Restaurants in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Mayo and Belfast feature in 10 Hottest Dining Rooms list, as part of 100 Best Restaurants, compiled by The Sunday Times sponsored by Cully and Sully
The Sunday Times, Ireland’s leading quality Sunday news brand, has unveiled its definitive Top Ten Hottest Dining Rooms list as part of its annual 100 Best Restaurants list – the ultimate guide to eating out in Ireland.
Goldie in Cork takes the number one spot, followed by Allta in Dublin and Daróg in Galway. New opening Lena, located in Portobello, Dublin, enters the list for the first time in the top ten, showing that Irish diners are hungry for new restaurants and experiences.
Three restaurants in Cork, three in Dublin, two in Galway and one in Mayo and Belfast, also feature in the top ten list as the most sought after restaurants to book a table at in 2025.
Additionally, the McKenna’s created a new category this year, Tried and True restaurants. This list focuses on classic choices that remain the pinnacle of contemporary and fine dining in Ireland and includes favourites such as Chapter One, Ballymaloe House and Grano.
The annual 100 Best Restaurants list also includes a number of other categories including Best for Breakfast, Best for Cheese Boards and many more. A new Hot Contenders list features ones to watch for 2025 and highlights new openings and buzzy casual dining options.
Compiled by renowned food critics John and Sally McKenna, this is their fourth decade covering the 100 Best Restaurants in Ireland and their ninth edition with The Sunday Times. The full list of the 100 Best Restaurants is available in The Sunday Times on Sunday, 23rd March.
The complete Top Ten list of Hottest Dining Rooms in Ireland, selected by John and Sally McKenna, is below:
- Goldie, Cork
- Allta, Dublin
- Daróg Wine Bar, Galway
- Dede at the Customs House, Cork
- Lignum, Galway
- Lena, Dublin
- Kicky’s, Dublin
- Glass Curtain, Cork
- Waterman House, Belfast
- Savoir House, Mayo
John and Sally McKenna say this year’s Top Ten is a combination of great food and a memorable dining experience: “In this year’s Top ten, more than half of the hottest rooms in the country are run by restaurant professionals who manage more than one room. Goldie, this year’s Number one, is one of five restaurants in Cork’s Market Lane Group. Dublin’s hottest new arrival, Lena in Portobello, is one third of a trio of wildly successful city rooms. Sure, there will always be dreamers who envisage opening a little place somewhere because they love to cook. But the hard-nosed reality is that only the pros thrive in a business that is tough, competitive and demanding.”
Róisín Healy, Editor of Ireland’s 100 Best Restaurants “The Sunday Times is thrilled to work alongside John and Sally McKenna to bring you 100 Best Restaurants in Ireland. This essential guide captures the kitchens and dining rooms with the best energy and creativity on the culinary scene in Ireland. John and Sally’s focus as always is on outstanding food, atmosphere and an exciting dining experience from start to finish. I’m sure our readers will be eager to make their bookings for the year ahead.
The complete list of the 100 Best Restaurants, can be found
here – thesundaytimes.ie – or pick up The Sunday Times on 23rd March 2025
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