional wine selection paired with contemporary Irish and international cuisine in a beautiful heritage setting.
- World Cuisine: Pimento, Carlow: A vibrant tapas-style restaurant in Carlow town specializing in global flavors and world-inspired dishes. It stands out for its creative international menu, passionate team, and high standards, earning praise for bringing diverse world cuisine to the local scene.
Restaurant awards
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow – Overall – County winners – Good Food Ireland – Michelin Star
Dining
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow
2026 Irish Restaurant awards by county:
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow
2025 Irish Restaurant awards by county:
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow
2024 Irish Restaurant awards by county:
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow
Ireland’s County Carlow:
Carlow combines historic landmarks with serene landscapes, with the Carlow Castle ruins and the nearby Altamont Gardens offering a mix of medieval and botanical appeal. The Barrow Way provides scenic riverside walks, while the Brownshill Dolmen, a prehistoric portal tomb, adds ancient history. Carlow is Ireland’s second smallest county by size (896 square km) and third smallest by population (61,968). Population peaked at 86,228 in 1841 and reached its lowest point, 33,342 in 1961.In terms of hospitality, Carlow is Ireland’s 23rd most visited tourist county with around 68,000 international visitors per year.
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