- Overall Winner: The Lemon Tree, Letterkenny, A family-run Michelin-recommended restaurant offering contemporary Irish cooking with locally sourced ingredients along the Wild Atlantic Way.
- Café: Hatch’d, Letterkenny, A multi-award-winning coffee and kitchen spot known for its vibrant atmosphere and all-day breakfast options on Upper Main Street.
- Casual Dining: Snugborough, Letterkenny, A relaxed eatery specialising in smashed burgers and brunch in a quirky setting with biker memorabilia on Bunagee Lane.
- Chef: Ciaran Sweeney of The Olde Glen Bar, Restaurant & Bia Box, Glen (Carrigart), An acclaimed chef renowned for his innovative contemporary Irish cuisine using seasonal local produce.
- Contemporary Irish Cuisine: The Olde Glen Bar, Restaurant & Bia Box, Glen (Carrigart), A historic 1768 bar and restaurant blending old-world charm with modern Irish dishes in a scenic rural location.
- Customer Service: The Red Door Country House, Fahan (Inishowen), A picturesque venue on Lough Swilly shores offering relaxed fine dining and weddings with exceptional hospitality.
- Employee Excellence Award: Tatjana Erinc of The Restaurant at Harvey’s Point, Lough Eske, A dedicated staff member recognised for outstanding service in this award-winning hotel restaurant.
- Gastro Pub: Whoriskey’s, Cashelard (Ballyshannon), A welcoming mid-range pub serving honest diner-style food in a local-favourite setting near Ballyshannon.
- Hotel and Guesthouse Restaurant: The Restaurant at Harvey’s Point, Lough Eske, An elegant lakeside dining room known for its tasting menus and voted best hotel restaurant in prior awards.
- Innovator: Foam, Bundoran, A coastal café celebrating surf culture with speciality coffee and seasonal organic food on Main Street.
- Local Food Hero: Martin Anderson, Sonder, Letterkenny, A passionate chef promoting local farm produce through his unique coffee and fresh food café on Pearse Road.
- Newcomer: No. 9 Market Square, Letterkenny, A chef-owned eatery serving modern dishes and cocktails in a historic town square setting.
- Pub: The Reel Inn, Donegal Town, A family-run traditional pub offering live Irish music seven nights a week on Bridge Street.
- Restaurant Manager: Claire Williamson of BRAAI, Creeslough, A skilled manager overseeing this South African-inspired barbecue restaurant in a converted shed.
- Sustainable Practices: Simple Simon’s, Donegal Town, A health-focused restaurant and wholefoods store emphasising nutritious, plant-based options on The Diamond.
- Use of Social Media: Sonder, Letterkenny, A café excelling in community engagement with fresh, lifestyle-friendly food on Pearse Road.
- Wine Experience: Castle Grove Country House, Letterkenny, A Georgian estate hotel with an award-winning restaurant overlooking Lough Swilly on Ramelton Road.
- World Cuisine: Chandpur Restaurant, Donegal Town, An award-winning Indian and Bangladeshi eatery using fresh ingredients in the Main Street car park.
Michelin Guide Recommendations
- Lemon Tree, Letterkenny, A welcoming family-run spot established in 1999, featuring modern cuisine in a relaxed atmosphere.
- Olde Glen Bar, Glen (Carrigart), A charming historic pub from 1768 offering Irish fare in a characterful setting.
Georgina Campbell Awards
- Best 4-Star Hotel: Harvey’s Point, Lough Eske, A luxurious resort with elegant dining and stunning lake views.
- Small Stay: The Mill, Dunfanaghy, A cosy B&B recognised for its intimate hospitality in a seaside town.
- Casual-Dining, Bakery-Café: Belle’s Café, Rathmullan, A charming bakery-café offering fresh bakes and casual meals.
- Best Irish Breakfast and Country House: Rathmullan House, Rathmullan, A historic country house known for its hearty breakfasts and refined stays.
Other Notable Awards
- World Seafood Chowder Champions: Nancy’s Barn, Ballyliffin, A 19th-century bistro famed for its award-winning chowder and warm welcome.
- Cedars Restaurant at Lough Eske Castle, Lough Eske, An award-winning venue using fresh Wild Atlantic Way ingredients in a castle setting.
Restaurants Association winners full list
The 2025 Ulster provincial awards ceremony took place on Tuesday 1st April, Hillgrove Hotel, Old Armagh Road, County Monaghan
- Overall: The Lemon Tree, Letterkenny
- Café: Hatch’d
- Casual Dining: Snugborough
- Chef: Ciaran Sweeney of The Olde Glen Bar, Restaurant & Bia Box
- Contemporary Irish Cuisine: The Olde Glen Bar, Restaurant & Bia Box
- Customer Service: The Red Door Country House
- Employee Excellence Award: Tatjana Erinc of The Restaurant at Harvey’s Point
- Gastro Pub: Whoriskey’s
- Hotel and Guesthouse Restaurant: The Restaurant at Harvey’s Point
- Innovator: Foam
- Local Food Hero: Martin Anderson, Sonder
- Newcomer: No. 9 Market Square
- Pub: The Reel Inn
- Restaurant Manager: Claire Williamson of BRAAI
- Sustainable Practices: Simple Simon’s
- Use of Social Media: Sonder
- Wine Experience: Castle Grove Country House
- World Cuisine: Chandpur 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 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
Donegal:
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 – New – Name – 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 –
Donegal is a land of wild coastlines and Gaelic heritage, with Slieve League’s towering sea cliffs offering some of Europe’s highest coastal views. Glenveagh National Park features a historic castle and sprawling gardens amidst rugged mountains. The beaches of Bundoran and the traditional tweed workshops of Ardara make Donegal an engaging destination for nature and cultural enthusiasts. The Grianan of Aileach stone fort adds ancient intrigue and splendid views. Donegal is Ireland’s fourth largest county by size (4,830 square km) and 13th largest by population (167,084). Population peaked at 296,448 in 1841 and reached its lowest point, 108,344 in 1971. In terms of hospitality, Donegal is also Ireland’s 13th most visited tourist county with around 199,000 international visitors per year.
