Good Food Ireland® announced the finalists for the Good Food Ireland® 20th Anniversary Awards 2026, ahead of its landmark 20th Anniversary Celebration & Gala Awards Ceremony, taking place at host partner hotel InterContinental Dublin on Monday, 16 November 2026. The Awards are held in association with FBD Insurance.
Marking 20 years of Good Food Ireland®, this year’s Awards recognise outstanding businesses, producers, people and culinary experiences from across the island of Ireland, celebrating those putting Irish food and drink at the heart of the visitor experience.
From hotels, restaurants, cafés and pubs to culinary tourism experiences, food retailers and the farmers, fishermen, growers and artisan producers behind Ireland’s food story, the 2026 finalists reflect the quality, provenance, innovation and hospitality that continue to shape Ireland’s reputation as a world-class food and culinary tourism destination.
The 2026 finalists are:
HOSPITALITY & CULINARY EXPERIENCES
5 Star Irish Hospitality Experience of the Year: Anantara The Marker Dublin Hotel, Dublin; Ashford Castle Estate, Co Mayo; The Merrion, Dublin; Muckross Park Hotel, Co Kerry; Galgorm Resort, Co Antrim; Hayfield Manor, Cork; The Europe Hotel & Resort, Co Kerry; The K Club, Co Kildare; Ballyfin Demesne, Co Laois; The Cashel Palace, Co Tipperary.
Culinary Haven of the Year: The Lansdowne Kenmare, Co Kerry; Castle Leslie Estate, Co Monaghan; Ard na Sidhe Country House, Co Kerry; Killeavy Castle Estate, Co Armagh; Rathmullan House, Co Donegal; Ballymaloe House Hotel, Co Cork; The Lodge at Ashford Castle, Co Mayo; The Old Inn Crawfordsburn, Co Down; Delphi Lodge, Co Galway; The Bushmills Inn, Co Antrim.
4 Star Irish Hospitality Experience of the Year: Glenroyal Hotel, Co Kildare; Newpark Hotel, Co Kilkenny; Maryborough Hotel, Cork; Breaffy House Resort, Co Mayo; Bishop’s Gate Hotel, Derry; Killashee Hotel, Co Kildare; Kilronan Castle Estate & Spa, Co Roscommon; Barberstown Castle, Co Kildare; Tulfarris Hotel & Golf Resort, Co Wicklow; The Dunraven Adare, Co Limerick; Kelly’s Resort Hotel & Spa, Co Wexford.
Hotel Restaurant Experience of the Year: The Barton Rooms, Barberstown Castle, Co Kildare; Yew Tree Restaurant, Muckross Park Hotel & Spa, Co Kerry; Snaffles Restaurant, Castle Leslie Estate, Co Monaghan; Forbes Street by Gareth Mullins, Anantara The Marker Dublin Hotel, Dublin; The Panorama Restaurant, The Europe Hotel & Resort, Co Kerry; Barton Grill, The K Club, Co Kildare; The Rugged Lane, Luttrellstown Castle, Co Dublin; The Sea Rooms Smokehouse, Kelly’s Resort Hotel, Co Wexford; The Restaurant, Dunluce Lodge, Co Antrim; The Enclosure Restaurant, The Glenroyal Hotel.
Restaurant Experience of the Year: The Lemon Tree Restaurant, Co Donegal; Woodruff Restaurant, Co Dublin; Hang Dai Restaurant, Dublin; The Church Restaurant, Co Cork; An Port Mór, Co Mayo; Underground Dining, Co Down; Roly’s Bistro, Dublin; Tully Mill Restaurant, Co Fermanagh; Hugo’s Restaurant & Wine Bar, Dublin; No 14 Georgian House, Co Down.
Café Restaurant Experience of the Year: The Farmhouse Café & Bakehouse, Dublin; Sweet N Green, Co Clare; Seasons Café & Bakeshop, Co Limerick; Lily & Wild, Co Kildare; Kylemore Abbey, Co Galway; The Silver Restaurant at Newbridge Silverware, Co Kildare; Sadler’s Restaurant & Bar, Co Tipperary; POTA, Co Galway; Grow HQ, Co Waterford; Kelly’s Kitchen, Co Mayo.
