The Michelin 2023 Guide is here – here are the Irish restaurants that made the cut

It was a great night for Cork at the 2023 Michelin Guide Awards, with Vincent Crepel winning one star for Terre restaurant in Castlemartyr and Ahmet Dede winning two stars for Dede in Baltimore, one of just three restaurants in Ireland and Great Britain to be awarded two stars.

“This is for Ireland, and this is for Turkey,” said chef Ahmet Dede as he joined Ireland’s four existing two-star restaurants who kept their accolades; Chapter One, Restaurant Patrick Gilbaud and Liath in Dublin and Aimsir in Celbridge.

“Chef Ahmet Dede’s Turkish heritage underpins his beautifully composed and exquisite cuisine,” said the judges. “Skilful, judicious spicing hits all the right notes so never comes close to overpowering the fine local ingredients; purity and balance are never at the expense of flavour.”

Terre’s use of local ingredients was also voiced by judges, who noted that “the striking and sophisticated dishes showcase the best of the local larder alongside more international flavours which highlight the chef’s time and travels in Asia; the sauces are superlative. Dishes are often finished off at your table in the elegant dining room. This is an experience to remember.”

Terre was the only restaurant in Ireland to be awarded one star, bringing Ireland’s total one Michelin-starred restaurants to 14, joining Glovers Alley, Variety Jones, Bastible, Campagne, Lady Helen, Aniar, House, The Oak Room, Wild Honey Inn, Ichigo Ichie, Bastion and Chestnut.

Spitalfields Dublin by Declan Maxwell received the Michelin Welcome and Service award, which acknowledges standout experiences by staff. “What I tell waiters when they’re working with me or if they start, to me I always say you shouldn’t treat customers like you’re bringing them into your house for a dinner party. You have them there, you’re looking after them, provide a friendly service, and obviously have someone to welcome them and someone there to say goodbye at the end of the night,” said Declan Maxwell.

Belfast chef and restaurateur Michael Deane was awarded Michelin Mentor of The Year and said while accepting his award, “I have been around a long time, and in the words of Thomas Keller, it’s important we make the next generation better; without that, we don’t have anything.”

Loam Restaurant in Galway was the only casualty on the list to have lost their Michelin star due to having closed earlier this year.

View the list of Ireland’s Michelin-starred restaurants here.

Photography by Michelin Guide.