- Overall (Best Restaurant): Neighbourhood Naas: This award-winning fine dining restaurant in the heart of Naas, Co. Kildare, offers modern Irish cuisine in an elegant, design-led space with low lighting, great music, and a glamorous yet relaxed vibe. It emphasises bold flavours, exceptional service, and has been recognised as a top destination in the county.
- Cafe: Hey Darling Naas: A friendly neighbourhood Cafe (with additional locations in Kill and Sallins) specialising in specialty coffee from Connemara roasters Calendar Coffee, alongside tasty bagels, toasties, and fresh pastries made with high-quality, locally sourced produce. It provides laid-back vibes and is proudly dog-friendly.
- Casual Dining: Rye River Cafe, Kilcock: This welcoming spot in Kilcock delivers excellent casual dining with a focus on quality food, coffee, and a relaxed atmosphere, making it a standout choice for everyday meals and community favourites in north Kildare.
- Chef: Adam Nevin, The Morrison Room at Carton House: Head chef Adam Nevin leads the Michelin-starred Morrison Room at the historic Carton House estate, creating imaginative, thoughtful, and skilful dishes that celebrate the beauty of seasonal ingredients with ambitious, high-end technique.
- Contemporary Irish Cuisine: The Green Barn, Burtown House, Athy: Set in the beautiful parkland of Burtown House & Gardens overlooking the walled kitchen garden, this rustic yet elegant restaurant (inspired by Scandinavian barns with a New England twist) serves the freshest seasonal produce-often picked that morning from the garden-for brunch, lunch, or weekend dinners.
- Customer Service: Clanard Court Hotel, Athy: This Athy hotel stands out for its exceptional customer service, warm hospitality, and dedication to making every guest feel valued through attentive and professional team efforts.
- Employee Excellence Award: Tom Breen, Vi’s Restaurant at Lawlor’s of Naas: Tom Breen is recognised for his outstanding performance and contributions at Vi’s Restaurant in the historic Lawlor’s Hotel, Naas, exemplifying excellence in service, teamwork, and dedication to the guest experience.
- Gastro Pub: Hartes of Kildare: A multi-award-winning gastropub in the heart of Kildare town (near Kildare Village), offering high-quality, fresh, and sustainable Irish and European dishes alongside craft beers, an extensive gin menu, and excellent hospitality in a vibrant Market Square setting.
- Hotel and Guesthouse Restaurant: The Morrison Room at Carton House: This Michelin-starred fine dining restaurant at the historic Carton House estate in Maynooth offers an elegant, intimate setting with grandeur and beauty. Led by head chef Adam Nevin, it features imaginative, skilful dishes that highlight seasonal ingredients with high-end technique and creativity.
- Innovator of the Year: Lock 13 Gastropub & Brewpub, Sallins: Located along the Grand Canal in Sallins, this gastro-brewpub combines craft brewing with innovative gastropub dining. It stands out for its fresh, creative approaches to food, drinks, and hospitality, earning recognition for pushing boundaries in the sector.
- Local Food Hero: Graham Herterich, Ernie’s @ Shackelton Experience, Athy: Award-winning baker and chef Graham Herterich (known as The Cupcake Bloke) is celebrated for his passion for local produce and community-focused food. He runs Ernie’s Cafe at the Shackleton Experience museum in his native Athy, blending traditional baking with modern twists.
- Newcomer: Ernie’s @ Shackelton Experience, Athy: This newly opened Cafe in the historic Town Hall building at the Shackleton Experience in Athy offers traditional food with a modern twist. It quickly gained acclaim for its quality, welcoming vibe, and tribute to both explorer Ernest Shackleton and Herterich’s grandfather Ernie.
- Pub of the Year: James Nolan’s Pub, Kildare: A beloved pub in the heart of Kildare town, recognised for its excellent hospitality, traditional pub atmosphere, drinks selection, and overall community appeal, making it a standout local favourite.
- Restaurant Manager: Shauna Ronan, Hartes of Kildare: Shauna Ronan manages the multi-award-winning Hartes of Kildare gastropub, praised for her outstanding leadership, exceptional service standards, and key role in delivering top-tier hospitality and team performance.
- Sustainable Practices: Woodstack Cafe, Monasterevin: This Monasterevin Cafe excels in eco-friendly operations, from sustainable sourcing and waste reduction to green practices in food preparation and Cafe management, setting a benchmark for environmental responsibility.
- Use of Social Media: Firecastle Kildare: Firecastle in Kildare town is honoured for its highly engaging and effective social media strategy, which brilliantly showcases its offerings, builds community connections, and highlights its food and events.
