Carlow’s best restaurants and cafés take top awards 

THE very best of the food and hospitality sector in Leinster were honoured recently at the Irish Restaurant Awards Leinster Regional Final 2025, marking the first regional event of this year’s prestigious awards season. 

The ceremony took place in the Killashee Hotel, Kildare, where county winners from across the province were revealed. 

Co Carlow was well represented at the awards, with many leading restaurants and cafés in the county recognised for their exceptional food and quality service.

Among the top winners in Co Carlow were Henry Stone from Sha Roe Bistro in Clonegal, who was named Best Chef, while Clashganny House near Borris took the accolade of Best Restaurant. The Best Hotel and Guesthouse Restaurant Award was scooped by The Cellar Restaurant at The Step House Hotel, Borris, while Michal Kostra, Mimosa Bar de Tapas, Carlow took home the award for Best Manager. 

In all, 11 awards were presented to each county, from casual cafés through to more formal restaurant settings.

Over 1,000 attendees gathered to celebrate the outstanding achievements of restaurants, cafés and food service providers across Leinster.

Now in its 16th year, the Irish Restaurant Awards received nearly 165,000 public nominations this year, submitted through the Irish Times, the official media partner of the awards.

Following the completion of all regional finals, the Regional and All-Ireland winners will be announced at the All-Ireland Awards Gala Dinner on Monday 19 May at the Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road, Dublin.

The full list of winners from County Carlow is as follows:

Best Restaurant Clashganny House Restaurant, Borris Best Chef Henry Stone, Sha-Roe Bistro, Clonegal 

Best Restaurant Manager Michal Kostra, Mimosa Bar de Tapas, Carlow Best Hotel and Guesthouse Restaurant The Cellar Restaurant at The Step House Hotel, Borris 

Best Use of Social Media Birdcage Café, Bagenalstown Employee Excellence Award Kelly Mernagh, New Moon Tandoori Indian, Tullow 

Best Casual Dining Arboretum, Leighlinbridge Best Gastro Pub Teach Dolmain, Carlow Best Café Goodly Barrow, Goresbridge Best Contemporary Irish Cuisine The Cellar Restaurant at the Step House Hotel, Borris Best Newcomer Brasserie 15, Carlow Pub of the Year Corcoran’s Bar, Carlow Best Wine Experience Mimosa Bar de Tapas, Carlow

Best Customer Service Mullichain Café, St Mullins Best World Cuisine Baht Restaurant, Carlow Best Sustainable Practices - Sponsored by Familia Torres Carlow – Coppenagh House Farm Innovator of the Year - Sponsored by Diageo Carlow – Waterlilies Tullow  

Local Food Hero - Sponsored by Sugar Snap Carlow – Tracy Corcoran, The Green Lemon Cafe and Bakery