- Best Restaurant (County Winner): Bramley, Abbeyleix, A characterful neighbourhood restaurant in a former garage and shop, run by a young friendly team, offering creative modern Irish cuisine with seasonal local ingredients.
- Best Chef: Richard Piccard Edwards of Ballyfin Demesne, Ballyfin, An executive chef renowned for his bold, expressive tasting menus utilising impeccable seasonal Irish produce in the luxurious historic demesne setting.
- Best Restaurant Manager: Kasia Urban of Bramley, Abbeyleix, A dedicated manager recognised for outstanding leadership and exceptional service in this endearing local favourite.
- Best Hotel and Guesthouse Restaurant: Ballyfin Demesne, Ballyfin, An opulent fine-dining restaurant within the acclaimed historic estate, celebrated for its refined eight-course tasting experiences and stunning surroundings at the foot of the Slieve Bloom Mountains.
- Best Casual Dining: Bowe’s Foodhall & Café, Durrow, A vibrant foodhall and café specialising in fresh, high-quality casual fare, bakes, and deli items in a welcoming community spot.
- Best Café: The Wandering Elk, Portlaoise, A popular independent café known for its excellent coffee, fresh bakes, and relaxed atmosphere in the county town.
- Best Gastro Pub: Treacy’s Bar and Restaurant, The Heath, A lively traditional pub awarded for its innovative gastro offerings, great atmosphere, and quality pub food.
- Employee Excellence Award: Colm Dunne of Treacy’s Bar and Restaurant, The Heath, A standout team member honoured for exceptional dedication and performance in hospitality.
Michelin Star
- Ballyfin Demesne, Ballyfin, A luxurious estate restaurant under chef Richard Picard Edwards, featuring an impressive £145 eight-course tasting menu with bold flavours, precise technique, and seasonal Irish ingredients in a historic setting.
Recommended:
- Bramley, Abbeyleix, Praised for its endearing, characterful dining in a converted space with friendly service and creative dishes.
Georgina Campbell Awards 2025
- Café of the Year: Bowes Foodhall & Café, Durrow, A standout café celebrated for its fresh, high-quality offerings, community focus, and excellent casual dining in a charming rural town.
The 2025 Irish Restaurant Award winners for county Laois
- Overall: Bowe’s Foodhall & Café
- Café: The Wandering Elk
- Casual Dining: Bowe’s Foodhall & Cafe
- Chef: Richard Piccard Edwards, Ballyfin Demesne
- Contemporary Irish Cuisine: The Hare’s Corner
- Customer Service: Batonis
- Employee Excellence Award: Colm Dunne, Treacy’s Bar and Restaurant
- Gastro Pub: Treacy’s Bar and Restaurant
- Hotel and Guesthouse Restaurant: Ballyfin Demesne
- Innovator: The Hare’s Corner
- Local Food Hero: Aymar Gourdet of Le Skinny Chef
- Newcomer: La Vie en Rose
- Pub: Morrissey’s
- Restaurant Manager: Kasia Urban, Bramley Abbeyleix
- Sustainable Practices: Ballykilcavan Farm and Brewery
- Use of Social Media: The Make & Mark
- Wine Experience: Ballyfin Demesne
- World Cuisine: Mayur Restaurant
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
2025 Restaurants Association 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
2024 Restaurants Association 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
Laois:
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 –
Laois offers a blend of historic sites and natural landscapes, with the Rock of Dunamase providing panoramic views from its ancient castle ruins. Emo Court’s elegant Georgian mansion and gardens offer a peaceful retreat, while the Slieve Bloom Mountains provide hiking trails through rolling hills. Laois is Ireland’s ninth smallest county by size (1,719 square km) and tenth smallest by population (91,877). Population peaked at 153,930 in 1841 and reached its lowest point, 44,595 in 1966. In terms of hospitality, Laois is Ireland’s 27th most visited tourist county with around 52,000 international visitors per year.
