- Overall: Eala Bhán, Sligo: Eala Bhán in Sligo town has been named Overall winner for Sligo at the Irish Restaurant Awards 2026, continuing its long-standing reputation as one of the county’s finest restaurants under the ownership of Anthony Gray, an award-winning chef and chairman of the Sligo Food Trail who has championed local and seasonal produce in an artistic environment for many years, with the family-run venue also celebrating multiple consecutive wins as Best Restaurant in Sligo.
- Cafe: Tank & Skinny’s, Sligo: Cafe: Tank & Skinny’s, Sligo: Tank & Skinny’s in Sligo brings a welcoming café atmosphere with quality coffee, fresh bakes and casual eats, building on the successful model established by brothers Shane and Edward who opened their original Tank & Skinny’s in Muff in 2016 with its own bakery; the Sligo location has quickly become a popular daytime spot for locals and visitors seeking relaxed hospitality in the heart of the town.
- Casual Dining: Honestly Farm Kitchen Strandhill, Strandhill: Casual Dining: Honestly Farm Kitchen Strandhill, Strandhill: Owned and run by Liam and Justina Gavin of Drumanilra Organic Farm since opening in summer 2022, Honestly Farm Kitchen in Strandhill delivers casual dining with a strong farm-to-fork ethos, sourcing organic Dexter beef, vegetables and bakery items directly from their 300-acre holding in Roscommon; the couple, who moved their young family back from the UK in 2012, emphasise ethical, sustainable produce in a welcoming setting that reconnects diners with provenance-driven food on the Sligo coast.
- Chef: Dave Mullan, Fish & Bean, Rosses Point: Chef: Dave Mullan, Fish & Bean, Rosses Point: Dave Mullan, head chef and owner of Fish & Bean at Sligo Yacht Club in Rosses Point, has been recognised as Chef of the Year for Sligo; he opened the seafood-focused venue in June 2021 with his wife Áine Waldron, drawing on years of experience in prestigious kitchens to create simple yet superb dishes highlighting local catch and produce in a chic maritime setting with stunning views over Deadman’s Point.
- Contemporary Irish Cuisine: Hooked, Sligo: Contemporary Irish Cuisine: Hooked, Sligo: Hooked in Sligo town, opened in 2017 by owner Anthony Gray, celebrates contemporary Irish cuisine with a focus on locally caught seafood, fine meats and the best regional produce, inspired by the traditional butcher’s shop run by Anthony’s father Joe; the relaxed yet high-quality venue on Tobergal Lane forms part of Gray’s portfolio alongside Eala Bhán and reflects his passion for Sligo ingredients and food trails.
- Customer Service: Harrisons Bar & Restaurant, Cliffoney: Customer Service: Harrisons Bar & Restaurant, Cliffoney: Harrisons Bar & Restaurant in Cliffoney on the Wild Atlantic Way has earned recognition for outstanding customer service, with its attentive team and warm hospitality creating a genuinely welcoming atmosphere for locals and visitors alike; the venue, known for fresh fish, local beef and a relaxed setting near Mullaghmore, has a strong track record of awards in service categories and continues to deliver caring, efficient dining experiences.
- Employee Excellence: Max Stafford, Lyons Café and Bakeshop, Sligo: Employee Excellence: Max Stafford, Lyons Café and Bakeshop, Sligo: Max Stafford at Lyons Café and Bakeshop in Sligo has been celebrated for employee excellence through his dedication and contribution to this long-established venue; the café, taken over by Gary Stafford in 2002 with the bakeshop added in 2013, employs a strong team producing outstanding sourdough breads, pastries and lunches, and has become a cherished community hub in Sligo town centre.
- Gastro Pub: Austies Pub & Kitchen, Rosses Point: Gastro Pub: Austies Pub & Kitchen, Rosses Point: Austies Pub & Kitchen in the scenic seaside village of Rosses Point is a landmark venue with roots stretching back over 200 years, owned and run since 2014 by John and Lorna Feeney who are the latest in a long line of proprietors; they maintain a friendly, welcoming atmosphere with traditional Irish music sessions, quality food and genuine hospitality that blends local character with nautical charm for both residents and visitors.
- Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant: Markree Castle, Collooney: Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant: Markree Castle, Collooney: Markree Castle in Collooney, with origins dating to the 17th century when the Cooper family acquired the estate under the 1662 Act of Settlement, now operates as a luxury hotel and restaurant under the Corscadden family who purchased it in 2015 and undertook extensive renovations before reopening in 2017; the elegant dining experience benefits from the castle’s rich heritage, period features and scenic location, continuing a tradition of hospitality that includes its time as a hotel under the 10th-generation Coopers from the late 1980s.
- Innovator: Waxies Sligo, Sligo: Waxies Sligo in Sligo has been recognised as Innovator of the Year for the county at the Irish Restaurant Awards 2026, bringing fresh creative ideas and a distinctive approach to its offerings in the heart of the town that sets it apart through imaginative concepts, quality service and a forward-thinking spirit that enhances the local dining landscape.
