There are two types of categories in the Irish Restaurant Awards 2020:
– Main Category Awards: Each category will have a county winner and/or regional winner and All-Ireland winner. Nominations can be made by the public. Click here to see the full list of Main Categories and their descriptions.
– National Category Awards: Each category will have one All-Ireland winner only. For the first time, nominations can be made by members of the general public for these categories as well. Click here to see the full list of National Categories and their descriptions.
| Category | Type | County by County | Regional | National |
| Best Restaurant | Main | x | x | x |
| Best Chef | Main | x | x | x |
| Best Casual Dining | Main | x | x | x |
| Pub Of The Year | Main | x | x | x |
| Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant | Main | x | x | x |
| Best Gastro Pub | Main | x | x | x |
| Best Customer Service | Main | x | x | x |
| Best Wine Experience | Main | x | x | x |
| Best Newcomer | Main | x | x | x |
| Best Kids Size Me | Main | x | x | x |
| Best World Cuisine | Main | x | x | x |
| Best ‘Free From’ | Main | x | x | x |
| Best Café | Main | x | x | x |
| Local Food Hero | Main | x | x | |
| Best Emerging Irish Cuisine | Main | x | x | x |
| Best Restaurant Manager | Main | x | x | x |
| Best Seafood Experience | National* | x | ||
| Best Cocktail Experience | National* | x | ||
| Best Digital Marketing | National* | x | ||
| Best Private Dining & Club Restaurant | National* | x | ||
| Best Cookery School | National* | x |
* National category awards marked with an asterisk above will be shortlisted to 10 prior to the All-Ireland Irish Restaurant Awards 2020 final on Monday, 18th of May in The Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road, Dublin.
The Best Cocktail Experience nominees will be offered the opportunity to take part in a live cocktail competition as part of the judging for this category. Details of this competition will be issued to all nominees in advance.
For details on the judging process for each of the above categories, click here.
