- Best Restaurant: Dede at the Customs House, Baltimore, A two-Michelin-starred restaurant blending Irish and Turkish seasonal ingredients in creative, joyful dishes, with exceptional execution in a welcoming historic customs house setting (national Best Restaurant winner).
- Best Chef: Ronan Sharpe of Elbow Lane, Cork City, An acclaimed chef recognised for his innovative contemporary cooking and dedication to high-quality local produce in this acclaimed venue.
- Best Restaurant Manager: (Specific Cork manager not prominently listed in regional results; national focus on other winners).
- Best Newcomer (National Winner): Baba’de, Baltimore, A homespun sister restaurant to Dede (meaning “Baby Dede”), offering bright, fresh, satisfying Turkish-inspired dishes with family charm and homely appeal.
- Café: Praline Pastry & Chocolate Café, A charming café in Cork (likely Cork city or surrounds), renowned for exquisite pastries, chocolates, and quality coffee in a cozy setting.
- Casual Dining: Son of a Bun, A popular casual spot in Cork, known for its high-quality burgers, relaxed vibe, and approachable elevated street-food style dining.
- Contemporary Irish Cuisine: Saint Francis Provisions, A modern venue in Cork specializing in inventive takes on Irish produce, with a focus on fresh, sustainable, and bold contemporary dishes.
- Customer Service: Restaurant Chestnut, Praised for outstanding, warm hospitality and impeccable guest experiences in its fine dining operations (likely in Cork city or county).
- Employee Excellence Award: Allen Daly of Goldie, A standout team member at Goldie (a celebrated Cork restaurant known for seafood and modern Irish fare), awarded for exceptional dedication and performance in hospitality.
- Gastro Pub: O’Mahony’s of Watergrasshill, A quality gastro pub in Watergrasshill, Co. Cork, delivering elevated pub classics, great atmosphere, and strong local appeal.
- Hotel and Guesthouse Restaurant: Rare 1784 at Blue Haven Hotel, Kinsale, The fine dining restaurant at the historic Blue Haven Hotel in Kinsale, offering refined meals in a charming hotel/guesthouse setting.
- Innovator: Trawler Boyz Ballycotton, Honored for innovative approaches to seafood-focused dining, sustainability, or concepts in Ballycotton, East Cork.
- Local Food Hero: Donal & Virginia O’Gara, My Goodness, Champions of Cork’s food scene through their My Goodness venture (likely artisan or local produce-focused), promoting regional ingredients and community engagement.
- Pub: Sin É, A classic Cork pub (famous in Cork city for live music and community vibe), awarded for its welcoming atmosphere and quality pub experience.
- Sustainable Practices: The Town Coffee Company, Recognized for commitment to ethical sourcing, eco-friendly operations, and sustainability in its coffee and related offerings.
- Use of Social Media: Paladar, Praised for creative, engaging social media presence that effectively promotes its Latin-inspired or world cuisine and builds community in Cork.
- Wine Experience: L’Atitude 51 Wine Bar, Celebrated for its impressive, curated wine selection, expert knowledge, pairings, and sophisticated wine bar program in Cork city.
- World Cuisine: The Dosa Spot, A standout in Cork specializing in authentic South Indian/world cuisines, particularly dosas and flavorful street-food inspired dishes with local twists.
Michelin Stars
- Dede, Baltimore, wo MICHELIN Stars:, Praised for its joyful, skilful fusion of Irish and Turkish seasonal ingredients in a remote, unpretentious setting.
- Bastion, Kinsale, Known for pure, natural flavours with strong local sourcing in a characterful town-centre spot.
- Chestnut, Ballydehob, A focus on clean, natural, seasonal cooking in a rural West Cork location.
- Terre, Castlemartyr (at Castlemartyr Resort), Refined modern cuisine in a luxurious manor house setting.
Bib Gourmand and Recommended
- Goldie, Cork City, A seafood specialist offering excellent value with fresh, flavourful dishes.
- da Mirco, Cork City, Italian-inspired with high-quality, well-executed classics.
- Ichigo Ichie Bistro & Natural Wine, Cork City, Japanese-influenced with natural wines and creative plates.
- Rare, Kinsale, Indian cuisine praised for bold, precise flavours.
- The Glass Curtain, Cork City, Modern venue with strong contemporary offerings.
Georgina Campbell Awards
- Cafe-Bar: Jacob’s Bar, Baltimore, A welcoming spot recognised for its excellent casual offerings and hospitality in a scenic West Cork location.
- Host of the Year: Fern Allen of Ballymaloe House, Shanagarry, Honoured for exceptional leadership and warm hospitality at this iconic country house hotel and restaurant.
- Long-Haul Hero: Fergus & Trish O’Mahony of Mary Ann’s Bar & Restaurant, Castletownshend, Celebrated for longstanding dedication to quality food and hospitality in their historic pub-restaurant.
- Brunch Destination: Greenwich, Cork City, Awarded for outstanding brunch experiences with fresh, high-quality fare in the city centre.
- Global Cuisines: Izz Cafe, Cork City, Recognised for its bold international flavours and welcoming vibe.
Good Food Ireland Awards
- Restaurant of the Year (Joint National Winner): The Church Restaurant, Cork, A standout venue sharing the top national honour for exceptional culinary experiences using high-quality Irish ingredients.
- Culinary Haven of the Year: Ballymaloe House Hotel, Shanagarry, A luxurious country house hotel recognised for its outstanding hospitality, seasonal dining, and iconic Irish food heritage.
Restaurant Association of Ireland winners full list
The 2025 Irish Restaurant Award winners for county Cork
- Overall: Dede at the Customs House Baltimore
- Café: Praline Pastry & Chocolate Café
- Casual Dining: Son of a Bun
- Chef: Brian Murray of The Glass Curtain
- Contemporary Irish Cuisine: Saint Francis Provisions
- Customer Service: Restaurant Chestnut
- Employee Excellence Award: Allen Daly of Goldie
- Gastro Pub: O’Mahony’s of Watergrasshill
- Hotel and Guesthouse Restaurant: Rare 1784 at Blue Haven Hotel
- Innovator: Trawler Boyz Ballycotton
- Local Food Hero: Donal & Virginia O’Gara, My Goodness
- Newcomer: Baba’de
- Pub: Sin É
- Restaurant Manager: Ronan Sharpe of Elbow Lane
- Sustainable Practices: The Town Coffee Company
- Use of Social Media: Paladar
- Wine Experience: L’Atitude 51 Wine Bar
- World Cuisine: The Dosa Spot
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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
Cork:
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 –
Cork blends historic sites with scenic beauty, with Cork City’s English Market and St Fin Barre’s Cathedral offering cultural and architectural depth. Blarney Castle, home to the famous Blarney Stone, provides historic allure, while the coastal town of Kinsale offers sailing and seafood. Other attractions include the Beara Peninsula’s rugged trails. Cork is Ireland’s largest county by size (7,460 sq km) and third largest by population (584,156). Population peaked at 854,118 in 1841 (when Cork was Ireland’s most populous county) and reached its lowest point, 330,443 in 1961. In terms of hospitality, Cork is Ireland’s second most visited tourist county with around 1,228,000 international visitors per year.
