- Overall (Best Restaurant): Square Restaurant (Dundalk). A bijou fine-dining restaurant in Dundalk town centre, acclaimed for its modern Irish cuisine using seasonal, local produce and precise, innovative techniques. Led by chef Conor Halpenny (a past national Chef of the Year), it consistently earns high praise for flavour-driven dishes, elegant presentation, and outstanding overall dining experience, securing the county’s top restaurant honour.
- Café: Strandfield (Ballymascanlon). A multi-award-winning family-run destination café, florist, and grocer just north of Dundalk in Ballymascanlon. It offers fresh homemade bakes, quality coffee, light meals, and a welcoming atmosphere in scenic surroundings, with a strong reputation for excellence that has previously earned it national Best Café accolades.
- Casual Dining: Kingfisher Bistro (Carlingford). A popular bistro in the scenic coastal village of Carlingford, specialising in fresh, approachable meals with a focus on local seafood and hearty options. It provides relaxed, high-quality casual dining in a charming setting, praised for its value, friendly service, and consistent standards.
- Chef: Mark Gormley, The Clermont (Blackrock). Head chef at The Clermont in Blackrock, near Dundalk. Recognised for his skilful, creative cooking and dedication to high standards, he crafts refined dishes that highlight seasonal ingredients, contributing to the venue’s strong reputation in the local fine-dining scene.
- Contemporary Irish Cuisine: The Spotted Dog (Dundalk). A beloved Dundalk restaurant known for its modern interpretations of Irish classics, using fresh, local produce in creative yet approachable ways. It offers a cosy, welcoming environment with emphasis on quality and flavour, earning recognition for its contemporary take on regional cuisine.
- Customer Service: Carrickdale Hotel and Spa (Ravensdale). A family-friendly hotel and spa in Ravensdale, near Dundalk, celebrated for its exceptional hospitality and attentive, personalised service. Staff go above and beyond to ensure a warm, enjoyable guest experience across dining, accommodation, and leisure facilities in this scenic venue.
- Employee Excellence Award: Kate Traynor, Carlingford Brewing Company (Carlingford). Kate Traynor was honoured for her outstanding dedication and performance at Carlingford Brewing Company in Carlingford. This award highlights her exceptional contributions, likely through superb service, enthusiasm, teamwork, and positive impact on customers and colleagues at this craft brewing and hospitality spot.
- Gastro Pub: Blue Anchor (Bellurgan). A welcoming gastro pub in Bellurgan, near Dundalk, combining traditional pub charm with elevated, homemade food offerings. It serves quality pub meals using fresh ingredients in a relaxed, community-focused atmosphere, standing out for its hospitality and consistent gastro pub excellence in the county.
- Hotel and Guesthouse Restaurant: Scholars Townhouse Hotel (Drogheda). The acclaimed in-house restaurant at the historic Scholars Townhouse Hotel in the heart of Drogheda, a charming Victorian-era property. It offers refined, seasonal modern Irish cuisine in elegant surroundings, blending classic techniques with local ingredients, and is praised for its high standards, warm hospitality, and consistent excellence in hotel dining.
- Innovator of the Year: King of Kefir (Ardee). A pioneering craft beverage producer based in Ardee (at NEST), specialising in traditionally fermented water kefir drinks using natural grains and herbal infusions. Europe’s first dedicated water kefir brewery (since 2014), it was recognised for its innovative, health-focused approach to functional beverages, clean ingredients, sustainable production, and recent accolades like gold at the Free From Food Awards.
- Local Food Hero: Kian Louët-Feisser, Carlingford Oyster Company (Carlingford): Kian Louët-Feisser, who leads the family-run Carlingford Oyster Company on Carlingford Lough. Continuing the legacy started by his father Peter in the late 1960s, Kian oversees the cultivation of premium, world-renowned oysters in pristine Class A waters, supplying top chefs globally while championing sustainable aquaculture, heritage techniques, and the region’s oyster-farming tradition.