Pub Experience of the Year: Davy Byrnes, Dublin; The Bianconi Inn, Co Kerry; Mikey Ryan’s Bar & Kitchen, Co Tipperary; The Glyde Inn, Co Louth; The Lifeboat Inn, Co Cork; Hartes of Kildare, Co Kildare; The Tavern Bar & Restaurant, Co Mayo; Hargadons, Sligo; The Glandore Inn, Co Cork; The Oarsman, Co Leitrim.
Irish Food Retail Experience of the Year: Caviston’s Restaurant & Food Emporium, Dublin; Firecastle, Co Kildare; Kelly’s of Newport, Co Mayo; The Blue Goat Ramelton, Co Donegal; URRU Culinary Store, Co Cork; Country Choice Nenagh, Co Tipperary; Indie Fude, Co Down; Murphy’s Butchers, Co Carlow; Ditty’s Bakery, Co Derry; The Bakery Shack, Co Donegal.
Irish Culinary Tourism Experience Award: Realt na Mara Shellfish, Co Kerry; Vintage Tea Trips, Dublin; Bread with Benefits, Co Meath; Long Meadow Cider, Co Armagh; Aran Islands Goat’s Cheese, Inis Mór; Skellig Six18 Distillery & Visitor Experience, Co Kerry; Leahy Beekeeping, Co Galway; Croagh Patrick Seafoods, Co Mayo; Ballymaloe Cookery School, Organic Farm & Gardens, Co Cork; Connemara Smokehouse & Visitor Experience, Co Galway.
Best Irish Seafood Experience – sponsored by BIM: Viking House, Co Donegal; Fish City Belfast, Co Antrim; Out of the Blue, Co Kerry; The Oarsman, Co Leitrim; Andersons Boathouse, Co Donegal; The Pier House Howth, Co Dublin; Vaughan’s Anchor Inn, Co Clare; The Mad Monk, Co Kerry; The Seafood Café by Niall Sabongi, Dublin.
SUSTAINABILITY
Sustainable Culinary Tourism Award: Ballymaloe Cookery School, Co Cork; Killeavy Castle Estate, Co Armagh; Breac.House, Co Donegal; Woodruff Restaurant, Co Dublin; Castle Leslie Estate, Co Monaghan; The Cashel Palace, Co Tipperary; Ashford Castle Estate, Co Mayo; GROW HQ, Co Waterford; POTA, Co Galway; Tully Mill Restaurant, Co Fermanagh.
Sustainable Irish Food & Drink Producer of the Year: Keogh’s Crisps, Dublin; Milleens Cheese, Co Cork; Calvey’s Achill Mountain Lamb, Co Mayo; Long Meadow Cider, Co Armagh; Killowen Farm, Co Wexford; The Apple Farm, Co Tipperary; Atlantis of Kilmore Quay, Co Wexford; Galtee Honey Farm, Co Tipperary; Garryhinch Wood Exotic Mushrooms, Co Offaly; Aran Island Goat Cheese, Inis Mór, Co Galway.
IRISH PRODUCER OF THE YEAR AWARDS
Meat Producer: Murphy’s Butchers, Co Carlow; Kelly’s of Newport, Co Mayo; John Stone Beef, Co Longford; Market House Ennistymon, Co Clare; Tom Durcan Meats, Co Cork; Calvey’s Achill Mountain Lamb, Co Mayo; Butcher’s Best, Co Wexford.
Fruit & Vegetable Producer: Garryhinch Wood Exotic Mushrooms, Co Offaly; Malone Fruit Farm, Co Wexford; The Apple Farm, Co Tipperary; Kearns Fruit Farm, Co Wexford; O’Shea Farms, Co Kilkenny; Ballykelly Farm, Co Wexford; Long Meadow Farm, Co Armagh.
Dairy Producer: Boyne Valley Farmhouse Cheese, Co Meath; Freezin’ Friesian, Co Waterford; Killowen Farm, Co Wexford; Glastry Farm Ice Cream, Co Down; Linnalla Pure Irish Ice Cream, Co Clare; Milleens Cheese, Co Cork; Aran Island Goat Cheese, Inis Mór.
