The black and amber was flying pretty high in Dublin on Monday night for the grand final of the Irish Restaurant Awards.
With the four provincial rounds taking place across the spring, Monday’s All-Ireland finals would name the best in each province, along with an overall national winner for each category. Winners too were named for Dublin (separate shortlist, though included in overall winners) and national-only categories like Best Cocktail Experience, Best Food Truck and Best Cookery School.
See also: Kilkenny county winners for 2025 Irish Restaurant Awards
On the home front, Kilkenny was well-represented on the honours front with Thomastown’s Tabú Tapas named as Best World Cuisine in Leinster, with Arán taking the award for Best Contemporary Irish Cuisine.
John Kelly, head chef at the MICHELIN-starred Lady Helen Restaurant at Mount Juliet Estate was named Best Chef in Leinster and scooped the overall prize to be crowned top chef in Ireland.
Finally, the Leinster and All-Ireland Award for Best Chef goes to John Kelly of Lady Helen Restaurant at Mount Juliet Estate! @mountjuliet @bwgfoodservice #FoodOscars
— IrishRestaurantAward (@restawards) May 19, 2025
Other notable winners on the night include Dede at the Custom Home Baltimore, taking home the Munster and All-Ireland award for best restaurant, while Neven Maguire was this year’s winner of the Outstanding Achievement Award, recognising an individual who has worked within the restaurant and hospitality sector throughout their career.
Bearú in New Ross was named best newcomer with Sean’s Bar in Athlone scooped Pub of the Year. This year’s Best Café award went to Strandfield Café in Ballymascanlon, Co. Louth.
See the full list of winners below.
Irish Restaurant Awards 2025: Winners List
Best Restaurant
- Leinster: Thyme Restaurant
- Munster: Dede at the Customs House, Baltimore
- Connacht: Lignum
- Ulster: MacNean House & Restaurant
- Dublin: Chapter One by Mikael Viljanen
- All-Ireland: Dede at the Customs House, Baltimore
Best Chef
- Leinster: John Kelly, Lady Helen Restaurant at Mount Juliet Estate
Ulster: Ciarán Sweeney, The Olde Glen Bar, Restaurant & Bia Box - Connacht: Yvonne Kathrein, Poacher Restaurant
- Munster: Brian Murray, The Glass Curtain
- Dublin: Visham Sumputh, Etto
- All-Ireland: John Kelly, Lady Helen Restaurant at Mount Juliet Estate
Best Restaurant Manager
- Leinster: William Wong, Saba
- Munster: Sophie McCauley, Homestead Cottage
- Connacht: Shirley Stirzaker, Dining Room
- Ulster: Laura Connolly, The Oak Room Restaurant
- Dublin: Cian Lynch, Uno Mas
- All-Ireland: Cian Lynch, Uno Mas
Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant
- Leinster: The Sea Rooms at Kelly’s Resort
- Munster: Landline at Park Hotel Kenmare
- Connacht: George V at Ashford Castle
- Ulster: Snaffles Restaurant at Castle Leslie Estate
- Dublin: The Saddle Room at The Shelbourne
- All-Ireland: George V at Ashford Castle
Best Use of Social Media
- Leinster: Little Acorn Cafe, Baltinglass
- Munster: Hotel Woodstock, Ennis
- Connacht: Hooked, Sligo
- Ulster: Sonder, Letterkenny
- Dublin: Kicky’s (South Great George’s St.)
