- Overall (Best Restaurant): La Cote Seafood Restaurant, Townparks, Wexford town: This contemporary seafood restaurant on Custom Quay in Wexford town, owned and run by Michelin-trained chef Paul Hynes and his wife Edwina, overlooks the Irish Sea and mussel trawlers. It specialises in fresh, local seafood with creative, high-quality dishes in an elegant setting, earning the top restaurant honour in Wexford (and Leinster overall) for its passion, excellence, and consistent acclaim.
- Café: Gr√°linn Sunny Row, Fethard on Sea: This charming neighbourhood eatery in sunny Fethard-on-Sea offers high-quality daytime dining with a focus on fresh, homemade bakes, premium coffee, light meals, and a carefree, soul-nourishing vibe. Run by Dee Kelly and Mateo Griscti, it provides a welcoming, unpretentious space with beautiful simplicity and strong local appeal.
- Casual Dining: Partridges Artisan Cafe & Fine Food Shop, Gorey: This artisan café and fine food shop in Gorey blends casual dining with premium retail, serving homemade breads, cakes, hearty lunches, and quality produce in a relaxed, value-driven environment. It emphasises freshness, craftsmanship, and community support, earning recognition as Wexford’s top casual dining spot.
- Chef: David Harte, The Sea Rooms at Kelly’s Resort, Rosslare: Head chef David Harte (Euro-Toques Young Chef of the Year 2025) leads The Sea Rooms Smokehouse at the iconic Kelly’s Resort Hotel in Rosslare. He excels in innovative, fire-cooked dishes using premium Irish meat, fresh seafood, and seasonal produce, bringing outstanding talent, commitment to local ingredients, and precision to elevate the venue’s dining.
- Contemporary Irish Cuisine: Bear√∫, New Ross: This award-winning restaurant and café on South Street in New Ross showcases quality local Wexford produce in modern Irish dishes with seasonal flair. It offers a special dining experience blending tradition with contemporary style, vibrant flavours, and a stylish yet approachable setting for lunch and dinner.
- Customer Service: Reeds Restaurant at Ferrycarrig Hotel Wexford town: This hotel restaurant at Ferrycarrig Hotel in Wexford town excels in exceptional, warm, and attentive hospitality. The dedicated team delivers professional, guest-focused service across its dining offerings, ensuring every visitor feels valued in a comfortable, scenic environment.
- Employee Excellence Award: Ellie Mulligan, Lobster Pot, Carne: Ellie Mulligan is recognised for her outstanding dedication, teamwork, and exceptional performance in delivering top-tier service and guest experiences at the Lobster Pot in Carne, exemplifying excellence and commitment in the hospitality sector.
- Gastro Pub: Mary Barry’s Bar, Kilmore: This multi-award-winning seafood bar and gastropub in Kilmore (near Kilmore Quay) combines traditional Irish pub charm with elevated dining. Led by owner Susie Doyle and head chef Nicky Cullen, it specialises in fresh, daily-sourced local seafood from Kilmore Quay, hearty dishes, and great value, delivering passionate hospitality in a welcoming, family-friendly atmosphere.
- Hotel and Guesthouse Restaurant: Ashdown Park Hotel, Gorey: This four-star hotel in Gorey features the AA Rosette-awarded Rowan Tree Restaurant, an elegant, spacious, and contemporary dining space with beautiful art and views over a rooftop terrace. It focuses on the best of Wexford produce, using own-farm and local ingredients for high-quality, seasonal Irish cuisine in a welcoming hotel setting, earning top honours for both hotel/guesthouse restaurant and sustainable practices.
- Innovator of the Year: Fat Tomato, Enniscorthy: This innovative producer in North Wexford began as a hillside edible garden growing heritage, open-pollinated tomato varieties for superior flavour while saving seeds and protecting biodiversity. It has evolved into creating unique products and gifts that connect soil, kitchen, and memorable experiences, recognised for its seed-led, sustainable, and creative approach to food innovation.
