AWARD winning restaurants in Ireland’s county CORK

• Overall: Restaurant Chestnut, Ballydehob
An intimate, Michelin-starred restaurant in the West Cork village of Ballydehob, run by chef Rob Krawczyk and Elaine Fleming. With just 18 seats in a cosy setting, it specialises in refined modern Irish cuisine using hyper-local, foraged, and seasonal ingredients, renowned for its exceptional quality, creativity, and warm service, frequently topping Cork and national lists.
• Café: Grumpy Bakers – Cork City, Cork city
A no-frills, highly popular artisan bakery-café in Cork City, celebrated for its outstanding sourdoughs, pastries, cakes, and hearty baked goods, paired with excellent coffee in a straightforward, charming spot with a quirky “grumpy” persona.
• Casual Dining: O’Mahony’s of Watergrasshill, Watergrasshill
A revitalised historic pub in the village of Watergrasshill, now a modern casual dining venue run by Máire O’Mahony and Victor Murphy. It offers excellent-value comfort food, small plates, and a curated selection of low-intervention wines and craft beers in a relaxed, community-focused country setting.
• Chef: Ahmet Dede, Dede at The Customs House, Baltimore
Chef-owner of the Michelin-starred Dede in Baltimore, West Cork, acclaimed for his innovative fusion of Turkish heritage with premium Irish seasonal ingredients, delivering bold, precise tasting menus that have earned widespread critical praise.
• Contemporary Irish Cuisine: Goldie, Cork city
A lively, seafood-centric restaurant in Cork City (with a Michelin Bib Gourmand), led by chef Aishling Moore. It focuses on sustainable, whole-fish cooking with creative, Asian-influenced techniques and vibrant flavours in an accessible, energetic atmosphere.
• Customer Service: The Glass Curtain, Cork city
A Cork City favourite recognised for its outstanding, genuine hospitality and attentive, personable service that makes diners feel exceptionally valued and welcomed.
• Employee Excellence Award: Ciara O’Shea, Caseys Bar & Restaurant, Clonakilty
Honouring Ciara O’Shea for her exceptional dedication, professionalism, and outstanding performance as an employee at this longstanding Clonakilty bar and restaurant.
• Gastro Pub: O’Sullivans Bar, Crookhaven
A scenic West Cork gastro pub in Crookhaven, praised for its elevated pub food using fresh local ingredients, welcoming vibe, and authentic coastal pub experience with great drinks and atmosphere.
• Hotel and Guesthouse Restaurant: Rare at Blue Haven Hotel, Kinsale
The acclaimed dining room at the Blue Haven Hotel in picturesque Kinsale, offering high-quality, seasonal cuisine with a focus on local produce in a refined yet relaxed hotel setting.
• Innovator of the Year: The Flour Patch, Castlefreke
Recognised for innovative approaches to baking or food production at this Castlefreke spot, likely pushing creative boundaries with unique artisan goods or concepts.
• Local Food Hero: Mike Parle and Darcie Mayland, Lost Valley Dairy + Creamery, Inchigeela
Celebrating Mike Parle and Darcie Mayland for their outstanding work producing high-quality, artisanal dairy products at Lost Valley in Inchigeela, championing local sourcing and sustainable farming in West Cork.
• Newcomer: Azure Harbour Bistro, Cobh
A promising new bistro in harbour-side Cobh, noted for its fresh, welcoming style, quality food, and strong early contributions to the local dining scene.
• Pub of the Year: An Spailpín Fánach, Cork city
A beloved traditional pub in Cork City, awarded for its authentic atmosphere, excellent drinks, live music, and solid pub fare in a classic, characterful Irish setting.
• Restaurant Manager: Barbara Nealon, Saint Francis Provisions, Cork city
Commending Barbara Nealon for her excellent management, leadership, and seamless operations at Saint Francis Provisions, a highly regarded Cork City spot known for modern Irish food and natural wines.
• Sustainable Practices: Good Day Deli, Cork city
Praised for its strong focus on sustainability through ethical sourcing, minimal waste, eco-friendly practices, and community-minded operations at this popular Cork deli.
• Use of Social Media: The Lifeboat Inn, Courtmacsherry
Recognised for its effective, engaging social media that showcases the coastal pub’s food, events, and welcoming vibe in Courtmacsherry.
• Wine Experience: MacCurtain Wine Cellar, Cork city
Celebrated for its curated wine selection, knowledgeable staff, expert pairings, and overall exceptional wine-focused experience on MacCurtain Street.
• World Cuisine: Miyazaki, Cork city
A standout Cork City restaurant specialising in authentic Japanese cuisine, delivering fresh, skillfully prepared dishes with high-quality ingredients in a welcoming, modern setting.

Michelin Stars

• Dede, Baltimore, wo MICHELIN Stars:, Praised for its joyful, skilful fusion of Irish and Turkish seasonal ingredients in a remote, unpretentious setting.
• Bastion, Kinsale, Known for pure, natural flavours with strong local sourcing in a characterful town-centre spot.
• Chestnut, Ballydehob, A focus on clean, natural, seasonal cooking in a rural West Cork location.
• Terre, Castlemartyr (at Castlemartyr Resort), Refined modern cuisine in a luxurious manor house setting.

Bib Gourmand and Recommended

• Goldie, Cork City, A seafood specialist offering excellent value with fresh, flavourful dishes.
• da Mirco, Cork City, Italian-inspired with high-quality, well-executed classics.
• Ichigo Ichie Bistro & Natural Wine, Cork City, Japanese-influenced with natural wines and creative plates.
• Rare, Kinsale, Indian cuisine praised for bold, precise flavours.
• The Glass Curtain, Cork City, Modern venue with strong contemporary offerings.

Georgina Campbell Awards

• Cafe-Bar: Jacob’s Bar, Baltimore, A welcoming spot recognised for its excellent casual offerings and hospitality in a scenic West Cork location.
• Host of the Year: Fern Allen of Ballymaloe House, Shanagarry, Honoured for exceptional leadership and warm hospitality at this iconic country house hotel and restaurant.
• Long-Haul Hero: Fergus & Trish O’Mahony of Mary Ann’s Bar & Restaurant, Castletownshend, Celebrated for longstanding dedication to quality food and hospitality in their historic pub-restaurant.
• Brunch Destination: Greenwich, Cork City, Awarded for outstanding brunch experiences with fresh, high-quality fare in the city centre.
• Global Cuisines: Izz Cafe, Cork City, Recognised for its bold international flavours and welcoming vibe.

Good Food Ireland Awards

• Restaurant of the Year (Joint National Winner): The Church Restaurant, Cork, A standout venue sharing the top national honour for exceptional culinary experiences using high-quality Irish ingredients.
• Culinary Haven of the Year: Ballymaloe House Hotel, Shanagarry, A luxurious country house hotel recognised for its outstanding hospitality, seasonal dining, and iconic Irish food heritage.

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 of Ireland 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 Restaurants Association of Ireland 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

Cork:

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Cork blends historic sites with scenic beauty, with Cork City’s English Market and St Fin Barre’s Cathedral offering cultural and architectural depth. Blarney Castle, home to the famous Blarney Stone, provides historic allure, while the coastal town of Kinsale offers sailing and seafood. Other attractions include the Beara Peninsula’s rugged trails. Cork is Ireland’s largest county by size (7,460 sq km) and third largest by population (584,156). Population peaked at 854,118 in 1841 (when Cork was Ireland’s most populous county) and reached its lowest point, 330,443 in 1961. In terms of hospitality, Cork is Ireland’s second most visited tourist county with around 1,228,000 international visitors per year.