REVEALED: Which Tipperary restaurants made the 2026 Irish Restaurant Awards winners list?
Tipperary hospitality businesses recognised ahead of All-Ireland awards final
Several of Tipperary’s best-known restaurants and hospitality venues have been recognised after the county winners for the 2026 Irish Restaurant Awards were announced by the Restaurants Association of Ireland.
The awards process begins each year with nominations from the public for restaurants, cafés and hospitality businesses across Munster, celebrating those that consistently deliver outstanding food, service and hospitality.
The county winners will now progress to the All-Ireland Awards Gala Dinner, which takes place on Monday, May 18 at the Clayton Hotel Burlington Road, where national winners will be revealed.
Among the standout winners from Tipperary was Chez Hans, which secured two major accolades – Best Restaurant and Best Contemporary Irish Cuisine.
The long-established Cashel restaurant is widely recognised for its modern approach to Irish cooking and strong focus on high-quality local ingredients.
Another big winner on the night was The Bishop’s Buttery at Cashel Palace Hotel, which claimed both Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant and Best Wine Experience.
The restaurant’s head chef, Stefan McEnteer, was also honoured with the Best Chef award for Tipperary, highlighting the venue’s strong culinary reputation.
In Thomastown, O’Neill’s Bistro was named Best Casual Dining, reflecting its popularity for relaxed dining and consistently high-quality dishes.
International flavours were also recognised, with Ranna Ghor Indian Restaurant winning the award for Best World Cuisine.
Elsewhere, Goosers Bar & Eating House took home the Best Gastro Pub title, while No Filter was named Best Café. New business The Mill Pantry also celebrated success after being awarded Best Newcomer.
A number of other hospitality businesses and individuals across the county were also recognised for their contribution to the sector.
Lava Rock staff member Geraldine O’Donnell received the Employee Excellence award, while Cahir House Hotel won Best Customer Service.
Jim O’ The Mills was named Pub of the Year, and Matt The Thresher Inn saw James Lyons recognised as Best Restaurant Manager.
Clonmel-based Rivesci picked up two awards on the night, winning both Best Use of Social Media and Innovator of the Year. Sustainability was also acknowledged, with Cloughjordan House receiving the award for Best Sustainable Practices.
Meanwhile, Peter Ward of Country Choice was honoured as Local Food Hero in recognition of his long-standing contribution to promoting Irish artisan food and local producers.
With such a strong showing across multiple categories, Tipperary’s hospitality sector will now look ahead to the national finals in May, where these county winners will compete for top honours at the All-Ireland stage of the Irish Restaurant Awards.