So the Leinster round of the 2025 Irish Restaurant Awards were held earlier this week. I’ve covered the Kilkenny winners here.
But what of the rest of the province?
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Where’s the best place for a coffee in Carlow? Who’s pushing the boundaries on the world food front in Kildare? Where will you find the best wine experience in Wicklow?
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To bring you up to speed, here are the full list of winners in each category, for each county. These will be followed over the next few weeks by the winners in Munster, Ulster and Connacht.
The overall winners, regionally and nationally, will be announced at a gala event in Dublin on 19 May.
Best places to eat and drink in Leinster (2025)
Note that this list doesn’t include Dublin winners; they’ll be announced at the finals night in May instead.
Best places to eat and drink in Carlow (2025)
- Best Restaurant: Clashganny House Restaurant
- Best Chef: Henry Stone, Sha-Roe Bistro
- Best Restaurant Manager: Michal Kostra, Mimosa Bar de Tapas
- Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant: The Cellar Restaurant at The Step House Hotel
- Best Use of Social Media: Birdcage Cafe
- Employee Excellence Award: Kelly Mernagh, New Moon Tandoori Indian
- Best Casual Dining: Arboretum
- Best Gastro Pub: Teach Dolmain
- Best Café: Goodly Barrow
- Best Contemporary Irish Cuisine: The Cellar Restaurant at the Step House Hotel
- Best Newcomer: Brasserie 15
- Pub of the Year: Corcorans Bar
- Best Wine Experience: Mimosa Bar de Tapas
- Best Customer Service: Mullichain Cafe
- Best World Cuisine: Baht
- Best Sustainable Practices: Coppenagh House Farm
- Innovator of the Year: Waterlilies Tullow
- Local Food Hero: Tracy Corcoran, The Green Lemon Cafe and Bakery
Best places to eat and drink in Kildare (2025)
- Best Restaurant: Alumni Kitchen
- Best Chef: Adam Nevin, The Morrison Room at Carton House
- Best Restaurant Manager: William Wong, Saba
- Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant: The Morrison Room at Carton House
- Best Use of Social Media: Neighbourhood Naas
- Employee Excellence Award: Caitriona McGrath, The Ballymore Inn
- Best Casual Dining: Lock 13 Gastropub & Brewpub
- Best Gastro Pub: Town Leixlip
- Best Café: Sweet Maria
- Best Contemporary Irish Cuisine: Dubh
- Best Newcomer: Mani in Pasta, Newbridge
- Pub of the Year: McDonnells Bar and Beer Garden
- Best Wine Experience: Ely Wine Store
- Best Customer Service: Lawlor’s of Naas
- Best World Cuisine: Picaderos
- Best Sustainable Practices: The K Club
- Innovator of the Year: The Dew Drop Inn & Brewhouse
- Local Food Hero: Ryan Lally, Grá Pizza
Best places to eat and drink in Kilkenny (2025)
- Best Restaurant: Campagne
- Best Chef: John Kelly, Lady Helen Restaurant at Mount Juliet Estate
- Best Restaurant Manager: Shane Rice, Zuni Restaurant at Zuni Boutique Hotel
- Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant: Lady Helen Restaurant at Mount Juliet Estate
- Best Use of Social Media: Cafe La Coco
- Employee Excellence Award: Anita Massey, The Grill Restaurant at Lyrath Estate
- Best Casual Dining: Nóinín
- Best Gastro Pub: Langton’s Bar and Restaurant
- Best Café: Knockdrinna Cafe
- Best Contemporary Irish Cuisine: Arán Artisan Bakery & Bistro
- Best Newcomer: Dizzy Goat Restaurant
- Pub of the Year: Malzards Bar and Pub
- Best Wine Experience: Ristorante Rinuccini
- Best Customer Service: Butcher Restaurant
- Best World Cuisine: Tābú
- Best Sustainable Practices: The Greenhouse at Mountain View
- Innovator of the Year: Arán Artisan Bakery & Bistro
- Local Food Hero: Tracie Daly, Tracie Daly Food Business Coach
Best places to eat and drink in Laois (2025)
- Best Restaurant: Bramley Abbeyleix
