Are you looking for Michelin-rated restaurants in Ireland?
Wherever you go in Ireland on your next trip, you’ll find restaurants that have been recognized by experts for their exceptional food and service. The Emerald Isle is gradually emerging as a gourmet destination to complement its already world-famous bucket-list attractions. Here are the best Michelin restaurants in Ireland, from Dublin to Galway and even Belfast.
Things you'll find in this article
15 Best Michelin Restaurants In Ireland
Michelin restaurants in Dublin
1. Chapter One by Mikael Viljanen
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Address: 18-19 Parnell Square North, Dublin 1
The restaurant, located in the basement of the Writers Museum, is sophisticated and fashionable, and it features some striking artwork. The cuisine places a premium on using only the freshest and highest-quality ingredients, which are primarily Irish but also acquired from other countries as necessary.
Chef Mickael’s cooking is a blend of traditional French methods and a refined contemporary touch, as well as his own unique flair. Dishes that are both refined and aesthetically pleasing are well balanced with bold, natural flavors.
2. Glover’s Alley
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Address: 127-128 St Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2
Located on the second floor of the Fitzwilliam Hotel, this sophisticated and elegant eatery takes its name from the alley where the city’s glove-makers originally worked. The space is mostly modern, with some 1930s touches.
Andy McFadden’s cuisine stands out from the others because of its daring flavors and textures, as well as the fact that it is infused with modern flair and reflects McFadden’s extensive experience. People who pay attention to detail yet don’t act superior bring dishes to the table in a timely manner.
3. Liath
Address: Blackrock Market, 19a Main Street, Blackrock, Co Dublin
Since there are only a few tables at Liath, Damien Grey and his small team are able to provide each customer individualized attention and explanations of the dishes they are served.
You can choose between two seatings: one in the early evening, where a 3-course meal is served, and another in the late evening, where the entire surprise tasting menu is presented. Both feature favorite dishes from throughout Liath’s history, which have been refined and improved throughout the years.
The five tastes of salty, savory, sweet, bitter, and sour are at the heart of the restaurant’s daring and creative meals, which all work in perfect harmony with one another.
4. Patrick Guilbaud
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Address: 21 Upper Merrion Street, Dublin 2
This famous Irish eatery turned 40 years old in 2021. Even though the restaurant’s success is mostly attributable to its namesake chef, Patrick Guilbaud, he also deserves credit for the talented staff he has assembled over the years.
Tucked away in a Georgian townhouse, the restaurant exudes opulence and refinement thanks to touches like a gilt-barrel ceiling and hand-crafted marquetry.
The refined cuisine is still fundamentally French, but it has grown to display a subtle modernism and some daring yet wonderfully balanced flavors. The dishes feature high-end Irish ingredients, and both the wine cellar and the wine list are pieces of beauty in their own right.
5. Variety Jones
Address: 78 Thomas Street, Dublin 8
The fact that this modest eatery is hidden between other buildings and has no sign above the entrance only serves to heighten the anticipation that one feels when approaching it. The long, narrow space is decorated in a hip, contemporary design but exudes a laid-back vibe.
Many of the dishes at Variety Jones are cooked over an open fire, and they are all incredibly unique, exquisite, and yet unfussy. You can choose from Snacks, Cold, Warm, Pasta, Family Style (to share), and After (one dessert and one cheese). The monthly-changing wine collection is lovingly curated with a focus on organic wines.
Michelin rated restaurants in other parts of Ireland
6. Aniar
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Address: 53 Lower Dominick Street, Galway
This chic, low-key eatery has a ‘back-to-nature’ vibe throughout, from the furnishings to the food. The atmosphere is defined by the wood and stone, while the food highlights Atlantic Coast foods from Ireland.
The name “Aniar” translates to “From the West,” and most of the ingredients in this dish originate from the area near Galway. Contrasts in texture, temperature, and acidity are all used well to combine traditional and modern cooking methods.
Pure in their simplicity, the dishes’ two or three ingredients showcase their delicacy and harmony. In addition, each dish’s recommended wine pairings are excellent.
7. Bastion
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Address: Main Street, Kinsale, Co Cork
Bastion, located smack dab in the middle of town, boasts a spacious pub with a dark interior that exudes an ominous air. Candlelight, however, is a warm and inviting addition. Although owner and chef Paul McDonald was born in Scotland, the cuisine here has a decidedly Irish bent, with a focus on seasonal, locally sourced ingredients.
The focus is on using fresh, local ingredients and showcasing their natural flavors. Dishes are crafted with care and feature a contemporary aesthetic. There’s usually something novel or lighthearted about them, and the flavors and textures are mind-blowingly intricate.
