[10/04/2026] The Dublin shortlist for the Irish Restaurant Awards 2026 has been announced today, showcasing the very best of the capital’s food and hospitality sector. 

The shortlist highlights an exceptional standard of culinary talent across the county, with competition expected to be particularly strong across all categories. 

Regional events have already taken place across Leinster, Munster, Connaught and Ulster, with county winners now progressing to the All-Ireland Awards Gala Dinner at the Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road, on May 18th. Dublin nominees will join them on the night, where both regional and overall national winners will be revealed. 

Now in its 17th year, the Irish Restaurant Awards received over 150,000 public nominations in 2026, showing the continued support for and engagement with Ireland’s hospitality sector. Nominations were submitted by the public via The Irish Times website, the Awards’ official media partner. 

Commenting on the announcement of the Dublin shortlist, President of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, Seán Collender, said: 

“The quality and diversity of Dublin’s food scene continues to go from strength to strength, playing a central role in Ireland’s growing reputation as a leading destination for culinary tourism. Visitors are increasingly choosing Ireland for its food experiences and that is a testament to the creativity, skill and commitment of our chefs, restaurateurs and hospitality teams.” 

“I would like to warmly congratulate all those who have been shortlisted this year. To be recognised at this level is a significant achievement and reflects the high standards across the sector. We look forward to celebrating with all our finalists at the All-Ireland Awards in May.” 

Please find below the Dublin shortlist: 

Best Restaurant – Sponsored by American Express 
Allta 
Amai by Viktor 
Chapter One Restaurant 
China Sichuan 
Forest Avenue 
Lena 
Liath Restaurant 
Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud 
Uno Mas 
Variety Jones 

Best Chef – Sponsored by BWG Food Service 
Barry Sun, Volpe Nera 
Eric Matthews, Kicky’s 
John Wyer, Forest Avenue 
Kevin O’Donnell, Comet 
Leticia Miranda, Orwell Road Restaurant 
Mickael Viljanen, Chapter One 
Niall Davidson, Allta 
Paul McNamara, Lena 
Sunil Ghai, Pickle 
Viktor Silva, Amai By Viktor 

Best Restaurant Manager – Sponsored by Paynt 
Aaron Higgs, Variety Jones 
Benny Jacobs, Pickle 
Darren Campbell, La Gordita 
Darren Darcy, Volpe Nera 
Declan Maxwell, Spitalfields 
Denise McBrien, The Old Spot 
Jess D’Arcy, Mamó Restaurant 
John Healy, Suesey Street 
Richie Barrett, Bang 
Stéphane Robin, Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud 

Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant 
62 Drury Street at Brooks Hotel 
Cantina Valentina at The Hoxton 
Forbes Street by Gareth Mullins at Anantara The Marker 
Intercontinental Dublin, an IHG Hotel 
Jean-Georges at The Leinster 
Mapas Restaurant at Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel 
The Eddison Restaurant at The Dylan Hotel 
The Garden Room at The Merrion Hotel Dublin 
The Saddle Room at The Shelbourne 
Wilde Restaurant at The Westbury 

Employee Excellence – Sponsored by Peninsula 
Andrea Saenz Gallarta, Las Tapas de Lola 
Ante Lukic, Pichet 
Ashling Griffin, King Sitric 
Ciaran McCann, Johnnie Foxes Pub 
Emmanuel Montes Martinez, Etto 
Jess Greene, HERA 
Laszlo Molnor, Saba Baggot Street 
Lauren King, Kay’s Kitchen 
Riccardo Scannerini, La Maison 
Sharon Diffney, Pacinos 

Best Use Of Social Media – Sponsored by Revolut 
Bah33º The Authentic Gaucho BBQ 
Boeuf Burger 
Chimac 
Cluck Chicken 
Excuse My French 
Kicky’s 
Krewe 
Rosa Madre 
Sprout & Co 
Variety Jones 

Best Casual Dining – Sponsored by Musgrave Marketplace 
Assassination Custard 
Chez Max 
Chubbys 
Dimmi by Dunne & Crescenzi 
King Sitric Seafood Bar & Accomadation
Forêt 
La Vespa  
Mermaid Monkstown 
Osteria Lucio 
Vada 

Best Gastro Pub – Sponsored by Hendersons Foodservice 
Caribou 
Davy Byrnes 
F.X. Buckley @ Ryan’s Of Parkgate Street 
HERA 
John Kavanagh The Gravediggers 
L. Mulligan Grocer 
MJ Wright 
The Merrion Inn 
The Old Spot 
The Queens Bar 

Best Contemporary Irish Cuisine – Sponsored by FBD Insurance 
Bastible 
Comet 
Craft Restaurant 
Delahunt 
Host Restaurant 
Mae Restaurant 
Mamó Restaurant 
Mr Fox 
Orwell Road Restaurant 
Volpe Nera 

Best Newcomer – Sponsored by Square 
Bang 
Borgo 
China Song 
Chubbys 
Comet 
Daata George’s Street 
Dión Rooftop Restaurant and Bar 
Fitzers Bistro & Bar 
Gloria Osteria Dublin 
Notions Bistro & Natural Wine Bar 

Pub Of The Year 
Anseo 
Mulligan’s Poolbeg Street 
O’Reillys of Sandymount 
Pantibar 
The Big Romance 
The Cobblestone 
The Long Hall 
The Sackville Lounge 
The Swan Bar 
The Villager 

Best Wine Experience – Sponsored by Bibendum 
64 Wine 
A Fianco 
Bar Pez 
Fíon Eile 
Frank’s 
Green Man Wines 
Montys of Kathmandu 
Note Dublin 
Rosa Madre 
The Wine Cellar at Fallon & Byrne 

Best Customer Service – Sponsored by Restaurant-Insurance.ie provided by Dolmen 
Ananda 
China Song 
Etto 
La Maison 
Marco Pierre White Steakhouse & Grill 
Osteria Lucio 
Rasam Restaurant 
Richmond 
Sole Seafood & Grill 
Table 45 

Best Cafe – Sponsored by Illy 
Alma 
Baabaa Cafe 
Baked and Bottled 
Brew 21 
Cloud Picker Cafe Pearse St 
Excuse My French 
Goat In The Boat 
MELO Castleknock 
Two Boys Brew 
Two Pups 

Best Sustainable Practices 
Bread 41 
Fairmental 
Glas Restaurant 
Overends Kitchen 
Sprout & Co 
The Fumbally 
The Seafood Café by Niall Sabongi 
Vada 
Woodruff 
Wren Urban Nest 

Innovator of the Year – Sponsored by Diageo 
Amuri Restaurant 
Artybaker 
Bar 1661 
Bread 41 
Flight Club 
HERA 
Mr Fox Whiskey 
Saba Group 
The Corkscrew Wine Merchants 
Tribe 

Local Food Hero – Sponsored by Sugar Snap Agency 
Alan and Mark Taylor, Taylor’s of Lusk 
Barry and Paul McNerney & John Byrne, Lotts & Co 
Claire Arnold, Lennox Street Grocer 
Graham Herterich, The Cupcake Bloke 
Máirtín Mac Con Iomaire, Technological University of Dublin, Grangegorman 
Mark Senn, Mushroom Butcher 
Peter Caviston, Cavistons Restaurant and Food Emporium 
Robert Bullock, Le Patissier 
Simon O’Donnell, Belvedere College 
Tadgh and Damien O’Meara, Kish Fish 

Notes to Editor 

For more information on the Irish Restaurant Awards 2026 visit: https://irishrestaurantawards.com/faqs/   

For media queries contact liam@rai.ie or (01) 677 9901.