Now in its 17th year, the Irish Restaurant Awards received more than 150,000 nominations for restaurants, cafés and hospitality venues nationwideRestaurant Patrick Guilbaud was named best restaurant at the 2026 Irish Restaurant Awards. Photograph: Bryan O'Brien Tue May 19 2026 - 00:01 • 5 MIN READMichelin-starred restaurants led the honours at the Irish Restaurant Awards on Monday night as Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud was named best restaurant in Ireland, and chef Ahmet Dede of Dede at The Customs House Baltimore received the award for best chef.Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud was established in 1981, and became the first Irish restaurant to hold two Michelin stars in 1996. Located in The Merrion Hotel at 21 Upper Merrion Street, it has retained its two-star status since it was first awarded three decades ago. Chef Ahmed Dede won the Irish Restaurant Awards’ best restaurant category for the last two years, and this year was honoured as best chef. Dede opened in Baltimore in 2020 during the pandemic, and within a year gained a Michelin star. It added a second star in 2023. Paul and Máire Flynn of The Tannery Restaurant, Townhouse and Cookery School were presented with an outstanding achievement award. In February, the Flynns announced they will be closing the popular Dungarvan restaurant at the end of 2026 after nearly 30 years in business. The awards ceremony welcomed 1,000 of the country’s top industry professionals at Dublin’s Clayton Hotel on Burlington Road where funds were raised throughout the evening in support of The Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation. Dublin-based Comet, an eatery where the food was described by Irish Times’ restaurant critic Corinna Hardgrave as “the work of a skilled mature chef”, took home the award for best newcomer.Pub of the year went to The Cobblestone, a celebrated traditional music venue in Dublin which was the subject of a Save the Cobblestone campaign in 2021 following a proposal to develop a nine-storey hotel around the Smithfield pub. The award for best casual restaurant went to Farmgate in Lismore, while the best gastropub award went to Coyne’s Gastropub & Pantry, located in the Connemara Gaeltacht in Galway. This year’s awards received 150,000 public nominations for restaurants, cafes and hospitality venues across Ireland, which were submitted by the public through The Irish Times website, media partner of the awards.In advance of the All-Ireland final, regional awards ceremonies took place across the four provinces, with winners recognised across a wide range of categories. Those winners then progressed to the national final.Speaking at the awards ceremony in Dublin’s Burlington Hotel on Monday night, Seán Collender, president of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, said that the awards were “a celebration of the people who make Ireland’s hospitality industry one of the most vibrant and exciting sectors in the country”.“Gordon Ramsay recently described Ireland as the sleeping giant of European cuisine,” Collender said. “Well, that giant is awakening and tonight is proof of that. Across every county we are seeing incredible creativity, quality and ambition in our restaurants and hospitality businesses”. Irish Restaurant Awards 2026: The winnersBest RestaurantLeinster: Bramley Abbeyleix Connacht: The Cottage Restaurant Munster: Homestead Cottage Ulster: Noble Dublin: Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud All Ireland: Restaurant Patrick GuilbaudBest ChefAhmet Dede’s was winner of the best chef award. Photograph: Chris Maddaloni Connacht: Dave Mullan, Fish & Bean Ulster: Stevie Toman, Ox Restaurant Dublin: Mickael Viljanen, Chapter One Leinster: John Coffey, Thyme Restaurant Munster: Ahmet Dede, Dede at The Customs House Baltimore All Ireland: Ahmet Dede, Dede at The Customs House