8. Campagne
Address: 5 The Arches, Gashouse Lane, Kilkenny
Chef and owner Garrett Byre has been in the business for quite some time. The sleek, modern decor of his restaurant includes curving banquettes, spot lighting, dark wood tables, and eye-catching local artwork on the walls. Authentic, time-honored recipes are prepared using the finest Irish ingredients.
Considering the inexpensive prices of the early bird menu and the wide range of wines available, it’s not surprising that the restaurant is popular amongst locals.
9. House
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Address: Cliff House Hotel, Middle Road, Ardmore, Co Waterford
This hotel restaurant keeps things simple so that guests may concentrate on what really matters: the food. The tasting menu is meant to be a tribute to the excellent local produce that can be found in the area.
They zero in on a few of key components and give each of those components the utmost care in order to coax out their best flavors. Start with a few appetizers and then move on to eight meals of exquisite, refined cuisine. Just for the treacle bread and Guinness, it would be worth it to go again.
10. Lady Helen
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Address: Mount Juliet Estate, Thomastown, Co Kilkenny
On a sprawling estate of more than a thousand acres, this grand mansion is a prime example of Georgian architecture in Ireland. In contrast to the big room’s expected level of comfort and elegance, the Lady Helen restaurant here is unfussy and unpretentious, which is a welcome change for a hotel of this illustrious history.
Dishes with intense flavors and stunning presentation are expertly made with produce from the estate, the region, and the shore. The Lady also offers some of the best desserts to complement a great meal.
11. The Oak Room
Address: Adare Manor, Adare, Co Limerick
Great Irish hospitality makes you feel like the most important person in the world. Your dining experience at The Oak Room in the manor’s elegant 1830s dining room is a good example of this trademarkIrish treatment.
Michael Tweedie’s confident, pleasantly subtle cooking celebrates the finest ingredients from Ireland’s artisan producers, with meals consisting of only three or four components to highlight the restaurant’s unique design. Excellent thought and care went into the preparation of the combinations. The wine list was clearly a labor of love, as it features an excellent selection of wines available by the glass.
12. Wild Honey Inn
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Address: Kincora Road, Lisdoonvarna, Co Clare
The Burren is home to a family-run hotel that first opened its doors in the 1860s to accommodate guests of the town’s baths. The interior is warm, welcoming, and full of typical pub characteristics.
Aidan McGrath, the head chef, regularly alters the menu to reflect the seasonal availability of certain ingredients. Classical French technique is used as a foundation for dishes that include local ingredients and are expertly prepared to highlight their natural flavors and textures.
Michelin restaurants in Belfast, NI
13. Eipic
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Address: 28-40 Howard St, Belfast
Michael Deane’s tiny empire centers around the Eipic restaurant. Tasting menus are the norm, with dishes progressively more flavorful as you eat them. Cooking takes on a confident modern approach, with a creative edge and some novel flavor combinations.
They use seasonal foods of the highest quality procured or foraged as locally as possible. The staff is friendly, and the wine pairings are presented with a unique twist—you can choose between a glass and a shot.
14. The Muddlers Club
Address: 1 Warehouse Ln, Belfast
You won’t easily find this trendy eatery with an industrial vibe and a name inspired from a 200-year-old underground organization. Once you find it tucked away in the Cathedral Quarter though, the search is worth it. Chef Gareth McCaughey prepares contemporary dishes with a reference to classics. His cooking concept centers on using high-quality ingredients—most of which come from Ireland—prepared simply.
Try his Antrim beef with carrot, short rib, and bone marrow. The beef is tender and juicy, the sauce is flavorful, and the side dishes are uncomplicated without sacrificing flavor.
15. 1 Oxford St, Belfast
This charming modern eatery, designed by Stephen Toman, features a calm ambiance and a simple aesthetic. The menus are always changing, but you can count on delicious dishes prepared with fresh, local ingredients.
They range from fixed-price (lunchtime only) to tasting menus. All menu items are made with about 30 of the best seasonal ingredients. There is a wonderful harmony of flavors and textures, and the cooking is done in a polished, sophisticated approach. Seasonal touches in the perfectly paired wines and kind service round out the experience.
Hi, I’m Christine – a full-time traveler and career woman. Although I’m from the Philippines, my location independent career took me to over 60 countries for the past 12 years. I also lived in 4 continents – from the Caribbean, South East Asia, Africa and now in Europe. But despite living in several countries, my love for Ireland remains the same. A country that had been a part of my life since I was 14 because of my love for Irish music and bands. Ireland Travel Guides was born because of this passion and hopefully, in some little ways, this website will be able to help you on your next trip to Ireland.