- Local Food Hero: Helen Mulholland & Ollie Alcorn, Hawks Rock Distillery, Sligo: Local Food Hero: Helen Mulholland & Ollie Alcorn, Hawks Rock Distillery, Sligo: Hawks Rock Distillery near Sligo, formerly known as Lough Gill Distillery, is led by Master Blender Helen Mulholland, the first female Master Blender in Irish whiskey history and a recipient of numerous industry honours, working alongside Lead Distiller Ollie Alcorn who has been with the operation since 2014; the pair champion local Sligo heritage and ingredients in their award-winning whiskeys, including the Garavogue single malt, while fostering community connections and sustainable production methods in this riverside setting.
- Newcomer: Miss Suzy Sligo, Sligo: Newcomer: Miss Suzy Sligo, Sligo: Miss Suzy in Sligo town on Castle Street opened around 2023–2024 as a vibrant newcomer specialising in Korean and Japanese cuisine, offering sushi, nigiri, maki rolls along with seafood, chicken and beef dishes in a welcoming central location; it has rapidly built a strong reputation for fresh, high-quality Asian flavours and friendly service, quickly becoming a popular choice for both locals and visitors seeking something distinctive in the Sligo dining scene.
- Pub: Hopkins Bar, Enniscrone: Pub: Hopkins Bar, Enniscrone: Hopkins Bar in Enniscrone is a classic old-school Irish pub cherished for its warm, intimate atmosphere, superb creamy pints of Guinness and genuine hospitality without modern distractions such as loud music or televisions; long regarded as one of the finest traditional pubs in the area, it continues to serve as a welcoming community hub in this coastal village on the Wild Atlantic Way.
- Restaurant Manager: Angela Davis, Davis’ Restaurant & Yeats Tavern, Drumcliff: Restaurant Manager: Angela Davis, Davis’ Restaurant & Yeats Tavern, Drumcliff: Angela Davis, together with her husband Damien, has owned and run Davis’ Restaurant & Yeats Tavern in Drumcliff for over thirty-five years as a family business; she has been recognised for her outstanding restaurant management, delivering warm hospitality, award-winning food made with fresh locally sourced ingredients and a beautifully presented modern dining experience in this popular venue on the N15 near the historic Yeats country.
- Sustainable Practices: Shells Café, Strandhill: Sustainable Practices: Shells Café, Strandhill: Shells Café in Strandhill, established in 2010 by a couple passionate about food and surfing, has earned recognition for its sustainable practices through its commitment to homemade food using quality local and organic ingredients, in-house baking of breads including wheat-free options, Fair Trade and hand-roasted coffee, home-grown herbs and a strong focus on minimising waste while providing a friendly, sea-view setting for surfers and visitors alike.
- Use Of Social Media: Otto, Sligo: Use Of Social Media: Otto, Sligo: Otto in Sligo has excelled in its use of social media at the Irish Restaurant Awards 2026 by crafting engaging, authentic and visually appealing content that effectively showcases its menu, atmosphere and events, helping to build a loyal following and connect with the local community through creative posts and interactions that highlight the venue’s offerings in the heart of the town.
- Wine Experience: Hargadon Bros, Sligo: Wine Experience: Hargadon Bros, Sligo: Hargadon Bros on O’Connell Street in Sligo, established in 1868, offers an exceptional wine experience through its traditional pub and dedicated wine shop in Johnston Court, featuring an extensive selection including house wines from the owners’ own Terramonti vineyard in the Languedoc region of France; the historic venue with its preserved snugs and character combines quality local produce on the menu with a carefully curated wine list and warm hospitality that has made it a Sligo institution for generations.
- World Cuisine: Bella & Brava Restaurant, Coolaney: World Cuisine: Bella & Brava Restaurant, Coolaney: Bella & Brava Restaurant in Coolaney, a family-run venue located in the Mill Centre about twenty minutes from Sligo town, specialises in authentic Neapolitan Italian cuisine with wood-fired pizzas made to Vera Pizza Napoletana standards using 00 flour and San Marzano tomatoes, fresh pasta dishes and antipasti cooked to order; the welcoming spot emphasises quality ingredients, including local produce where possible, delivering genuine Italian flavours and warm hospitality in a relaxed setting.
Restaurant award winners
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
Sligo:
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 –
Sligo is renowned for its poetic heritage and coastal scenery, with the Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery offering one of Europe’s oldest prehistoric sites. The Benbulben mountain provides striking hiking trails, while Strandhill’s beaches are ideal for surfing. Other attractions include the historic Lissadell House and its gardens. Sligo is Ireland’s 22nd largest county by size (1,796 square km) and seventh smallest by population (70,198). Population peaked at 180,886 in 1841 and reached its lowest point, 50,275 in 1971. In terms of hospitality, Sligo is Ireland’s 17th most visited tourist county with around 133,000 international visitors per year.
