- Overall: Sinton’s at The Bridge, Scarva: Sinton’s at The Bridge is a welcoming restaurant situated in the picturesque village of Scarva, County Down. It combines warm hospitality with carefully prepared dishes that highlight quality local ingredients. The relaxed yet refined setting makes it a favourite destination for diners seeking excellent food in a peaceful rural location.
- Café: Sojourn Coffee Armagh: Sojourn Coffee in Armagh is a vibrant café known for its excellent specialty coffee and relaxed atmosphere. It serves fresh, thoughtfully prepared food and pastries alongside its carefully sourced brews. The welcoming space has become a popular spot for locals and visitors alike to enjoy quality drinks and light bites in the heart of the city.
- Casual Dining: Viet By Vee Portadown: Viet By Vee in Portadown offers a fresh and flavourful take on Vietnamese cuisine in a relaxed casual dining environment. The menu features bright, authentic dishes made with vibrant herbs, noodles, and spices, delivered with warmth and efficiency. Its approachable style and consistent quality have made it a popular choice for everyday dining.
- Chef: Darragh Dooley, Killeavy Castle Estate, Newry: Darragh Dooley is the talented chef at Killeavy Castle Estate near Newry. He brings creativity and technical skill to modern Irish cooking, making full use of the estate’s own produce and the finest regional ingredients. His refined yet approachable dishes have helped establish the castle as a standout dining destination.
- Contemporary Irish Cuisine: Sally McNallys Portadown: Sally McNallys in Portadown specialises in contemporary Irish cuisine, presenting classic flavours with a modern touch. The restaurant focuses on seasonal, locally sourced ingredients and delivers them in a warm, inviting setting. Its thoughtful menu and attention to detail have earned it strong local support.
- Customer Service: Mulberry Bistro Armagh: Mulberry Bistro in Armagh is recognised for its outstanding customer service. The team delivers friendly, attentive care in a charming setting while serving delicious, well-prepared meals. This combination of warm hospitality and quality food creates a consistently enjoyable experience for every guest.
- Employee Excellence Award: Fabio Chessa, Zio Portadown: Fabio Chessa received the Employee Excellence Award for his outstanding contributions at Zio in Portadown. His dedication, professionalism, and warm personality have helped create memorable dining experiences. Fabio’s commitment exemplifies the high standard of service at this popular Italian-inspired venue.
- Gastro Pub: Digby’s Bar & Restaurant Killylea: Digby’s Bar & Restaurant in Killylea offers the perfect blend of traditional pub warmth and quality gastro dining. With a welcoming atmosphere and a menu featuring carefully prepared dishes, it provides an enjoyable experience for both casual drinkers and those seeking a proper meal.
- Hotel and Guesthouse: Killeavy Castle, Newry: Killeavy Castle near Newry is a magnificent historic property offering luxurious yet welcoming accommodation. The castle combines elegant rooms with beautiful grounds, providing guests with a memorable stay that blends heritage, comfort, and excellent hospitality in the scenic South Armagh countryside.
- Innovator: The Corner House Derrymacash: The Corner House in Derrymacash stands out for its innovative approach to dining and hospitality. Through creative concepts and fresh ideas, it has brought something distinctive to the local area, enhancing the dining experience with thoughtful design and original offerings.
- Local Food Hero: The Dougan Family, Ballymoran Meats Keady
- The Dougan Family of Ballymoran Meats in Keady has been named Local Food Hero for their dedication to producing high-quality meat while supporting traditional farming practices. Their commitment to excellence and community has helped showcase the best of Armagh’s agricultural produce.
- Newcomer: Jireh – Filipino Asian Cuisine And Café Lurgan:Jireh in Lurgan is a vibrant newcomer bringing Filipino and Asian cuisine to the area. The café and restaurant offers authentic flavours through colourful dishes and warm hospitality, quickly winning over diners with its fresh approach and welcoming atmosphere.
- Restaurant Manager: Claire Macklin, Digby’s Bar & Restaurant, Killylea: Claire Macklin serves as restaurant manager at Digby’s Bar & Restaurant in Killylea. Her leadership and attention to detail ensure smooth operations and consistently high standards of service. Claire’s professionalism plays a key role in delivering an enjoyable experience for every guest.
- Pub: The Hole In The Wall Armagh: The Hole In The Wall is a classic and characterful pub in the heart of Armagh. It offers a genuine traditional pub experience with a warm, friendly atmosphere that makes it a favourite gathering place for locals and visitors alike.
- Sustainable Practices: Killeavy Castle Estate Newry: Killeavy Castle Estate near Newry is recognised for its strong commitment to sustainable practices. The estate integrates environmentally conscious methods across its operations, from sourcing local produce to minimising its environmental impact, while maintaining high standards of luxury and hospitality.
- Use of Social Media: Sojourn Coffee Armagh: Sojourn Coffee in Armagh has been praised for its effective and engaging use of social media. Through creative content and regular interaction, it successfully showcases its coffee, food, and welcoming atmosphere, building a strong community connection online.
- Wine Experience: Charlemont Arms Hotel Armagh: The Charlemont Arms Hotel in Armagh offers an excellent wine experience with a well-curated selection and knowledgeable service. Its dedicated tasting and dining spaces allow guests to enjoy fine wines in a relaxed and sophisticated setting within this historic hotel.
- World Cuisine: Spice Lounge Armagh: Spice Lounge in Armagh brings world cuisine to the city with a focus on vibrant Indian flavours and aromatic dishes. The restaurant offers a diverse menu of expertly prepared specialities in a welcoming environment, providing diners with an authentic taste of Indian hospitality.
Georgina Campbell Awards
- Neighbourhood Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year: Wine and Brine, Moira, A stylish and welcoming restaurant in Moira village, nationally honoured for its modern seasonal cooking, pickling, fermenting, and decade-long community success.
Good Food Ireland Awards
- No major restaurant-specific national winners were highlighted for County Armagh in the awards (ceremony November at The K Club), though the county’s scene benefits from strong local producer support (e.g., Armagh Cider, Yellow Door Deli influences) and hospitality recognitions in regional contexts.
- County Armagh’s awards scene centres on Wine and Brine as the standout county winner (with national neighbourhood fine-dining acclaim), blending modern fine dining in Moira, welcoming neighbourhood spots, gastro pubs, and historic estate dining at Killeavy Castle, emphasising seasonal local produce and warm hospitality in this scenic border county.
Restaurant award winners
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
Armagh:
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 –
Armagh is steeped in history and natural beauty, with the Navan Fort, an ancient ceremonial site, offering archaeological intrigue. The Armagh Observatory and Planetarium provide stargazing opportunities, while the city’s two cathedrals reflect its ecclesiastical heritage. Other attractions include the nearby Slieve Gullion Forest Park with its hiking trails and panoramic views. Armagh is Ireland’s fifth smallest county by size (1,253 square km) and tenth largest by population (194,394). Population peaked at 232,393 in 1841 and reached its lowest point, 108,815, in 1937. In terms of hospitality, Armagh is Ireland’s 26th most visited tourist county with around 57,000 international visitors per year.