Fish & Seafood Producer: Atlantis of Kilmore Quay, Co Wexford; K O’Connell Fish Merchants, Cork; Realt na Mara Shellfish, Co Kerry; Croagh Patrick Seafoods, Co Mayo; Ummera Smokehouse, Co Cork; Caviston’s Fishmongers, Co Dublin; Burren Smokehouse, Co Clare; Connemara Smokehouse, Co Galway.
Bakery & Chocolate Producer: The Bakery Shack, Co Donegal; Chez Emily, Dublin; Jinny’s Bakery & Tearooms, Co Leitrim; Ditty’s Bakery, Co Derry; Wilde Irish Chocolates, Co Clare; Barron’s Bakery & Coffee House, Co Waterford; The Chocolate Garden of Ireland, Co Carlow; The Farmhouse Café & Bakery, Dublin.
Drinks Producer: The Dew Drop Brewhouse, Co Kildare; Five Farms Irish Cream Liqueur, Co Cork; Papas Mineral Company, Co Down; Long Meadow Cider, Co Armagh; Beara Bitters, Co Kildare; Crolly Distillery, Co Donegal; Skellig Six18, Co Kerry; Hinch Distillery Co., Co Down.
Sweet & Savoury Producer: G’s Gourmet Jams, Co Laois; Crawford’s Rock Seaweed Salt, Co Down; Galtee Honey Farm, Co Tipperary; Irish Black Butter, Co Antrim; Janet’s Country Fayre, Co Wicklow; Wild Irish Foragers, Co Offaly; Leahy Beekeeping, Co Galway; The Mallow Makers, Co Down; Achill Island Sea Salt, Co Mayo; Keogh’s Crisps, Dublin; Oriel Sea Salt, Co Louth.
FOOD LOVERS’ CHOICE AWARD 2026
Wild Atlantic Way: Armada Hotel, Co Clare; Cliffs View Café, Co Clare; The Brehon Hotel, Co Kerry; The Lemon Tree, Co Donegal; Brigit’s Garden Café, Co Galway; Ballymaloe House Hotel, Co Cork; Homestead Cottage, Co Clare; Kylemore Abbey Restaurant & Café, Co Galway; Glenlo Abbey Hotel & Estate, Co Galway; Cashel House Hotel, Co Galway.
Ireland’s Ancient East: Glenroyal Hotel, Co Kildare; Newpark Hotel, Co Kilkenny; Tankardstown House, Co Meath; Grow HQ, Co Waterford; Ballymore Inn, Co Kildare; Castle Leslie Estate, Co Monaghan; Ballykealey House, Co Wexford; Firecastle, Co Kildare; Chocolate Garden of Ireland, Co Carlow; The Kitchen at Gorey, Co Wexford.
Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands: Kilronan Castle, Co Roscommon; Wineport Lodge, Co Westmeath; The Selkie Restaurant, Co Leitrim; Wilde Irish Chocolates, Co Clare; The Red Bank Restaurant, Co Leitrim; Lignum, Co Galway; Lough Erne Resort, Co Fermanagh; Jinny’s Bakery, Co Leitrim; MacNean House & Restaurant, Co Cavan; Wild Irish Foragers, Co Offaly.
Dublin: The Vintage Kitchen; Pier House Restaurant Howth; O’Connell’s Pub Howth; Vintage Tea Trips; The Merrion Hotel; Keoghs Crisps; Roly’s Bistro; Davy Byrnes; Brooks Hotel; Farmhouse Café & Bakery.
Northern Ireland: Cult! Plant Based Cheese, Co Down; Nasca Chocolate, Co Down; Galgorm Resort, Co Antrim; The Bushmills Inn, Co Antrim; Papas Mineral Company, Co Down; Underground Dining, Co Down; Pier 36, Co Down; Clandeboye Lodge Hotel Coq & Bull Brasserie, Co Down; Bridewell Coffee & Provisions, Co Down; Fjord Bakery, Co Down.
