- Best Restaurant: Homestead Cottage, Doolin, A charming rural restaurant in Doolin offering clean, modern Irish cuisine with superbly fresh local produce in an intimate, welcoming setting.
- Best Chef: Cezary Sodel of Oar Restaurant & Rooms, Doolin, A skilled chef recognised for his innovative modern cooking and precise handling of seasonal Irish ingredients in this smart-casual venue.
- Best Restaurant Manager: Sophie McCauley of Homestead Cottage, Doolin, An outstanding manager honoured for exceptional leadership and contribution to warm, professional service in this top county winner.
- Best Hotel and Guesthouse Restaurant: The Dining Room at Gregans Castle Hotel, Ballyvaughan, An elegant restaurant within the historic Gregans Castle Hotel, renowned for refined seasonal cuisine, impeccable hospitality, and stunning Burren views.
- Café: Sweet ‘n’ Green, Ennis, A vibrant café celebrated for its high-quality coffee, fresh bakes, healthy options, and welcoming community atmosphere.
- Casual Dining: Morrissey’s of Doonbeg, Doonbeg, A relaxed spot specialising in approachable, high-quality casual meals with a focus on fresh local fare in a coastal village setting.
- Contemporary Irish Cuisine: Glas Restaurant at Hotel Doolin, Doolin, A modern venue awarded for its creative interpretations of Irish classics using seasonal ingredients in a hotel environment.
- Customer Service: Russells Seafood Bar at Fiddle + Bow, location in County Clare, Honoured for exceptional friendly and attentive hospitality in this seafood-focused bar.
- Employee Excellence Award: Alex Beyou of Dromoland Castle Hotel, Newmarket-on-Fergus, A dedicated team member recognised for outstanding performance and contribution at this luxury estate hotel.
Michelin Guide
- Homestead Cottage, Luogh North, Doolin, A remote rural gem praised for its clean, pure, skilful modern Irish cooking using wonderful local produce like fresh Aran monkfish in an unpretentious, smile-inducing setting.
Michelin Recommended:
- Oar, Doolin, A modern cuisine restaurant offering creative, high-quality dishes in a smart-casual atmosphere.
- Vaughan’s Anchor Inn, Liscannor, A seafood specialist known for fresh, well-executed coastal dishes in a characterful pub setting.
- Gregans Castle Restaurant, Ballyvaughan, An elegant venue delivering refined fare with strong local sourcing in a historic castle hotel.
Georgina Campbell Awards
- Smart-Casual Dining: OAR, Doolin, A stylish, approachable venue recognised for its high-quality modern cuisine and relaxed yet professional vibe.
- Memorable Experience Award: Gregan’s Castle Hotel, Ballyvaughan, Honoured for its evocative historic setting, exceptional hospitality, and immersive dining experiences in the Burren.
- Family Friendly Hotel of the Year: Lahinch Coast Hotel & Suites, Lahinch, A seaside hotel celebrated for its welcoming family-oriented hospitality and quality dining options.
- Food Tourism Experience: St Tola Farmhouse Cheese & Goat Farm, Ennistymon, Recognised for its outstanding visitor experience combining cheese production, farm tours, and high-quality Irish dairy.
Good Food Ireland Awards
- Café of the Year: Sweet N Green, Ennis, A standout café awarded for exceptional offerings, fresh produce, and community appeal.
- Dairy Producer of the Year (and Overall Producer of the Year): Linnalla Farm Pure Irish Ice Cream, New Quay, Honoured for premium, artisanal ice cream using local dairy, supporting Clare’s food scene.
- Food Lovers’ Choice Award: Wilde Irish Chocolates, Tuamgraney, Voted by the public as a favourite for its high-quality artisanal chocolates in a hidden gem location.
Restaurants Award winners full ;list
- Overall: Homestead Cottage, Doolin
- Café: Sweet ‘n’ Green
- Casual Dining: Morrissey’s of Doonbeg
- Chef: Cezary Sodel of Oar Restaurant & Rooms
- Contemporary Irish Cuisine: Glas Restaurant at Hotel Doolin
- Customer Service: Russells Seafood Bar at Fiddle + Bow
- Employee Excellence Award: Alex Beyou of Dromoland Castle Hotel
- Gastro Pub: Linnane’s Lobster Bar
- Hotel and Guesthouse Restaurant: The Dining Room at Gregans Castle Hotel
- Innovator: The Armada Hotel
- Local Food Hero: Kasha Connolly, Hazel Mountain Chocolate
- Newcomer: Oileán
- Pub: Nora Culligans
- Restaurant Manager: Sophie McCauley of Homestead Cottage
- Sustainable Practices: The Armada Hotel
- Use of Social Media: Hotel Woodstock
- Wine Experience: Henry’s Bistro & Wine Bar
- World Cuisine: The Alley Asia
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
Clare:
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 –
Clare is renowned for its dramatic cliffs and traditional heritage, with the Cliffs of Moher offering breathtaking views over the Atlantic. The Burren’s unique limestone landscape provides hiking and rare flora, while Bunratty Castle offers medieval history with its restored interiors. Check out the traditional music scene in Doolin and the county’s coastal beaches. Clare is Ireland’s eighth largest county by size (3,188 square km) and 19th largest by population (127,938). Population peaked at 286,394 in 1841 and reached its lowest point, 73,597 in 1966. In terms of hospitality, Clare is Ireland’s sixth most visited tourist county with around 485,000 international visitors per year.
