More than 1,110 guests attend Leinster Regional Final of the Irish Restaurant Awards 2026 took place at the Killashee Hotel in Kildare on 3 March 2026.
County winners across Leinster receive recognition for restaurants, cafés and hospitality businesses. The awards programme attracts over 150,000 public nominations.
Regional winners qualify for the All-Ireland Awards Gala Dinner on 18 May 2026. The event marks the 17th year of the Irish Restaurant Awards.
Seán Collender shared “As Ireland places a renewed focus on culinary tourism, nights like this take on even greater importance. Our restaurants are not only central to local communities and employment, they are a key part of the experience visitors travel here for. The Irish Restaurant Awards shine a light on the quality, creativity and standards that underpin Ireland’s growing food reputation at home and abroad.”
Restaurant of the year:
Sponsored by American Express
- Carlow: Sha-Roe Bistro
- Kildare: Neighbourhood Naas
- Kilkenny: Campagne
- Laois: Bramley Abbeyleix
- Longford: Midtown Kitchen & Bar
- Louth: Square Restaurant
- Meath: Zucchini’s Restaurant Navan
- Offaly: The Blue Apron Restaurant
- Westmeath: Thyme Restaurant
- Wexford: La Côte Seafood Restaurant
- Wicklow: Caladh
Chef:
Sponsored by BWG Food Service
- Carlow: Alan Foley, The Cellar Restaurant at Step House Hotel
- Kildare: Adam Nevin, The Morrison Room at Carton House
- Kilkenny: John Kelly, Lady Helen Restaurant at Mount Juliet Estate
- Laois: Richard Picard-Edwards, Ballyfin Demesne
- Longford: Marco Fabbi, Sorrento Restaurant
- Louth: Mark Gormley, The Clermont
- Meath: Johnny Sarkozi, Brabazon Restaurant at Tankardstown House
- Offaly: Anthony O’Connor, Old Warehouse
- Westmeath: John Coffey, Thyme Restaurant
- Wexford: David Harte, The Sea Rooms at Kelly’s Resort
- Wicklow: Cormac McCreary, Sika Restaurant at Powerscourt Hotel
Restaurant Manager:
Sponsored by Paynt
- Carlow: Maya Dzianach, Pimento
- Kildare: Shauna Ronan, Hartes of Kildare
- Kilkenny: Paul Byrne, Zuni Restaurant & Boutique Hotel
- Laois: Carmel Boyle, Ballyfin Demesne
- Longford: Frances Nugent, Spice India Longford
- Louth: Wayne Fitzpatrick, No. 3 Wine Bar & Restaurant
- Meath: Annesu Oliver, Tribe Restaurant Duleek
- Offaly: Kristina Sapovala, S Cafe
- Westmeath: Trevor Byrne, Scanlons Pub
- Wexford: Mark Walshe, Table Forty One
- Wicklow: Aliha Saleem, Daata Bray
Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant
- Carlow: The Cellar Restaurant at Step House Hotel
- Kildare: The Morrison Room at Carton House
- Kilkenny: Lady Helen Restaurant at Mount Juliet Estate
- Laois: Ballyfin Demesne
- Longford: Longford Arms Hotel
- Louth: Scholars Townhouse Hotel
- Meath: The Signal Restaurant at The Station House
- Offaly: Hackett’s Eatery at County Arms Birr
- Westmeath: Bloomfield House Hotel
- Wexford: Ashdown Park Hotel
- Wicklow: Fairways Restaurant at Tulfarris Hotel & Golf Resort
Employee Excellence:
Sponsored by Peninsula
