Kildare bars, cafés and restaurants get awards in Leinster regional final

The very best in food and hospitality in Kildare and across Leinster were celebrated last night at the Irish Restaurant Awards Leinster Regional Final 2026, the first regional celebration of this year’s awards programme.

The Awards were held on Tuesday, March 3rd, at the Killashee Hotel in Kildare, where county winners from throughout the province were announced.

More than 1,100 guests attended to recognise the achievements of restaurants, cafés and hospitality businesses operating across Leinster.

Now in its 17th year, the Irish Restaurant Awards attracted over 150,000 public nominations, submitted via The Irish Times, the official media partner.

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Once all regional finals conclude, both Regional and All Ireland winners will be revealed at the All-Ireland Awards Gala Dinner on Monday, May 18th at the Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road, Dublin. County winners from Leinster are now invited to secure tickets for the national ceremony.

Addressing attendees, Seán Collender, President of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, said:

“As Ireland places a renewed focus on culinary tourism, nights like this take on even greater importance. Our restaurants are not only central to local communities and employment, they are a key part of the experience visitors travel here for. The Irish Restaurant Awards shine a light on the quality, creativity and standards that underpin Ireland’s growing food reputation at home and abroad.”

“These awards are about more than recognition. They reinforce the link between hospitality businesses and Ireland’s wider tourism offering. By celebrating excellence at county and regional level, we strengthen the foundations of a food culture that attracts visitors, supports producers and sustains jobs right across the country. I want to congratulate every nominee and winner whose work contributes to that story.”

Please find below the full list of this year’s county winners from Leinster:

Best Restaurant - Sponsored by American Express

• Carlow: Sha-Roe Bistro• Kilkenny: Campagne• Laois: Bramley Abbeyleix• Longford: Midtown Kitchen & Bar• Louth: Square Restaurant• Meath: Zucchini's Restaurant Navan• Offaly: The Blue Apron Restaurant• Westmeath: Thyme Restaurant• Wexford: La Côte Seafood Restaurant• Wicklow: Caladh• Kildare: Neighbourhood Naas

Best Chef - Sponsored by BWG Food Service

• Carlow: Alan Foley, The Cellar Restaurant at Step House Hotel• Kilkenny: John Kelly, Lady Helen Restaurant at Mount Juliet Estate• Laois: Richard Picard-Edwards, Ballyfin Demesne• Longford: Marco Fabbi, Sorrento Restaurant• Louth: Mark Gormley, The Clermont• Meath: Johnny Sarkozi, Brabazon Restaurant at Tankardstown House• Offaly: Anthony O'Connor, Old Warehouse• Westmeath: John Coffey, Thyme Restaurant• Wexford: David Harte, The Sea Rooms at Kelly's Resort• Wicklow: Cormac McCreary, Sika Restaurant at Powerscourt Hotel• Kildare: Adam Nevin, The Morrison Room at Carton House

Best Restaurant Manager - Sponsored by Paynt

• Carlow: Maya Dzianach, Pimento• Kilkenny: Paul Byrne, Zuni Restaurant & Boutique Hotel• Laois: Carmel Boyle, Ballyfin Demesne• Longford: Frances Nugent, Spice India Longford• Louth: Wayne Fitzpatrick, No. 3 Wine Bar & Restaurant• Meath: Annesu Oliver, Tribe Restaurant Duleek• Offaly: Kristina Sapovala, S Cafe• Westmeath: Trevor Byrne, Scanlons Pub• Wexford: Mark Walshe, Table Forty One• Wicklow: Aliha Saleem, Daata Bray• Kildare: Shauna Ronan, Hartes of Kildare

Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant

• Carlow: The Cellar Restaurant at Step House Hotel• Kilkenny: Lady Helen Restaurant at Mount Juliet Estate• Laois: Ballyfin Demesne• Longford: Longford Arms Hotel• Louth: Scholars Townhouse Hotel• Meath: The Signal Restaurant at The Station House• Offaly: Hackett's Eatery at County Arms Birr• Westmeath: Bloomfield House Hotel• Wexford: Ashdown Park Hotel• Wicklow: Fairways Restaurant at Tulfarris Hotel & Golf Resort• Kildare: The Morrison Room at Carton House