- All-Ireland: Hotel Woodstock
Employee Excellence Award
- Leinster: Jackie Cullen, Mary Barry’s Bar
- Munster: Geraldine Ward, Everett’s Restaurant
- Connacht: Emma Cavanagh, Nook Cafe and Restaurant
- Ulster: Liam McKenna, Armagh City Hotel
- Dublin: Charlie O’Reilly, Happy Out x Together Academy
- All-Ireland: Charlie O’Reilly, Happy Out x Together Academy
Best Casual Dining
- Leinster: The Valley Inn
- Munster: Momo Restaurant
- Connacht: Guys Seafood Bar
- Ulster: Frae
- Dublin: Crudo
- All-Ireland: Crudo
Gastro Pub
- Leinster: The Glyde Inn
- Munster: JM Reidy’s
- Connacht: McSwiggans
- Ulster: Murph’s Gastro Pub
- Dublin: HERA
- All-Ireland: McSwiggans
Best Café
- Leinster: Strandfield
- Munster: Seagull Bakery, Tramore
- Connacht: POTA
- Ulster: Ursa Minor
- Dublin: Two Boys Brew
- All-Ireland: Strandfield
Best Contemporary Irish Cuisine
- Leinster: Arán Artisan Bakery & Bistro, Kilkenny
- Munster: Saint Francis Provisions, Kinsale, Co. Cork
- Connacht: The Lavender Restaurant, Leitrim
- Ulster: The Olde Post Inn, Cavan
- Dublin: Volpe Nera, Blackrock
- All-Ireland: The Olde Post Inn
Best Newcomer
- Leinster: Bearú, New Ross, Co. Wexford
- Munster: Baba’de, Baltimore, Co. Cork
- Connacht: Oifig An Fish, Clifden, Co. Galway
- Ulster: No. 9 Market Square, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal
- Dublin: Forêt
- All-Ireland: Bearú
Pub of the Year
- Leinster: Sean’s Bar, Athlone, Co. Westmeath
- Munster: An Siopa Dubh, Castlecove, Co. Kerry
- Connacht: Matt Molloy’s, Westport, Co. Mayo
- Ulster: The Reel Inn, Donegal
- Dublin: Neary’s, Chatham St.
- All-Ireland: Sean’s Bar
Best Wine Experience
- Leinster: Ballyfin Demesne, Laois
- Munster: UNioN Wine Bar & Kitchen, Waterford
- Connacht: Daróg Wine Bar, Galway
- Ulster: OX, Belfast
- Dublin: Bar Pez, Portobello
- All-Ireland: Bar Pez
Best Customer Service
- Leinster: Monart, Wexford
- Munster: Restaurant Chestnut, Ballydehob
- Connacht: Arno’s Bistrot, Westport
- Ulster: Noble, Holywood
- Dublin: Roly’s Bistro
- All-Ireland: Restaurant Chestnut
Best World Cuisine
- Leinster: Tābú, Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny
- Munster: Tango Street Food
- Connacht: Mama Rich Woodquay
- Ulster: Chilli Lounge
- Dublin: Rasam Restaurant
- All-Ireland: Rasam Restaurant
Best Sustainable Practices
- Leinster: Ballykilcavan Farm and Brewery
- Munster: Ballygarry Estate Hotel
- Connacht: Honestly Farm Kitchen
- Ulster: Lir
- Dublin: Glas Restaurant
- All-Ireland: Lir
Innovator of the Year
- Leinster: Fiona Egan, Cloughan Farm & Cookery School
- Munster: Trawler Boyz Ballycotton
- Connacht: Ugly D’s Pizz
- Ulster: Foam
- Dublin: Bar 1661
- All-Ireland: Bar 1661
Local Food Hero
- Leinster: Tom and Laura Sinnott, Wexford Home Preserves
- Munster: Kasha Connolly, Hazel Mountain Chocolate
- Connacht: The Calvey Family, Calveys Achill Mountain Lamb
- Ulster: Jonny Cuddy, Ispini Charcuterie
- Dublin: Jess Kelly, The Village Butcher
- All Ireland: Jonny Cuddy, Ispini Charcuterie
National Awards
- Outstanding Achievement Award: Neven Maguire, MacNean House & Restaurant
- Best Cocktail Experience: Darren Geraghty, Hawksmoor
- Food Truck of the Year: Julia’s Lobster Truck
- Best Cookery School: Dingle Cookery School
- Best Learning and Development: O’Dwyers
For more details and photos from Monday night, check IrishRestaurantAwards.com.
