- Café: Goodly Barrow, Goresbridge, A popular café in Goresbridge, celebrated for its quality baked goods, fresh daytime dining, and community vibe (also noted as a top café in Leinster categories).
- Casual Dining: Arboretum, A welcoming casual dining spot in Carlow, known for approachable, high-quality casual meals with a friendly vibe and emphasis on fresh ingredients.
- Chef: Henry Stone of Sha-Roe Bistro, Clonegal, A talented chef recognised for his innovative, precise cooking and bold use of fresh Irish ingredients in this charming rural bistro (also a long-time Bib Gourmand holder in the Michelin Guide).
- Contemporary Irish Cuisine: The Cellar Restaurant at The Step House Hotel, Borris, Recognised for its modern interpretations of Irish classics using seasonal produce in a historic hotel setting.
- Customer Service: Teach Dolmain, Praised for exceptional hospitality, warm guest experiences, and attentive service in its dining operations.
- Employee Excellence Award: Kelly Mernagh, New Moon Tandoori Indian, An standout team member at New Moon Tandoori Indian (likely in Carlow town or area), honored for dedication, performance, and contribution to hospitality excellence.
- Gastro Pub: Teach Dolmain, A quality gastro pub delivering elevated pub food, great atmosphere, and strong community appeal.
- Hotel and Guesthouse Restaurant: The Cellar Restaurant at The Step House Hotel, Borris, An elegant restaurant within the historic Step House Hotel, known for refined contemporary Irish cuisine, warm hospitality, and a focus on seasonal fare.
- Innovator: Waterlilies Tullow, Recognized for innovative approaches to cuisine, menu creativity, sustainability, or dining concepts in Tullow, Co. Carlow.
- Local Food Hero: Tracy Corcoran of The Green Lemon Cafe and Bakery, Rathvilly, A dedicated champion of local Carlow food culture through her café/bakery, promoting fresh, homemade offerings and community engagement (also highlighted in regional awards).
- Newcomer: Brasserie 15, A promising new addition to the Carlow dining scene, noted for its fresh energy and quality offerings.
- Overall: Clashganny House Restaurant, Borris, A charming countryside restaurant near Borris in Co. Carlow, acclaimed for its seasonal, locally sourced fine dining in a relaxed setting (previously honored as Leinster’s Restaurant in related years).
- Pub: Corcorans Bar, A classic Carlow pub awarded for its welcoming vibe, quality drinks, and community standing (named Carlow Pub of the Year in coverage).
- Restaurant Manager: Michal Kostra of Mimosa Bar de Tapas, Carlow, An outstanding manager honoured for exceptional leadership and contribution to service excellence in this popular tapas venue.
- Sustainable Practices: Coppenagh House Farm, Honored for commitment to ethical sourcing, eco-friendly practices, and sustainability in its farm-to-table or related dining efforts.
- Use of Social Media: Birdcage Cafe, location in County Carlow, Awarded for its engaging online presence and community building.
- Wine Experience: Mimosa Bar de Tapas, Celebrated for its impressive wine selection, thoughtful pairings, and overall wine program in a tapas-focused setting.
- World Cuisine: Baht, A standout venue specializing in flavorful international/world cuisines (likely Thai or Asian-inspired, given the name) with local twists in Co. Carlow.
Michelin Guide
- Bib Gourmand: Sha-Roe Bistro, Clonegal, A long-standing favourite praised for good quality, good value cooking with high standards in a cosy, welcoming bistro setting using seasonal local ingredients.
Good Food Ireland Awards
- Ireland’s Ancient East, Food Lovers’ Choice Award: Ballykealy House, County Carlow, A charming house recognised by public vote for its exceptional hospitality, quality dining, and appeal as a top food experience in the Ancient East region.
- Meat Producer of the Year (National Winner): Murphy’s Butchers, Tullow, A standout butcher shop honoured for excellence in high-quality, locally sourced meats supporting Carlow’s food scene (producer-focused, underpinning restaurant quality).
Restaurant Association of Ireland full list
- Overall: Clashganny House Restaurant
- Café: Goodly Barrow
- Casual Dining: Arboretum
- Chef: Henry Stone, Sha-Roe Bistro
- Contemporary Irish Cuisine: Cellar Restaurant at The Step House Hotel
- Customer Service: Teach Dolmain
- Employee Excellence Award: Kelly Mernagh, New Moon Tandoori Indian
- Gastro Pub: Teach Dolmain
- Hotel and Guesthouse Restaurant: The Cellar Restaurant at The Step House Hotel
- Innovator: Waterlilies Tullow
- Local Food Hero: Tracy Corcoran of The Green Lemon Cafe and Bakery
- Newcomer: Brasserie 15
- Pub: Corcorans Bar
- Restaurant Manager: Michal Kostra, Mimosa Bar de Tapas
- Sustainable Practices: Coppenagh House Farm
- Use of Social Media: Birdcage Cafe
- Wine Experience: Mimosa Bar de Tapas
- World Cuisine: Baht
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
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
Carlow:
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 –
Carlow combines historic landmarks with serene landscapes, with the Carlow Castle ruins and the nearby Altamont Gardens offering a mix of medieval and botanical appeal. The Barrow Way provides scenic riverside walks, while the Brownshill Dolmen, a prehistoric portal tomb, adds ancient history. Carlow is Ireland’s second smallest county by size (896 square km) and third smallest by population (61,968). Population peaked at 86,228 in 1841 and reached its lowest point, 33,342 in 1961.In terms of hospitality, Carlow is Ireland’s 23rd most visited tourist county with around 68,000 international visitors per year.