Employee Excellence - Sponsored by Peninsula

• Carlow: Courtney Burke, Goodly Barrow• Kilkenny: Agnieszka Mokrzycka, Cafe La Coco• Laois: Orla Maher, Morrissey's Pub Abbeyleix• Longford: Hanna Kadet, Newcastle House• Louth: Kate Traynor, Carlingford Brewing Company• Meath: Sophie Hogan, Hogan's Farm Shop & Cafe• Offaly: Klaudia Iskra, Meet&Fit• Westmeath: Aimee Clarke, James Joyce Restaurant at Greville Arms Hotel• Wexford: Ellie Mulligan, Lobster Pot• Wicklow: Connor Kinsella, Lo Co Grocer• Kildare: Tom Breen, Vi's Restaurant at Lawlor's of Naas

Best Use of Social Media

• Carlow: Mullichain Cafe• Kilkenny: Arán Artisan Bakery & Bistro• Laois: Make and Mark• Longford: Jolly Boys Pizza & Grill Ballymahon• Louth: Mo Chara• Meath: Sage & Stone• Offaly: J.J. Houghs Singing Pub• Westmeath: Weir's Bar & Restaurant• Wexford: Bearú• Wicklow: Little Acorn Cafe• Kildare: Firecastle Kildare

Best Casual Dining - Sponsored by Musgrave Marketplace

• Carlow: Waterlilies Café Tullow Market Square• Kilkenny: Arán Artisan Bakery & Bistro• Laois: Bowe's Foodhall & Cafe• Longford: PV's Longford• Louth: Kingfisher Bistro• Meath: Inside Out• Offaly: Luker's Bar, Restaurant & Live Music Venue• Westmeath: Poppy Fields Cafe• Wexford: Partridges Artisan Cafe & Fine Food Shop• Wicklow: Roundwood Stores• Kildare: Rye River Café

Best World Cuisine - Sponsored by National Chef de Partie Apprenticeship & National Sous Chef Apprenticeship Programmes

• Carlow: Pimento• Kilkenny: Tābú• Laois: Namo• Longford: Spice India Longford• Louth: Sitar Indian Restaurant & Takeaway• Meath: Eatzen Restaurant• Offaly: Sanjay's Kitchen• Westmeath: Spice India Athlone• Wexford: Nori• Wicklow: Chakra by Jaipur• Kildare: Red Torch Ginger Maynooth

Best Gastro Pub - Sponsored by Hendersons Foodservice

• Carlow: Conway's Bar & Restaurant• Kilkenny: Left Bank• Laois: O'Gormans Bar & Restaurant• Longford: Richmond Inn• Louth: Blue Anchor• Meath: Matt the Thresher Julianstown• Offaly: Hennessy's• Westmeath: The Villager Bar & Restaurant• Wexford: Mary Barry's Bar• Wicklow: The Horse and Hound, Delgany• Kildare: Hartes of Kildare

Best Contemporary Irish Cuisine - Sponsored by FBD Insurance

• Carlow: The Cellar Restaurant at Step House Hotel• Kilkenny: Dizzy Goat Restaurant• Laois: Ballyfin Demesne• Longford: The Glenview Bar and Lounge• Louth: The Spotted Dog• Meath: The Vanilla Pod Restaurant at Headfort Arms Hotel• Offaly: Old Warehouse• Westmeath: Days Bazaar Mullingar• Wexford: Bearú• Wicklow: Albatross Restaurant at Rathsallagh Golf Club• Kildare: The Green Barn

Best Newcomer - Sponsored by Square

• Carlow: Brew Stop Café• Kilkenny: Wildflower Tearooms• Laois: Coffee to a Tea• Longford: Gooseberry Cafe• Louth: East• Meath: Forge & Bellows• Offaly: Crun Chicken• Westmeath: The Lough Ree Inn• Wexford: Meraki Cafe Lounge• Wicklow: Críoch Cafe at The Mermaid• Kildare: Ernie's @ Shackelton Experience