BaltimoreBest Restaurant ManagerUlster: Paul Vaughan, James St Munster: Elaine Hourigan, 1826 Adare Connacht: Lorraine McHugh, The Selkie Dublin: Darren Campbell, La Gordita Leinster: Carmel Boyle, Ballyfin Demesne All Ireland: Carmel Boyle, Ballyfin DemesneOutstanding Achievement AwardAll Ireland: Paul and Máire Flynn, The Tannery Restaurant, Townhouse and Cookery SchoolBest Hotel & Guesthouse RestaurantDublin: Forbes Street by Gareth Mullins at Anantara The Marker Leinster: Lady Helen Restaurant at Mount Juliet Estate Connacht: The Lodge at Ashford Castle Ulster: Snaffles Restaurant at Castle Leslie Estate Munster: Rare at Blue Haven Hotel All Ireland: Rare at Blue Haven HotelBest Use of Social MediaLeinster: Arán Artisan Bakery & Bistro Ulster: Charlie’s Bar, Enniskillen Munster: The Lifeboat Inn Dublin: Rosa Madre Connacht: The Dough Bros – Galway All Ireland: The Dough Bros – GalwayEmployee Excellence AwardDublin: Ashling Griffin, King Sitric Seafood Bar & Accommodation Munster: Ciara O’Shea, Caseys Bar & Restaurant Ulster: Lina Krolenko, Sonder Leinster: Sophie Hogan, Hogan’s Farm Shop & Cafe Connacht: Theresa Donlon, Hester’s Golden Eagle Bar and Restaurant All Ireland: Theresa Donlon, Hester’s Golden Eagle Bar and RestaurantBest Casual DiningUlster: Fisk Seafood Bar Leinster: Inside Out Dublin: Vada Munster: Farmgate All Ireland: FarmgateBest GastropubDublin: FX Buckley @ Ryan’s of Parkgate Street Ulster: The Dirty Duck Alehouse Munster: Merrys Gastro Pub Leinster: Left Bank Connacht: Coyne’s Gastropub & Pantry All Ireland: Coyne’s Gastropub & PantryBest CafeLeinster: Grálinn Sunny Row Dublin: Two Pups Connacht: Baker 51 Munster: Grumpy Bakers – Cork City Ulster: General Merchants All Ireland: General MerchantsBest Contemporary Irish CuisineDublin: Volpe NERA Connacht: Blackthorn at The Twelve Hotel Ulster: No. 9 Market Square Leinster: Bearú Munster: Solas Tapas & Wine All Ireland: Solas Tapas & WineBest NewcomerKevin O’Donnell and Laura Chabal of Comet. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw Ulster: Capparelli at The Mill Leinster: Ernie’s @ Shackleton Experience Munster: 505 Connacht: Fawn Food & Wine Dublin: Comet All Ireland: CometPub of the YearLeinster: The Dylan Whisky Bar Ulster: Linnet Inn Connacht: McDonnells Bar Munster: J. & K. Walsh Victorian Spirit Grocer Dublin: The Cobblestone All Ireland: The CobblestoneBest Wine ExperienceUlster: El Tapas Grá Leinster: Delgany Wine Cottage Munster: MacCurtain Wine Cellar Connacht: Daróg Wine Bar Dublin: 64 Wine All Ireland: 64 WineBest Customer ServiceConnacht: Harrisons Bar & Restaurant Munster: The Glass Curtain Leinster: Reeds Restaurant at Ferrycarrig Hotel Dublin: La Maison Ulster: Frae All Ireland: FraeBest world CuisineLeinster: Sanjay’s Kitchen Connacht: Kombu – Ramen & Bao Bar Ulster: Braai Restaurant Donegal Dublin: Bigfan Munster: Miyazaki All Ireland: MiyazakiBest Sustainable PracticesDublin: Fairmental Ulster: Killeavy Castle Estate Munster: Woodlands House Hotel & Spa Leinster: Solas Eco Garden Centre Connacht: Kai All Ireland: Kai Innovator of the YearMunster: Slow and Steady Leinster: The Centre of Food Culture Ireland Connacht: Builín Blasta Cafe & Bakery Ulster: Waterman House Dublin: Mr Fox Whiskey All Ireland: Mr Fox WhiskeyLocal Food HeroLeinster: Kian Louët-Feisser, Carlingford Oyster Company Connacht: Cillian Ó Móráin and Naomi Clarkin, Mescan Brewery Dublin: Peter Caviston, Cavistons Restaurant and Food Emporium Ulster: Jordan Weir, The Dairy – Bistro, Butchers & Farm Shop Munster: Eunice Power, Waterford Festival of Food All Ireland: Eunice Power, Waterford Festival of FoodBest Cocktail ExperienceAll Ireland: Roge Austin, Vintage Cocktail ClubFood Truck of the YearAll Ireland: Misunderstood HeronBest Cookery SchoolAll Ireland: Picado Mexican PantryBest Learning and DevelopmentAll Ireland: Tifco Hotel Group IN THIS SECTION