- Newcomer: East (Drogheda). A fresh, modern restaurant in Drogheda that opened in July 2025 and quickly impressed with its passion-driven team and quality offerings. It earned this award for its standout debut, delivering creative, approachable dining in a welcoming setting that has built strong community support and acclaim in its short time.
- Pub of the Year: The Vinegar Man (Dundalk). A popular, characterful pub in Dundalk, celebrated for its excellent hospitality, lively atmosphere, and quality pub offerings. It combines traditional Irish pub charm with strong community vibes, drinks selection, and service, securing the top pub title in the county.
- Restaurant Manager: Wayne Fitzpatrick, No. 3 Wine Bar & Restaurant (Collon): Wayne Fitzpatrick, the restaurant manager at No. 3 Wine Bar & Restaurant in Collon. He was honoured for his exceptional leadership, front-of-house expertise, and dedication to creating memorable guest experiences, contributing significantly to the venue’s success and high standards in this local gem.
- Sustainable Practices: Forge Field Farm Coffee Shop (Termonfeckin). The coffee shop at Forge Field Farm in Termonfeckin, recognised for its strong commitment to eco-friendly operations. It emphasises sustainable sourcing, low-impact practices, farm-to-table elements, and environmentally conscious choices in its café offerings, set within a working farm environment.
- Use of Social Media: Mo Chara (Dundalk). A standout venue in Dundalk (likely a café, restaurant, or eatery), awarded for its highly effective and engaging social media strategy. It uses creative, consistent content to showcase its menu, atmosphere, specials, and community spirit, helping to attract and connect with a wide audience online.
- Wine Experience: D’Vine Bistro & Tapas Bar (Drogheda). A vibrant bistro and tapas bar in Drogheda, renowned for its impressive wine selection and knowledgeable pairings. It offers a curated range of wines (with strong focus on quality and variety) that complement its flavourful sharing plates and tapas, providing an enjoyable, expert-led wine experience in a relaxed setting.
- World Cuisine: Sitar Indian Restaurant & Takeaway (Dundalk). A longstanding, popular Indian restaurant and takeaway in Dundalk, specialising in authentic, aromatic curries, tandoori dishes, biryanis, and other classic South Asian flavours. It brings vibrant world cuisine to the local area with fresh ingredients, generous portions, and a reputation for consistent quality and customer satisfaction.
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 Louth:
Louth is a county of historic depth and coastal beauty, with Drogheda’s St Peter’s Church housing a historic shrine and the Boyne Valley offering ancient sites like Newgrange, a UNESCO-listed passage tomb. Carlingford’s medieval streets and castle provide scenic walks, while Dundalk’s coastal paths add natural allure. Other attractions include the Cooley Peninsula’s hiking trails. Louth is Ireland’s smallest county by size (821 sq km) and 17th largest by population (139,703). Population peaked at 128,240 in 1841 and reached its lowest point, 63,665 in 1926. In terms of hospitality, Louth is Ireland’s 21st most visited tourist county with around 108,000 international visitors per year.
Introduction – Adventure – Anthem – Archaeology – Attractions – Awards – Birdwatching – Breweries & Distilleries – Camping – Castles – Churches – Contact list – Cycling – Dining – Equestrian – Festivals – Fishing – Folklore – Gardens – Golf – Graveyards – Happening – Haunted– Highest – Hiking – History – Holy Wells – Hotels – Hotels top 8 – Hunting & shooting – Instagrammable – Itineraries – Largest town – Luxury– MICE – Movies – Music – Name – New – Novelists – Off the beaten track – Poets – Pubs – Quotes – Random Facts – Restaurant Awards – Sacred Places – Saints – Songs – Spas – Sports – Sunsets – Sustainable – Things to do – Towns – Video – Villages – Walking – Wanderlist –Weddings – Wild swimming – Writers – 1837 – 1846 – 1852 – 1909 – 1955 – 1980 –