IRISH CULINARY TOURISM INNOVATION AWARD
Cashel Palace Hotel – Land to Table: A Journey Worth Tasting, Co Tipperary; Tully Mill – Hidden Flavours at Marble Arch Caves, Co Fermanagh; Kerry Creamery Experience – Honouring Dairy Heritage, Co Kerry; Kelly’s Resort Hotel & Spa – Train & Dine Day Trip, Co Wexford; Ballymaloe House Hotel – The Cook’s Holiday, Co Cork; Anantara The Marker Hotel Dublin – The Spice Spoons Experience, Dublin; The Burren Smokehouse – Mini Food Trail, Co Clare; Croagh Patrick Seafoods – Signature Lunch Experience, Co Mayo; Aniar – Redefining Place-Led Dining, Galway.
The winners will be announced at the Gala Awards Ceremony on 16 November, alongside special honours including Irish Food & Hospitality Ambassador of the Year and the Lifetime Achievement Award.
The evening will also see the presentation of the Overall Irish Producer of the Year, selected from the Producer Award winners, and the Supreme Award of the Year, the highest accolade of the Good Food Ireland® Awards.
Good Food Ireland® 20th Anniversary Celebration & Gala Awards Ceremony
Monday, 16 November 2026 | InterContinental Dublin
In association with FBD Insurance and proudly supported by Bord Bia, Fáilte Ireland, BIM, Tourism Ireland, Allfresh, AIB, Waterford, Irish Farmers Association (IFA), National Inshore Fishermen’s Association (NIFA) amongst others.
About the Good Food Ireland® 20th Anniversary Awards 2026
The Good Food Ireland® Awards recognise excellence across Ireland’s food, drink, hospitality and culinary tourism community, celebrating businesses, producers, experiences and individuals that champion Irish food and drink and connect visitors with Irish produce, people, place, provenance and story.
The 2026 Awards span hospitality and dining, culinary tourism, sustainability, food retail and food and drink production, alongside individual and overall honours.
The Irish Food & Hospitality Ambassador of the Year and Lifetime Achievement Award are honorary awards and therefore do not have finalist shortlists. The Overall Irish Producer of the Year will be selected from the winners of the individual Producer Awards, while the Supreme Award of the Year will be selected from the overall 2026 Award winners.
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For more information, please contact Kennedy PR + Brand
Caroline Kennedy ckennedy@kennedyprandbrand.ie
Caitlin Shea cshea@kennedyprandbrand.ie
About Good Food Ireland
Good Food Ireland® is the trusted all-island brand standard for authentic Irish food and drink experiences. With Good Food Ireland®, you can discover Ireland through its food, connecting you with the farmers, fishers, food producers, chefs and hospitality providers who bring Ireland’s food culture to life, while championing provenance, sustainability and quality. Established in 2006, Good Food Ireland® has helped shape Ireland’s food and culinary tourism story for 20 years.
Through a curated network and bookable Irish food and drink experiences platform, Good Food Ireland® gives visitors and locals the opportunity to discover and experience Ireland through its food in meaningful and immersive ways. From local tastings and farm visits to guided culinary experiences, each offering reveals the richness of Ireland’s food heritage and the people, places and traditions behind it.
Good Food Ireland® is committed to supporting sustainable food tourism and strengthening the livelihoods of Ireland’s food communities, helping to preserve and evolve Ireland’s culinary heritage for future generations.
About Margaret Jeffares, Founder, Good Food Ireland®
Margaret Jeffares is the founder of Good Food Ireland® and a recognised leader in food tourism, destination branding and Agri-food strategy.
Margaret established Good Food Ireland® with a vision to position food as a central pillar of Ireland’s cultural identity and tourism offering, creating a model that connects farmers, fishers, food producers, chefs and hospitality providers within a unified, quality guaranteed all-island framework.
Margaret’s work has been instrumental in shaping Ireland’s food tourism landscape, demonstrating how provenance, authenticity and sustainability can drive both visitor engagement and economic growth. Through Good Food Ireland®, she developed a fully operational destination framework that links agriculture, food production and tourism, helping to redefine how Ireland is experienced by visitors.
Margaret is widely regarded within industry and policy circles as a leading authority in food tourism strategy and destination branding. Her approach has been recognised as a best practice model for integrating local food systems with tourism development, influencing both national and international perspectives on food as a driver of cultural identity and commercial.