- Carlow: Courtney Burke, Goodly Barrow
- Kildare: Tom Breen, Vi’s Restaurant at Lawlor’s of Naas
- Kilkenny: Agnieszka Mokrzycka, Cafe La Coco
- Laois: Orla Maher, Morrissey’s Pub Abbeyleix
- Longford: Hanna Kadet, Newcastle House
- Louth: Kate Traynor, Carlingford Brewing Company
- Meath: Sophie Hogan, Hogan’s Farm Shop & Cafe
- Offaly: Klaudia Iskra, Meet&Fit
- Westmeath: Aimee Clarke, James Joyce Restaurant at Greville Arms Hotel
- Wexford: Ellie Mulligan, Lobster Pot
- Wicklow: Connor Kinsella, Lo Co Grocer
Use of Social Media
- Carlow: Mullichain Cafe
- Kildare: Firecastle Kildare
- Kilkenny: Arán Artisan Bakery & Bistro
- Laois: Make and Mark
- Longford: Jolly Boys Pizza & Grill Ballymahon
- Louth: Mo Chara
- Meath: Sage & Stone
- Offaly: J.J. Houghs Singing Pub
- Westmeath: Weir’s Bar & Restaurant
- Wexford: Bearú
- Wicklow: Little Acorn Cafe
Casual Dining:
Sponsored by Musgrave Marketplace
- Carlow: Waterlilies Café Tullow Market Square
- Kildare: Rye River Café
- Kilkenny: Arán Artisan Bakery & Bistro
- Laois: Bowe’s Foodhall & Cafe
- Longford: PV’s Longford
- Louth: Kingfisher Bistro
- Meath: Inside Out
- Offaly: Luker’s Bar, Restaurant & Live Music Venue
- Westmeath: Poppy Fields Cafe
- Wexford: Partridges Artisan Cafe & Fine Food Shop
- Wicklow: Roundwood Stores
World Cuisine:
Sponsored by National Chef de Partie Apprenticeship & National Sous Chef Apprenticeship Programmes
- Carlow: Pimento
- Kildare: Red Torch Ginger Maynooth
- Kilkenny: Tābú
- Laois: Namo
- Longford: Spice India Longford
- Louth: Sitar Indian Restaurant & Takeaway
- Meath: Eatzen Restaurant
- Offaly: Sanjay’s Kitchen
- Westmeath: Spice India Athlone
- Wexford: Nori
- Wicklow: Chakra by Jaipur
Gastro Pub:
Sponsored by Hendersons Foodservice
- Carlow: Conway’s Bar & Restaurant
- Kildare: Hartes of Kildare
- Kilkenny: Left Bank
- Laois: O’Gormans Bar & Restaurant
- Longford: Richmond Inn
- Louth: Blue Anchor
- Meath: Matt the Thresher Julianstown
- Offaly: Hennessy’s
- Westmeath: The Villager Bar & Restaurant
- Wexford: Mary Barry’s Bar
- Wicklow: The Horse and Hound, Delgany
Contemporary Irish Cuisine:
Sponsored by FBD Insurance
- Carlow: The Cellar Restaurant at Step House Hotel
- Kildare: The Green Barn
- Kilkenny: Dizzy Goat Restaurant
- Laois: Ballyfin Demesne
- Longford: The Glenview Bar and Lounge
- Louth: The Spotted Dog
- Meath: The Vanilla Pod Restaurant at Headfort Arms Hotel
- Offaly: Old Warehouse
- Westmeath: Days Bazaar Mullingar
- Wexford: Bearú
- Wicklow: Albatross Restaurant at Rathsallagh Golf Club
Newcomer:
Sponsored by Square
- Carlow: Brew Stop Café
- Kildare: Ernie’s @ Shackelton Experience
- Kilkenny: Wildflower Tearooms
- Laois: Coffee to a Tea
- Longford: Gooseberry Cafe
- Louth: East
- Meath: Forge & Bellows
- Offaly: Crun Chicken
- Westmeath: The Lough Ree Inn
- Wexford: Meraki Cafe Lounge
- Wicklow: Críoch Cafe at The Mermaid
Pub of the Year
- Carlow: Tully’s Bar Carlow
- Kildare: James Nolan’s Pub
- Kilkenny: The Dylan Whisky Bar