- Wine Experience: Barton Grill Restaurant at the K Club: Situated at the prestigious K Club in Straffan, this restaurant delivers an exceptional wine programme with a curated selection, expert pairings, and knowledgeable service, complementing its high-end grill cuisine.
- World Cuisine: Red Torch Ginger Maynooth: This Maynooth spot specialises in vibrant world flavours and global dishes, earning praise for its authentic, diverse international menu and quality execution in non-Irish cuisines.
Michelin Star
- The Morrison Room at Carton House, Maynooth, A luxurious fine-dining restaurant in the historic Carton House estate, offering precise, creative modern cuisine with excellent Irish produce.
Recommended:
- Alumni Kitchen Table (or Alumni Kitchen), Rathangan/Feighcullen, A refined modern venue focusing on well-crafted Irish ingredients in an intimate setting.
- Brown Bear, Kildare town, A modern cuisine spot delivering flavourful, contemporary dishes.
Georgina Campbell Awards
- Hotel Restaurant of the Year: The Barton Rooms at Barberstown Castle, Straffan, A charming castle restaurant offering high-quality dining in a historic setting with excellent hospitality.
Good Food Ireland Awards
- Drinks Producer of the Year: The Dew Drop Brewhouse, Kill, A craft brewery and inn recognised for premium, innovative drinks production using local ethos.
- Hotel Restaurant of the Year: The Barton Rooms, Barberstown Castle, Straffan, Honoured for exceptional hotel dining experiences with a focus on quality Irish ingredients.
- County Kildare’s awards reflect a strong mix of luxury estate dining (like Carton House and The K Club), innovative rural spots (Alumni Kitchen), and quality casual venues, with notable Michelin upgrades highlighting the county’s rising culinary profile.
Restaurants Association of Ireland winners full list
- Overall (Best Restaurant): Neighbourhood Naas
- Café: Hey Darling Naas
- Casual Dining: Rye River Café, Kilcock
- Chef: Adam Nevin, The Morrison Room at Carton House
- Contemporary Irish Cuisine: The Green Barn, Burtown House, Athy
- Customer Service: Clanard Court Hotel, Athy
- Employee Excellence Award: Tom Breen, Vi’s Restaurant at Lawlor’s of Naas
- Gastro Pub: Hartes of Kildare
- Hotel and Guesthouse Restaurant: The Morrison Room at Carton House
- Innovator of the Year: Lock 13 Gastropub & Brewpub, Sallins
- Local Food Hero: Graham Herterich, Ernie’s @ Shackelton Experience, Athy
- Newcomer: Ernie’s @ Shackelton Experience, Athy
- Pub of the Year: James Nolan’s Pub, Kildare
- Restaurant Manager: Shauna Ronan, Hartes of Kildare
- Sustainable Practices: Woodstack Café, Monasterevin
- Use of Social Media: Firecastle Kildare
- Wine Experience: Barton Grill Restaurant at the K Club
- World Cuisine: Red Torch Ginger Maynooth
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
Kildare:
Introduction – Adventure – Anthem – Archaeology – Attractions – Awards – Birdwatching – Camping – Castles– Churches – Contact list – Cycling – Dining – Equestrian – Festivals – Fishing – Folklore – Gardens – Golf – Graveyards – Happening – Haunted – Highest – Hiking – History – Holy Wells – Hotels – Hotels8 – Instagrammable – Itineraries – Largest town – Luxury – MICE – Movies – Musicians – Name – New – Novelists – Off the beaten track – Poets – Pubs – Quotes – Random Facts – Restaurant Awards – Sacred Places – Saints – Spas – Sports – Sunsets– Sustainable – Things to do – Towns – Video – Villages – Walking – Wanderlist – Weddings – Wild swimming – Writers – 1837 – 1846 – 1852 – 1909 – 1955 – 1980 –
Kildare blends historic sites with lush countryside, with the National Stud and Japanese Gardens offering a unique mix of equine heritage and serene landscapes. Castletown House, a grand Palladian mansion, provides historical insights, while the Curragh’s open plains are ideal for walking. The ancient Hill of Allen adds archaeological depth, making Kildare an engaging stop for culture and nature. The new Shackleton Experience has opened in Athy. Kildare is Ireland’s eighth smallest county by size (1,694 square km) and seventh largest by population (247,774). Population reached its lowest point, 57,892 in 1936. In terms of hospitality, Kildare is Ireland’s 15th most visited tourist county with around 168,000 international visitors per year.