- Best Chef: Richard Piccard Edwards, Ballyfin Demesne
- Best Restaurant Manager: Kasia Urban, Bramley Abbeyleix
- Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant: Ballyfin Demesne
- Best Use of Social Media: The Make & Mark
- Employee Excellence Award: Colm Dunne, Treacy’s Bar and Restaurant
- Best Casual Dining: Bowe’s Foodhall & Cafe
- Best Gastro Pub: Treacy’s Bar and Restaurant
- Best Café: The Wandering Elk
- Best Contemporary Irish Cuisine: The Hare’s Corner
- Best Newcomer: La Vie en Rose
- Pub of the Year: Morrissey’s
- Best Wine Experience: Ballyfin Demesne
- Best Customer Service: Batonis
- Best World Cuisine: Mayur Restaurant
- Best Sustainable Practices: Ballykilcavan Farm and Brewery
- Innovator of the Year: The Hare’s Corner
- Local Food Hero: Aymar Gourdet, Le Skinny Chef
Best places to eat and drink in Longford (2025)
- Best Restaurant: Jodhpur Indian Restaurant
- Best Chef: Lisa Vocella, Vocella’s
- Best Restaurant Manager: Amit Prasher, Jodhpur Indian Restaurant
- Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant: PVs Longford
- Best Use of Social Media: The Rustic Inn
- Employee Excellence Award: Frances Nugent, Spice India Longford
- Best Casual Dining: Spice India Longford
- Best Gastro Pub: The Rustic Inn
- Best Café: Ménara Cafe
- Best Contemporary Irish Cuisine: PVs Longford
- Best Newcomer: Oyama Sushi Japanese Restaurant
- Pub of the Year: Duignan’s Tallyho
- Best Wine Experience: Vocella’s
- Best Customer Service: Macs Shack
- Best World Cuisine: Chan Oriental
- Best Sustainable Practices: Fiona Egan Cloughan Farm & Cookery School
- Innovator of the Year: Fiona Egan Cloughan Farm & Cookery School
- Local Food Hero: David and Martina Burns, Richmount Cordial Company
Best places to eat and drink in Louth (2025)
- Best Restaurant: Square Restaurant
- Best Chef: Brendan Mulligan, The Spotted Dog
- Best Restaurant Manager: Aine Stanley, Square Restaurant
- Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant: Scholars Townhouse Hotel
- Best Use of Social Media: Rocksalt Cafe
- Employee Excellence Award: Sarah McGarry, The Bay Tree Restaurant
- Best Casual Dining: The Valley Inn
- Best Gastro Pub: The Glyde Inn
- Best Café: Strandfield
- Best Contemporary Irish Cuisine: Number One Jocelyn Bistro
- Best Newcomer: The Cathedral Restaurant
- Pub of the Year: Sarsfields Bar
- Best Wine Experience: No. 3 Winebar & Restaurant
- Best Customer Service: Social Bar and Restaurant
- Best World Cuisine: Sally Cinnamons
- Best Sustainable Practices: The Gateway Hotel
- Innovator of the Year: Mo Chara
- Local Food Hero: Adam Murray, Biddo’s Street Food
Best places to eat and drink in Meath (2025)
- Best Restaurant: Zucchini’s Restaurant
- Best Chef: Mahipal Singh, Cinnamon Garden Restaurant
- Best Restaurant Manager: Cal Donoghue, Fifty50 Navan
- Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant: Brabazon Restaurant at Tankardstown House
- Best Use of Social Media: WTF Burgers
- Employee Excellence Award: Laura Jenkins, La Bucca Ratoath
- Best Casual Dining: Tribe Restaurant Duleek
- Best Gastro Pub: The Central Navan
- Best Café: The Happy Cup
- Best Contemporary Irish Cuisine: The Vanilla Pod Restaurant at Headfort Arms Hotel
- Best Newcomer: Stonewall Coffee
- Pub of the Year: Swan’s Bar
- Best Wine Experience: Brabazon Restaurant at Tankardstown House
- Best Customer Service: Hogan’s Farm Shop & Cafe
- Best World Cuisine: Cinnamon Garden Restaurant
- Best Sustainable Practices: Headfort Arms Hotel
- Innovator of the Year: Tribe Restaurant Duleek
- Local Food Hero: The Flaherty Family, What’s for Pudding
Best places to eat and drink in Offaly (2025)
- Best Restaurant: Sanjay’s Kitchen
- Best Chef: Okan Kiraz, Captain House Restaurant
- Best Restaurant Manager: Sarah Thomas, The Blue Apron Restaurant
- Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant: Townsend House Tapas Restaurant
- Best Use of Social Media: JJ Houghs Singing Pub
- Employee Excellence Award: Daniela Botnari, Galileo’s Restaurant
- Best Casual Dining: JJ Killeen’s
- Best Gastro Pub: Old Warehouse
- Best Café: The Foxy Bean
- Best Contemporary Irish Cuisine: Kelly’s Bar
- Best Newcomer: S Cafe
- Pub of the Year: JJ Houghs Singing Pub
- Best Wine Experience: Hackett’s Eatery at County Arms
- Best Customer Service: The Brewery Tap
- Best World Cuisine: Shishir
- Best Sustainable Practices: Tullamore Court Hotel
- Innovator of the Year: The Bog’s Dollops
- Local Food Hero: Orla Clancy, The Organic Kitchen at Fallons Bar
Best places to eat and drink in Westmeath (2025)
- Best Restaurant: Thyme Restaurant
- Best Chef: John Coffey, Thyme Restaurant
- Best Restaurant Manager: Antoanela Belviso, Il Colosseo
- Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant: Glasson Lakehouse
- Best Use of Social Media: Garrison Coffee Co: Athlone Town
- Employee Excellence Award: Robert Dasiak, The Fatted Calf
- Best Casual Dining: Dead Centre Brewing
- Best Gastro Pub: The Villager Bar & Restaurant
- Best Café: Bastion Kitchen
- Best Contemporary Irish Cuisine: The Left Bank Bistro
- Best Newcomer: Spiced Bean Cafe
- Pub of the Year: Sean’s Bar
- Best Wine Experience: Mistervini
- Best Customer Service: The Fatted Calf
- Best World Cuisine: Al Mezza Lebanese Restaurant
- Best Sustainable Practices: Glasson Glamping Farm
- Innovator of the Year: Wholesome Kitchen Restaurant
- Local Food Hero: Anthony Gilsenan, Twelve Points Killua
Best places to eat and drink in Wexford (2025)
- Best Restaurant: La Côte Seafood Restaurant
- Best Chef: Chris Fullam, The Sea Rooms at Kelly’s Resort
- Best Restaurant Manager: Paul Behan, Lobster Pot
- Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant: The Sea Rooms at Kelly’s Resort
- Best Use of Social Media: Yola Sourdough Bakery & Coffee Shop
- Employee Excellence Award: Jackie Cullen, Mary Barry’s Bar
- Best Casual Dining: Lobster Pot
- Best Gastro Pub: Mary Barry’s Bar
- Best Café: Grálinn
- Best Contemporary Irish Cuisine: One Hundred Degrees
- Best Newcomer: Bearú
- Pub of the Year: T Morris Bar Wexford
- Best Wine Experience: Frank’s Place 1860
- Best Customer Service: Monart
- Best World Cuisine: Mi Asian Street Food
- Best Sustainable Practices: Monart
- Innovator of the Year: Partridges Artisan Cafe & Fine Food Shop
- Local Food Hero: Tom and Laura Sinnott, Wexford Home Preserves
Best places to eat and drink in Wicklow (2025)
- Best Restaurant: Chakra By Jaipur
- Best Chef: Sophie Woodroofe, The Roundwood Stores
- Best Restaurant Manager: Christoper White, The Pigeon House Restaurant
- Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant: Chester Beatty Inn
- Best Use of Social Media: Little Acorn Café
- Employee Excellence Award: Susan O’Brien, Pink Salt Indian Restaurant
- Best Casual Dining: Grangecon Kitchen
- Best Gastro Pub: The Wicklow Arms
- Best Café: Scéal
- Best Contemporary Irish Cuisine: Chester Beatty Inn
- Best Newcomer: Caladh
- Pub of the Year: Frank Duffs
- Best Wine Experience: Conlon’s Wine Bar
- Best Customer Service: Daata Greystones
- Best World Cuisine: Pink Salt Indian Restaurant
- Best Sustainable Practices: Tinahely Farm Shop
- Innovator of the Year: First Batch Bakery
- Local Food Hero: Patrick Ryan, Firehouse Bakery
But what about you?
While these are the opinions of the judges for the Irish Restaurant Awards (and I’ve been one previously), what about you? Have you a preferred spot to eat or drink in that didn’t make the list of winners this year?
Is anyone missing out that should *absolutely* have their name in lights? Leave a comment below.