Pub of the Year

• Carlow: Tully's Bar Carlow• Kilkenny: The Dylan Whisky Bar• Laois: The Fisherman's Thatched Inn• Longford: Ronnie Nally & Sons• Louth: The Vinegar Man• Meath: Marcie Regan's Pub• Offaly: Craughwell's Pub• Westmeath: The Snug Bar• Wexford: Mackens the Cape Bar• Wicklow: Tá Sé's• Kildare: James Nolan's Pub

Best Wine Experience - Sponsored by Bibendum

• Carlow: Lord Bagenal Inn• Kilkenny: Ristorante Rinuccini• Laois: Batonis• Longford: Vocella’s• Louth: D'Vine Bistro & Tapas Bar• Meath: Parterre at Johnstown Estate• Offaly: The Blue Apron Restaurant• Westmeath: The Left Bank Bistro• Wexford: The Conservatory Restaurant at Marlfield House Hotel• Wicklow: Delgany Wine Cottage• Kildare: Barton Grill Restaurant at the K Club

Best Customer Service - Sponsored by Restaurant-Insurance.ie provided by Dolmen

• Carlow: Lennons @ Visual• Kilkenny: Tābú• Laois: Treacy's Bar and Restaurant• Longford: The Rustic Inn• Louth: Carrickdale Hotel and Spa• Meath: The Village Hotel• Offaly: Emma's Cafe• Westmeath: Il Colosseo• Wexford: Reeds Restaurant at Ferrycarrig Hotel• Wicklow: Grangecon Kitchen• Kildare: Clanard Court Hotel

Best Café - Sponsored by Illy

• Carlow: Rachel's Garden Café at Arboretum• Kilkenny: Knockdrinna Cafe• Laois: Mueller & O'Connell Bakery• Longford: Fabiani• Louth: Strandfield• Meath: Bácús Cafe• Offaly: The Bog's Dollops• Westmeath: The Stables Tea Rooms• Wexford: Grálinn Sunny Row• Wicklow: Scéal Bakery• Kildare: Hey Darling, Sallins

Best Sustainable Practices

• Carlow: The Green Lemon Cafe and Bakery• Kilkenny: Statham’s by Pembroke Kilkenny• Laois: Solas Eco Garden Centre• Longford: Fiona Egan Cloughan Farm & Cookery School• Louth: Forge Field Farm Coffee Shop• Meath: Platterbylu Trim - Café and Artisan Pantry• Offaly: Biasol• Westmeath: Bastion Kitchen• Wexford: Ashdown Park Hotel• Wicklow: Wicklow Wolf Brewery & Taproom• Kildare: Woodstack Cafe, Monasterevin

Innovator of the Year - Sponsored by Diageo

• Carlow: The Green Lemon Cafe and Bakery• Kilkenny: Arán Artisan Bakery & Bistro• Laois: The Merry Mill• Longford: John Stone Beef• Louth: King of Kefir• Meath: Centre of Food Culture Boyne Valley• Offaly: Ballycommon Bake House• Westmeath: Irish Craft Soda Company• Wexford: Fat Tomato• Wicklow: Catalyst Coffee - Beach• Kildare: Lock 13 Gastropub & Brewpub

Local Food Hero - Sponsored by Sugar Snap Agency

• Carlow: John Whelan, The Devils Menu• Kilkenny: Sean Ring, Ring's Farm• Laois: Cormac & Tracy Loonam, The Red Shed• Longford: Pat & Fiona McCormack, The Farmhouse Bees and Trees• Louth: Kian Louët-Feisser, Carlingford Oyster Company• Meath: Michael & Jenny Finegan, Boyne Valley Farmhouse Cheese• Offaly: Margaret Edgill, Mount Briscoe Organic Farm• Westmeath: The Gillivan Family, Gillivan's Moate Meats• Wexford: Catherine Kinsella, Saltrock Dairy• Wicklow: Wayne Kelly & Louise Hollingsworth, Kelly's Fruit and Veg• Kildare: Graham Herterich, Ernie's @ Shackelton Experience