REVEALED: The best places to eat and drink in Louth honoured at Irish Restaurant Awards 2026

Louth’s thriving food and hospitality scene was in the spotlight at the Irish Restaurant Awards Leinster Regional Final 2026, held on Tuesday, March 3rd, at the Killashee Hotel in Kildare. The evening celebrated the county’s outstanding restaurants, cafés, pubs, and hospitality professionals, with Louth winners taking top honours across a wide range of categories.

More than 1100 guests attended to recognise the achievements of restaurants, cafés and hospitality businesses operating across Leinster. 

Now in its 17th year, the Irish Restaurant Awards attracted over 150,000 public nominations, submitted via The Irish Times, the official media partner. 

Once all regional finals conclude, both Regional and All Ireland winners will be revealed at the All-Ireland Awards Gala Dinner on Monday, May 18th at the Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road, Dublin. County winners from Leinster are now invited to secure tickets for the national ceremony. 

Addressing attendees, Seán Collender, President of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, said: 

“As Ireland places a renewed focus on culinary tourism, nights like this take on even greater importance. Our restaurants are not only central to local communities and employment, they are a key part of the experience visitors travel here for. The Irish Restaurant Awards shine a light on the quality, creativity and standards that underpin Ireland’s growing food reputation at home and abroad.” 

“These awards are about more than recognition. They reinforce the link between hospitality businesses and Ireland’s wider tourism offering. By celebrating excellence at county and regional level, we strengthen the foundations of a food culture that attracts visitors, supports producers and sustains jobs right across the country. I want to congratulate every nominee and winner whose work contributes to that story.” 

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The Louth winners were as follows: 

Best Restaurant – Square Restaurant

Best Chef – Mark Gormley, The Clermont

Best Restaurant Manager – Wayne Fitzpatrick, No. 3 Wine Bar & Restaurant

Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant – Scholars Townhouse Hotel

Employee Excellence – Kate Traynor, Carlingford Brewing Company

Best Use of Social Media – Mo Chara

Best Casual Dining – Kingfisher Bistro

Best World Cuisine – Sitar Indian Restaurant & Takeaway

Best Gastro Pub – Blue Anchor

Best Contemporary Irish Cuisine – The Spotted Dog

Best Newcomer – East

Pub of the Year – The Vinegar Man

Best Wine Experience – D’Vine Bistro & Tapas Bar

Best Customer Service – Carrickdale Hotel and Spa

Best Café – Strandfield

Best Sustainable Practices – Forge Field Farm Coffee Shop

Innovator of the Year – King of Kefir

Local Food Hero – Kian Louët-Feisser, Carlingford Oyster Company