- Laois: The Fisherman’s Thatched Inn
- Longford: Ronnie Nally & Sons
- Louth: The Vinegar Man
- Meath: Marcie Regan’s Pub
- Offaly: Craughwell’s Pub
- Westmeath: The Snug Bar
- Wexford: Mackens the Cape Bar
- Wicklow: Tá Sé’s
Wine Experience:
Sponsored by Bibendum
- Carlow: Lord Bagenal Inn
- Kildare: Barton Grill Restaurant at the K Club
- Kilkenny: Ristorante Rinuccini
- Laois: Batonis
- Longford: Vocella’s
- Louth: D’Vine Bistro & Tapas Bar
- Meath: Parterre at Johnstown Estate
- Offaly: The Blue Apron Restaurant
- Westmeath: The Left Bank Bistro
- Wexford: The Conservatory Restaurant at Marlfield House Hotel
- Wicklow: Delgany Wine Cottage
Customer Service:
Sponsored by Restaurant-Insurance.ie provided by Dolmen
- Carlow: Lennons @ Visual
- Kildare: Clanard Court Hotel
- Kilkenny: Tābú
- Laois: Treacy’s Bar and Restaurant
- Longford: The Rustic Inn
- Louth: Carrickdale Hotel and Spa
- Meath: The Village Hotel
- Offaly: Emma’s Cafe
- Westmeath: Il Colosseo
- Wexford: Reeds Restaurant at Ferrycarrig Hotel
- Wicklow: Grangecon Kitchen
Café:
Sponsored by Illy
- Carlow: Rachel’s Garden Café at Arboretum
- Kildare: Hey Darling Naas
- Kilkenny: Knockdrinna Cafe
- Laois: Mueller & O’Connell Bakery
- Longford: Fabiani
- Louth: Strandfield
- Meath: Bácús Cafe
- Offaly: The Bog’s Dollops
- Westmeath: The Stables Tea Rooms
- Wexford: Grálinn Sunny Row
- Wicklow: Scéal Bakery
Sustainable Practices
- Carlow: The Green Lemon Cafe and Bakery
- Kildare: Woodstack Cafe
- Kilkenny: Statham’s by Pembroke Kilkenny
- Laois: Solas Eco Garden Centre
- Longford: Fiona Egan Cloughan Farm & Cookery School
- Louth: Forge Field Farm Coffee Shop
- Meath: Platterbylu Trim Café and Artisan Pantry
- Offaly: Biasol
- Westmeath: Bastion Kitchen
- Wexford: Ashdown Park Hotel
- Wicklow: Wicklow Wolf Brewery & Taproom
Innovator of the Year:
Sponsored by Diageo
- Carlow: The Green Lemon Cafe and Bakery
- Kildare: Lock 13 Gastropub & Brewpub
- Kilkenny: Arán Artisan Bakery & Bistro
- Laois: The Merry Mill
- Longford: John Stone Beef
- Louth: King of Kefir
- Meath: Centre of Food Culture Boyne Valley
- Offaly: Ballycommon Bake House
- Westmeath: Irish Craft Soda Company
- Wexford: Fat Tomato
- Wicklow: Catalyst Coffee Beach
Local Food Hero:
Sponsored by Sugar Snap Agency
Sponsored by Sugar Snap Agency
- Carlow: John Whelan, The Devils Menu
- Kildare: Graham Herterich, Ernie’s @ Shackelton Experience
- Kilkenny: Sean Ring, Ring’s Farm
- Laois: Cormac & Tracy Loonam, The Red Shed
- Longford: Pat & Fiona McCormack, The Farmhouse Bees and Trees
- Louth: Kian Louët-Feisser, Carlingford Oyster Company
- Meath: Michael & Jenny Finegan, Boyne Valley Farmhouse Cheese
- Offaly: Margaret Edgill, Mount Briscoe Organic Farm
- Westmeath: The Gillivan Family, Gillivan’s Moate Meats
- Wexford: Catherine Kinsella, Saltrock Dairy
- Wicklow: Wayne Kelly & Louise Hollingsworth, Kelly’s Fruit and Veg
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
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
