- Overall (Best Restaurant): Neighbourhood Naas: An award-winning fine dining restaurant in the heart of Naas, Co. Kildare, led by chef Gareth Naughton. Housed in a former pub on the main street, it offers modern Irish cuisine with bold flavours, creative dishes, and an elegant yet relaxed atmosphere. It has earned recognition including a Michelin Guide listing and is celebrated for its flavour-driven food, fine wines, and exceptional service.
- Café: Hey Darling Naas: A popular, friendly neighbourhood café founded in 2022, with locations in Naas (and expansions to nearby areas like Kill and Sallins). It specialises in specialty coffee from Connemara roasters Calendar Coffee, alongside tasty bagels, toasties, fresh pastries, and light bites made with high-quality, locally sourced produce. Known for its laid-back vibes, dog-friendly policy, and consistent quality.
- Casual Dining: Rye River Café, Kilcock: A highly regarded, award-winning café in Kilcock, recently relocated to the historic St. Joseph’s Hall on School Street after outgrowing its original spot. It focuses on outstanding breakfasts, brunches, lunches, and speciality coffee, using fresh, quality ingredients in a welcoming setting. It operates on a walk-in basis only and is praised for its warm hospitality and hearty, freshly prepared food.
- Chef: Adam Nevin, The Morrison Room at Carton House: Head chef at The Morrison Room, the Michelin-starred fine-dining restaurant at the luxurious Carton House in Maynooth. A talented young chef with classical training and creative flair, Nevin creates imaginative, skilful dishes rooted in strong technique with thoughtful flavour combinations, celebrating seasonal Irish produce in an opulent setting.
- Contemporary Irish Cuisine: The Green Barn, Burtown House, Athy: The acclaimed restaurant at historic Burtown House & Gardens near Athy, set in a stylish barn-like space overlooking the walled kitchen garden. It serves fresh, seasonal dishes made almost entirely from produce grown on-site or nearby, blending rustic charm with high ceilings and flexible dining options for groups, brunches, lunches, and weekend dinners.
- Customer Service: Clanard Court Hotel, Athy: A well-regarded hotel in Athy known for its outstanding hospitality and customer-focused approach. It offers comfortable accommodation alongside dining options, with staff consistently praised for their warm, attentive service that enhances the overall guest experience in this welcoming venue.
- Employee Excellence Award: Tom Breen, Vi’s Restaurant at Lawlor’s of Naas: Tom Breen was recognised for his exceptional dedication and performance at Vi’s Restaurant, located within the historic Lawlor’s Hotel in Naas. This award highlights his outstanding contributions to the team, likely through exemplary service, passion, and positive impact on customers and colleagues.
- Gastro Pub: Hartes of Kildare: A popular gastro pub in Kildare town, celebrated for its high-quality pub dining, relaxed atmosphere, and strong community focus. It combines classic pub vibes with elevated food offerings, earning praise for consistent excellence in hospitality and earning additional recognition in related categories.
- Hotel and Guesthouse Restaurant: The Morrison Room at Carton House: The Michelin-starred fine-dining restaurant at the luxurious Carton House, a Fairmont Managed Hotel in Maynooth. It offers an intimate, opulent experience with imaginative, technique-driven dishes using seasonal Irish produce, led by head chef Adam Nevin, blending grandeur with discreet, high-end service in a historic estate setting.
- Innovator of the Year: Lock 13 Gastropub & Brewpub, Sallins: A creative gastro-brewpub in Sallins, combining craft brewing with elevated pub dining. Recognised for its innovative approach to hospitality, including on-site brewing, fresh food offerings, and a modern twist on the traditional pub experience that has earned prior accolades like Innovative Pub of the Year.
- Local Food Hero: Graham Herterich, Ernie’s @ Shackelton Experience, Athy: Award-winning baker and author Graham Herterich (known as ‘The Cupcake Bloke’), an Athy native who returned home to run Ernie’s café within the Shackleton Experience museum. Celebrated for championing local produce, seasonal baking, and community-focused dining inspired by his heritage and the explorer Ernest Shackleton.
- Newcomer: Ernie’s @ Shackelton Experience, Athy: A newly opened café and dining space inside the Shackleton Experience museum in Athy, operated by acclaimed baker Graham Herterich. It serves tasty dine-in, takeaway, and retail options with a focus on locally sourced ingredients, fresh bakes, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere tied to the town’s history.
- Pub of the Year: James Nolan’s Pub, Kildare: A beloved, traditional pub in Kildare town, honoured for its outstanding hospitality, community spirit, and quality pub offerings. It stands out for its welcoming vibe, excellent drinks, and consistent excellence in the local pub scene.
- Restaurant Manager: Shauna Ronan, Hartes of Kildare: The restaurant manager at Hartes of Kildare, a popular gastro pub in Kildare town. She was recognised for her exceptional leadership, team coordination, and dedication to delivering top-tier service and guest experiences in this highly regarded venue.
- Sustainable Practices: Woodstack Café, Monasterevin: An upcycled, pet-friendly coffee shop nestled in the tranquil Moore Abbey Woods near Monasterevin. It earned the award for its strong commitment to sustainability, including eco-conscious operations, waste reduction, and a nature-integrated setting with barista coffees, fresh bakes, and a relaxed forest vibe (complete with features like a free cinema).
- Use of Social Media: Firecastle Kildare: A vibrant café (with food truck elements) in Kildare, praised for its engaging and effective social media presence that showcases its menu, atmosphere, and community appeal. It connects with followers through creative content, helping to build a loyal following and highlight its offerings.
- Wine Experience: Barton Grill Restaurant at the K Club: The casual fine-dining grill at the prestigious K Club in Straffan, featuring a carefully curated wine selection showcased via a softly illuminated wine wall. It offers an exceptional wine programme with private tastings, cellar tours, and pairings that enhance its high-quality food in a luxurious, historic setting.
- World Cuisine: Red Torch Ginger Maynooth: A modern Thai and South East Asian restaurant on Main Street in Maynooth (above McMahon’s Bar). It specialises in playful, flavourful dishes blending authentic Thai influences with European touches, using seasonal Irish ingredients, alongside cocktails and craft beers in a lively atmosphere.
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 Kildare:
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.
Introduction – Adventure – Anthem – Archaeology – Attractions – Awards – Birdwatching – Breweries & Distilleries – Camping – Castles – Churches – Contact list – Cycling – Dining – Equestrian – Festivals – Fishing – Folklore – Gardens – Golf – Graveyards – Happening – Haunted– Highest – Hiking – History – Holy Wells – Hotels – Hotels top 8 – Hunting & shooting – Instagrammable – Itineraries – Largest town – Luxury– MICE – Movies – Music – Name – New – Novelists – Off the beaten track – Poets – Pubs – Quotes – Random Facts – Restaurant Awards – Sacred Places – Saints – Songs – Spas – Sports – Sunsets – Sustainable – Things to do – Towns – Video – Villages – Walking – Wanderlist –Weddings – Wild swimming – Writers – 1837 – 1846 – 1852 – 1909 – 1955 – 1980 –
