Munster winners of the Irish Restaurant Awards 2026
County winners from across the region of Munster were announced at the 2026 Irish Restaurant Awards Leinster Regional Final on Tuesday, 10 March at the Strand Hotel, Limerick.
More than 600 guests attended to recognise the achievements of restaurants, cafés and hospitality businesses operating across Munster.
Now in its 17th year, the Irish Restaurant Awards attracted over 150,000 public nominations, submitted via The Irish Times.
Once all regional finals conclude, both Regional and All-Ireland winners will be revealed at the All-Ireland Awards Gala Dinner on Monday, 18 May at the Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road, Dublin. County winners from Leinster are now invited to secure tickets for the national ceremony.
The full list of this year’s county winners from Munster:
Best Restaurant - Sponsored by American Express
Clare: Homestead Cottage
Cork: Restaurant Chestnut
Kerry: Mulchay's
Tipperary: Chez Hans
Waterford: Everett's Restaurant
Limerick: 1826 Adare
Photo Credit: Paul Sherwood
Best Chef - Sponsored by BWG Food Service
Clare: Cezary Sodel, Oar Restaurant and Rooms
Cork: Ahmet Dede, Dede at The Customs House Baltimore
Kerry: Gary Fitzgerald, Vendricks Restaurant
Tipperary: Stefan McEnteer, The Bishop’s Buttery at Cashel Palace Hotel
Waterford: Luis Martin, Mara
Limerick: Michael Tweedie, The Oak Room at Adare Manor
Best Restaurant Manager - Sponsored by Paynt
Clare: Linda Casey, The Old Lodge Gastro Pub at Shannon Springs
Cork: Barbara Nealon, Saint Francis Provisions
Kerry: Laura Mulcahy, Mulcahy's
Tipperary: James Lyons, Matt The Thresher Inn
Waterford: Kamila Bystrzonowska, Momo
Limerick: Elaine Hourigan, 1826 Adare
Photo Credit: Paul Sherwood
Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant
Clare: The Dining Room at Gregans Castle Hotel in the Burren
Cork: Rare at Blue Haven Hotel
Kerry: The Lake Restaurant at the Lake Hotel
Tipperary: The Bishop’s Buttery at Cashel Palace Hotel
Waterford: Hanoras Cottage
Limerick: The Oak Room at Adare Manor
Employee Excellence - Sponsored by Peninsula
Clare: Margaret Morgan, Gate 96 at Temple Gate Hotel
Cork: Ciara O Shea, Caseys Bar & Restaurant
Kerry: Paul Collins, Kingstons Boutique Hotel & Pub
Tipperary: Geraldine O'Donnell, Lava Rock
Waterford: Jennifer Walsh, La Alegria Cafe
Limerick: Chelsea Cahill, Savoy Bar
Photo Credit: Paul Sherwood
Best Use of Social Media
Clare: Russell's Seafood Bar at Fiddle + Bow Hotel
Cork: The Lifeboat Inn
Kerry: Danú at The Brehon Hotel & Angsana Spa
Tipperary: Rivesci
Waterford: The Olive Cafe
Limerick: 101 Limerick
Best Casual Dining - Sponsored by Musgrave Marketplace
Clare: The Ivy Cottage
Cork: O'Mahony's of Watergrasshill
Kerry: Bianconi
Tipperary: O'Neills Bistro
Waterford: Farmgate
Limerick: The French Table Restaurant
Photo Credit: Paul Sherwood
Best World Cuisine – Sponsored by National Chef de Partie Apprenticeship & National Sous Chef Apprenticeship Programmes
Clare: Tulsi
Cork: Miyazaki
Kerry: Kyoto Japanese Restaurant
Tipperary: Ranna Ghor Indian Restaurant
Waterford: Mezze
Limerick: Jasmine Palace Restaurant
Best Gastro Pub - Sponsored by Hendersons Foodservice
Clare: Linnane's Lobster Bar
Cork: O'Sullivans Bar, Crookhaven
Kerry: McMunns Bar
Tipperary: Goosers Bar & Eating House
Waterford: Merrys Gastro Pub
Limerick: The Curragower Bar and Kitchen
Best Contemporary Irish Cuisine - Sponsored by FBD Insurance
Clare: Aileen/s Restaurant, Armada Hotel
Cork: Goldie
Kerry: Solas Tapas & Wine
Tipperary: Chez Hans
Waterford: The Pier Restaurant
Limerick: The East Room Restaurant at Plassey House
Photo Credit: Paul Sherwood
Best Newcomer - Sponsored by Square
Clare: Box & Bean
Cork: Azure Harbour Bistro
Kerry: 505
Tipperary: The Mill Pantry
Waterford: Sunset Orange
Limerick: Eleven 14 Coffee Roasters
Photo Credit: Paul Sherwood
Pub of the Year
Clare: Taylor's Bar
Cork: An Spailpín Fánach
Kerry: Dan Foley's Pub
Tipperary: Jim O' The Mills
Waterford: J. & K. Walsh Victorian Spirit Grocer
Limerick: Tom Collins' Bar
Photo Credit: Paul Sherwood
Best Wine Experience - Sponsored by Bibendum
Clare: Henry's Bistro & Wine Bar
Cork: MacCurtain Wine Cellar
Kerry: The Falls Restaurant at Sheen Falls Lodge
Tipperary: The Bishop’s Buttery at Cashel Palace Hotel
Waterford: Union Wine Bar & Kitchen
Limerick: The Copper Room
Best Customer Service - Sponsored by Restaurant-Insurance.ie provided by Dolmen
Clare: Noel's at The Manor at Bunratty Manor
Cork: The Glass Curtain
Kerry: Allie's Coffee Shop
Tipperary: Cahir House Hotel
Waterford: Molly's
Limerick: The Bedford Restaurant at The Bedford Townhouse
Photo Credit: Paul Sherwood
Best Café - Sponsored by Illy
Clare: Sweet N Green
Cork: Grumpy Bakers - Cork City
Kerry: Willow
Tipperary: No Filter
Waterford: Cass & Co.
Limerick: Café Rosé
Best Sustainable Practices
Clare: Hotel Doolin
Cork: Good Day Deli
Kerry: Ballygarry Estate Hotel and Spa
Tipperary: Cloughjordan House
Waterford: Dún Artisan Bakery
Limerick: Woodlands House Hotel & Spa
Photo Credit: Paul Sherwood
Innovator of the Year - Sponsored by Diageo
Clare: Armada Hotel
Cork: The Flour Patch
Kerry: Killarney Urban Farm X The Tan Yard - Tour & Taste Experience
Tipperary: Rivesci
Waterford: Slow and Steady
Limerick: The Olive Tree
Photo Credit: Paul Sherwood
Local Food Hero - Sponsored by Sugar Snap Agency
Clare: John Gavin, The Old Lodge Gastro Pub at Shannon Springs Hotel
Cork: Mike Parle and Darcie Mayland, Lost Valley Dairy + Creamery
Kerry: Zaneta Labuz-Czerwien, Rustic Boowa
Tipperary: Peter Ward, Country Choice Nenagh
Waterford: Eunice Power, Waterford Festival of Food
Limerick: John Edwards Joyce, The Mustard Seed Country House & Restaurant
