- Overall (Best Restaurant): Midtown Kitchen & Bar, Longford town: This vibrant fusion restaurant in the heart of Longford town offers a creative mix of gourmet dishes, handcrafted wood-fired pizzas, and crafted cocktails in a stylish, welcoming setting. It emphasises scratch-made food with bold flavours and quality ingredients, earning recognition as the county’s top restaurant for its passion, atmosphere, and excellent value.
- Cafe: Fabiani, Townparks, Longford: Part of the Fabiani boutique on Main Street, this charming Cafe combines luxury fashion shopping with quality coffee, juices, sweet treats, and light Cafe fare. It provides a relaxed, community-oriented spot for daytime indulgence, praised for its friendly service and excellent brews in a curated, welcoming environment.
- Casual Dining: PV’s Longford: A stylish, family-run gastropub on Ballymahon Street in Longford town, PV’s delivers hearty, seasonal Irish classics alongside creative twists in a lively yet relaxed setting. It serves lunch and dinner daily with great value, fresh ingredients, and a buzzing atmosphere that makes it a go-to for casual meals, drinks, and socialising.
- Chef: Marco Fabbi, Sorrento Restaurant, Lanesboro: Head chef Marco Fabbi at Sorrento Restaurant in Lanesboro leads with skilful preparation of Italian-inspired and contemporary dishes, using quality ingredients to create flavourful, well-executed meals in a welcoming local venue, earning acclaim for his talent and consistency.
- Contemporary Irish Cuisine: The Glenview Bar and Lounge, Longford: This popular bar and lounge in Longford focuses on modern takes on Irish favourites, highlighting seasonal and local produce in a comfortable, community-driven setting. It offers approachable yet elevated pub-style dining with a strong emphasis on fresh, hearty Irish flavours.
- Customer Service: The Rustic Inn, Abbeyshrule: This welcoming spot in Abbeyshrule excels in warm, attentive hospitality and outstanding customer service, with a dedicated team that prioritises making every guest feel valued through friendly, professional, and personalised efforts in a traditional Irish pub atmosphere.
- Employee Excellence Award: Hanna Kadet, Newcastle House, Ballymahon: Hanna Kadet is recognised for her exceptional dedication, teamwork, and outstanding contributions to guest experience and service at Newcastle House in Ballymahon, exemplifying top-tier performance and commitment in the hospitality industry.
- Gastro Pub: Richmond Inn, Cloondara: A standout gastropub in Cloondara, the Richmond Inn combines quality elevated pub food with a great drinks selection and warm hospitality. It is celebrated for its fresh, hearty dishes, welcoming vibe, and strong community appeal in a classic Irish pub setting.
- Hotel and Guesthouse Restaurant: Longford Arms Hotel: This central hotel restaurant in Longford town offers a welcoming dining experience with buffet breakfasts, a popular carvery lunch (available daily), and evening meals in a comfortable, family-friendly setting. It combines classic Irish pub-style fare with quality ingredients and reliable hospitality in the heart of the town.
- Innovator of the Year: John Stone Beef, Ballymahon: A renowned family-run beef producer in Ballymahon, celebrated for over six decades of expertise in premium dry-aged beef. It earns this award for innovative practices in sourcing, ageing, and supplying high-quality Irish beef to top restaurants and butchers, pushing standards in the meat industry.
- Local Food Hero: Pat & Fiona McCormack, The Farmhouse Bees and Trees, Abbeyshrule: Pat and Fiona McCormack are passionate beekeepers on their farm along the River Inny in Abbeyshrule, maintaining native Irish honey bees across 130+ hives. They produce raw seasonal honeys (spring, summer, heather, ivy), comb honey, and beeswax candles, championing sustainability, conservation, and local provenance through their honesty-box sales and wider distribution.
- Newcomer: Gooseberry Cafe, Townparks, Longford: This fresh, cosy Cafe on Dublin Street in Longford town (opened in March 2025) quickly became a local favourite with its welcoming atmosphere across two floors, great coffee, vegan-friendly options (like tofu scrambles and Buddha bowls), hearty breakfasts, lunches, and good-value treats in a stylish, community-oriented spot.
- Pub of the Year: Ronnie Nally & Sons, Ballymahon: A charming, family-run traditional pub in the heart of Ballymahon, known for its authentic Irish welcome, riverside location, classic pub atmosphere, drinks selection, and community events. It blends historic charm with warm hospitality, making it a beloved local gathering place.