- Local Food Hero: Catherine Kinsella, Saltrock Dairy, Tara Hill, Gorey: Catherine Kinsella runs Saltrock Dairy, a family-operated farm on Tara Hill near Gorey, producing artisan dairy such as raw milk (via vending machine), kefir, butter, yogurt, and buttermilk from her herd. She is celebrated for championing high-quality, fresh local dairy, sustainable farming, and direct community access through farmers’ markets and events.
- Newcomer: Meraki Cafe Lounge, Enniscorthy: This recently opened Greek street food café and lounge on Irish Street in Enniscorthy, run by experienced chef Akis Zannakis and family, brings authentic Mediterranean flavours with a modern twist. It offers fresh, in-house made dishes like yeeros pitas, Greek salads, vine leaves, tzatziki, and specials, plus coffee and baclava, in a vibrant, welcoming spot that quickly gained popularity for its heart, soul, and value.
- Pub of the Year: Mackens the Cape Bar, Wexford town: Also known as Con Macken’s or The Cape of Good Hope (and nicknamed “The Undertaker”), this historic traditional pub on the Bull Ring in Wexford town (in business since 1942) is a beloved local institution. Family-run (now by Eddie Macken), it offers great craic, excellent pints (especially Guinness), a cosy atmosphere, friendly staff, and strong community appeal in a characterful, central location.
- Restaurant Manager: Mark Walshe, Table Forty One, Gorey: Mark Walshe is honoured for his exceptional leadership and management at Table Forty One, a friendly Michelin Guide-listed restaurant in Gorey town centre. He delivers outstanding service standards, a cosy welcoming vibe across its two rooms, and contributes significantly to the venue’s success with professional hospitality and team dedication.
- Sustainable Practices: Ashdown Park Hotel, Gorey: This Gorey hotel leads in eco-conscious hospitality with strong commitments to sustainability, including local and farm-to-fork sourcing, waste reduction, recycling, and green initiatives across operations. It has earned accolades (such as a Green Michelin star in related contexts) for its responsible practices in dining and overall guest experiences.
- Use of Social Media: Bear√∫, New Ross: This acclaimed New Ross restaurant excels with highly engaging social media that effectively showcases its quality local Wexford produce, seasonal contemporary Irish dishes, events, and welcoming atmosphere. It builds strong community connections, highlights daily offerings, and contributes to its multiple awards through creative, consistent online presence.
- Wine Experience: The Conservatory Restaurant at Marlfield House Hotel, Gorey: This fine-dining Conservatory Restaurant at the luxurious Relais & Ch√¢teaux Marlfield House offers an exceptional wine programme with a generous, curated list (including dessert wines and pairings), expert knowledge, and attentive service. It complements classical French-influenced modern cuisine in an elegant, memorable setting for a standout wine-focused experience.
- World Cuisine: Nori, Ferrybank South: This vibrant Japanese restaurant in Ferrybank South (Wexford town area) specialises in fresh, bold Japanese and Asian fusion dishes, including sushi, sashimi, ramen, and healthy options. It earns praise for authentic flavours, beautiful presentation, local sourcing where possible, and excellence in world cuisine, making it a top choice for innovative Japanese dining.
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 Wexford:
Wexford combines coastal beauty with historic sites, with the Hook Lighthouse, one of the world’s oldest, offering scenic coastal views. The Irish National Heritage Park recreates ancient and medieval settlements, while Wexford’s beaches, like Curracloe, provide sandy shores for walking. Other attractions include the historic town of Enniscorthy and its castle. Wexford is Ireland’s 13th largest county by size (2,351 square km) and 14th largest by population (163,919). Population peaked at 202,033 in 1841 and reached its lowest point, 83,308 in 1961. In terms of hospitality, Wexford is Ireland’s eighth most visited tourist county with around 229,000 international visitors per year.
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