Michelin night brings stars, surprises — but no Irish three-star yet
The awards were announced during the annual Michelin Guide Ceremony, held at the Convention Centre Dublin on Monday night.
In the end, the long-awaited first-ever Irish three-star restaurant failed to materialise at Monday night’s Michelin Guide Ireland & Britain Awards Ceremony 2026 at Dublin’s Convention Centre.
In fact, the guide announced no new three-star restaurants, although the existing trio — all British — retained their top status.
With more than 800 attendees — double the usual turnout at UK-hosted ceremonies — and Gordon Ramsay as celebrity guest, a large Irish hospitality contingent arrived in buoyant form, ready to celebrate on home turf.
Many had believed the first Irish staging of the ceremony signalled a planned unveiling of Ireland’s first three-star restaurant, but the home crowd ultimately had slim pickings to cheer, as pre-match expectations of a landmark night fizzled out.
There were just two new two-star restaurants, neither Irish, with London’s Row on 5 earning a second star, while Bonheur by Matt Abbé — also in London — went one better, securing two stars just three months after opening, an extraordinary achievement.
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However, the announcement of a Michelin star for Dublin’s Forest Avenue prompted loud roars and a standing ovation from Irish chefs, with many believing the award was long overdue.
Proprietors Cork chef John Wyer, from Glanmire, and his wife Sandy received an especially warm onstage welcome, with Wyer saying passion was their secret ingredient and that, “when you love what you do, it’s easy — and we love what we do!”
The other newly starred Irish chef, Angelo Vogiotos of The Pullman Restaurant at Glenlo Abbey Hotel in Galway, was clearly delighted, although some muddled stage management denied him a full home-crowd roar of appreciation.
There was, however, genuine surprise and delight for another Cork winner, as Kinsale’s St Francis Provisions claimed the Best Service award.
A visibly stunned proprietor, Barbara Nealon, credited the success to “liking your customers”, but in a humorous and touching moment, SFP chef Rebeca Recarey Sanchez, also on stage, said that wasn’t a “very good answer”.
"Let me answer," she said, "because I watch you from the kitchen and the secret to great service is you welcome and treat every customer as if you were welcoming them into your own home."
The two new Irish starred restaurants were joined by 18 other new one-star recipients, while five Irish Bib Gourmand winners, announced earlier in the week, formed part of an overall total of 37 restaurants recognised.
So the wait continues — at least another year — for Ireland’s first three-star restaurant, and while the ceremony itself proved something of a damp squib, it was quickly forgotten amid the cocktail afterparty downstairs.