- Restaurant Manager: Frances Nugent, Spice India Longford: Frances Nugent is recognised for her exceptional leadership and outstanding management at Spice India in Longford town, delivering top-tier service, warm hospitality, and operational excellence that contribute to the restaurant’s success and multiple awards.
- Sustainable Practices: Fiona Egan, Cloughan Farm & Cookery School, Abbeyshrule: Fiona Egan (with husband Michael) runs this hands-on farm and cookery school in rural Abbeyshrule, focusing on sustainable farming, garden-to-table produce, animal welfare (including calves and sheep), and eco-conscious education through cookery classes, farm walks, and seasonal courses that reconnect people with food origins and green living.
- Use of Social Media: Jolly Boys Pizza & Grill, Ballymahon: This lively pizza and grill spot in Ballymahon excels with highly engaging social media that showcases its handmade pizzas, burgers, pasta, local ingredients, buzzing atmosphere, events, and family-friendly vibe, effectively building community connections and highlighting its offerings.
- Wine Experience: Vocella’s, Townparks, Longford: This multi-award-winning Italian-influenced bistro in Longford town features a thoughtfully curated wine list sourced from smaller, lesser-known producers for authenticity. It offers expert pairings, a wide selection, and knowledgeable service that enhance its fusion cuisine and make every meal special.
- World Cuisine: Spice India, Longford: A longstanding favourite in Longford town, Spice India specialises in authentic and flavourful Indian dishes (curries, lamb, prawn specials, and more) with consistent quality and generous portions. It has won Best World Cuisine multiple times for its excellence in global (primarily Indian) flavours and welcoming neighbourhood dining.
Other Notable Awards
- Blas na hÉireann (Irish Food Awards), in Longford: Richmount Cordial Company, Longford, A local producer awarded for exceptional artisanal cordials, contributing to the county’s food scene (though not a restaurant, it supports local dining).
- County Longford’s awards spotlight its strong Indian cuisine influence (with Jodhpur and Spice India leading categories) alongside solid casual, café, and pub offerings in a rural Midlands setting, with 12 venues achieving recognition at the Leinster Regional Irish Restaurant Awards. The county’s scene emphasises welcoming, flavourful neighbourhood spots rather than high-end fine dining.
Irish Restaurant Awards full list
- Overall (Best Restaurant): Midtown Kitchen & Bar, Longford town
- Café: Fabiani, Townparks, Longford
- Casual Dining: PV’s Longford
- Chef: Marco Fabbi, Sorrento Restaurant, Lanesboro
- Contemporary Irish Cuisine: The Glenview Bar and Lounge, Longford
- Customer Service: The Rustic Inn, Abbeyshrule
- Employee Excellence Award: Hanna Kadet, Newcastle House, Ballymahon
- Gastro Pub: Richmond Inn, Cloondara
- Hotel and Guesthouse Restaurant: Longford Arms Hotel
- Innovator of the Year: John Stone Beef, Ballymahon
- Local Food Hero: Pat & Fiona McCormack, The Farmhouse Bees and Trees, Abbeyshrule
- Newcomer: Gooseberry Cafe, Townparks, Longford
- Pub of the Year: Ronnie Nally & Sons, Ballymahon
- Restaurant Manager: Frances Nugent, Spice India Longford
- Sustainable Practices: Fiona Egan, Cloughan Farm & Cookery School, Abbeyshrule
- Use of Social Media: Jolly Boys Pizza & Grill, Ballymahon
- Wine Experience: Vocella’s, Townparks, Longford
- World Cuisine: Spice India, Longford
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
Longford:
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 –
Longford offers a peaceful blend of history and countryside, with the Corlea Trackway Visitor Centre showcasing an ancient Iron Age road. The county’s St Mel’s Cathedral in Longford town provides architectural beauty, while the River Inny offers opportunities for kayaking and fishing. Other attractions include the rolling farmlands and historic Ardagh village. Longford is Ireland’s fourth smallest county by size and second smallest by population (46,751). Population peaked at 115,491 in 1841 and reached its lowest point, 28,250 in 1971. In terms of hospitality, Longford is Ireland’s 32nd most visited and Ireland’s least visited tourist county with around 22,000 international visitors per year.
