All roads pointed towards the Killashee Hotel in Naas on Tuesday evening for the unveiling of the Leinster winners for the 2025 Irish Restaurant Awards.
Plenty of Kilkenny restaurants, cafés, makers, bakers and shakers were in the running for 18 awards that would be announced, with others (like the Food Truck category, Cookery School) needing to wait a few weeks more to find out whether they’ve scooped national honours. In all, the event was attended by over 1,000 guests.
In Kilkenny city, Arán were double winners on the night, picking up the Innovator of the Year award alongside Best Contemporary Irish Cuisine, but the spread of awards worked out into the county too.
Knockdrinna Café (Stoneyford) collected the Best Café award, The Greenhouse at Mountain View (Ballyhale) picked up the Best Sustainable Practices award, Tabú in Thomastown scooped Best World Cuisine while Dizzy Goat Restaurant (near Owning) was named as Best Newcomer.
On the individual front, Tracie Daly picks up the mantle as Kilkenny’s Local Food Hero while the Michelin-starred Lady Helen Restaurant’s John Kelly was named best chef.
Kilkenny’s other MICHELIN star restaurant, Campagne, was again named Best Restaurant.
Here’s the full list of Kilkenny winners.
Kilkenny winners at 2025 Irish Restaurant Awards (Leinster)
- Best Restaurant: Campagne
- Best Chef: John Kelly, Lady Helen Restaurant at Mount Juliet Estate
- Best Restaurant Manager: Shane Rice, Zuni
- Best Hotel and Guesthouse Restaurant: Lady Helen Restaurant at Mount Juliet Estate
- Best Use of Social Media: Cafe La Coco
- Employee Excellence: Anita Massey, The Grill Restaurant at Lyrath Estate
- Best Casual Dining: Noinin
- Best Gastro Pub: Langton’s Bar & Restaurant
- Best Café: Knockdrinna
- Best World Cuisine: Tabú
- Best Contemporary Irish Cuisine: Arán Bakery & Bistro
- Best Newcomer: Dizzy Goat Restaurant
- Pub of the Year: Malzard’s
- Best Wine Experience: Ristorante Rinuccini
- Best Customer Service: Butcher
- Best Sustainable Practices: The Greenhouse at Mountain View
- Innovator of the Year: Arán Artisan Bakery & Bistro
- Local Food Hero: Tracie Daly
Alsmost 165,000 public nominations were received this year, with the regional and All-Ireland winners due to be announced at the All-Ireland Awards Gala Dinner in Dublin on 19 May.
You can check the full list of Leinster winners here.
