{"id":289440,"date":"2026-02-09T22:30:51","date_gmt":"2026-02-09T22:30:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/289440\/"},"modified":"2026-02-09T22:30:51","modified_gmt":"2026-02-09T22:30:51","slug":"irish-restaurants-forest-avenue-and-the-pullman-earn-first-michelin-stars-at-michelin-awards-2026-in-dublin-as-20-others-retain-stars","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/289440\/","title":{"rendered":"Irish restaurants Forest Avenue and The Pullman earn first Michelin Stars at Michelin Awards 2026 in Dublin as 20 others retain stars"},"content":{"rendered":"

The ceremony took place at the Convention Centre where the biggest names in British and Irish gastronomy gathered to learn if their restaurants would gain, keep or lose the most-coveted symbol of recognition in the restaurant world: Michelin Stars.<\/p>\n

It was the first time the prestigious annual launch of the Guide to Great Britain and Ireland happened on Irish shores since it began in 1974.<\/p>\n

As part of the ceremony, the most-deserving dining establishments are recognised with various awards including Michelin Stars, Green Stars and Bib Gourmands.<\/p>\n

Angelo Vagiotis\u2019s The Pullman was the first restaurant awarded a first-time Michelin Star. It is set in two converted Orient Express train carriages nearly 100 years old on the Glenlo Abbey Estate and is described by the Michelin Guide as producing \u201cexquisite cooking\u201d while \u201cshowcasing the best Irish produce in beautifully balanced dishes like wild turbot with Oscietra caviar and a champagne and vanilla sauce\u201d.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The Pullman is located inside two restored Orient Express train carriages of nearly 100 years in age. Pitcure: Gleno Abbey<\/p>\n

R\u00f3n\u00e1n O\u2019Halloran, general manager at The Pullman, expressed his gratitude on behalf of the restaurant for recognition of their work after reopening less than a year ago.<\/p>\n

“We are incredibly proud to be recognised in this prestigious guide, so soon after reopening The Pullman after its loving restoration following a major investment commitment by our owners.<\/p>\n

“It certainly is a very proud moment for both the front and back of house teams who have worked incredibly hard to achieve our ambitious goal.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Sandy<\/p>\n

Sandy Wyer and John Wyer of Forest Avenue, Dublin 4.<\/p>\n

News in 90 Seconds – 9th February 2026<\/p>\n

The Michelin Guide praised The Pullman for its \u201cabsolute splendour\u201d.<\/p>\n

“Stepping inside was like a portal to another time and place,\u201d it said. \u201cThe cooking lived up to the surroundings, with outstanding produce and skilful execution.\u201d<\/p>\n

An emotional owner, John Wyer later took to the stage alongside co-owner Sandy Wyer to accept their star on behalf of his Dublin 4 restaurant Forest Avenue which has won its first-ever Michelin Star.<\/p>\n

“When you love what you do, it’s easy, and we love what we do,\u201d he told those gathered in the Convention Centre.<\/p>\n

\"Forest<\/p>\n

Forest Avenue restaurant in Dublin 4. Picture: Michelin Guide<\/p>\n

“We run a lovely, authentic restaurant in Dublin 4 and that’s what gets us up in the morning.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another notable Irish winner on the night was Barbara Nealon of St Francis Provisions in Kinsale, Co Cork, who accepted the Michelin Service Award which is given in recognition of front-of-house teams who demonstrate exceptional service and professionalism. When asked what the secret is to great service, Ms Nealon joked: \u201cliking your customers\u201d.<\/p>\n

Coming into tonight, Dublin restaurant\u2019s Bigfan, Borgo and Foret, Farmgate Lismore in Waterford and Beau in Belfast had last week been awarded prestigious Bib Gourmand prizes, awards given to establishments who provide \u201cvalue for money without skimping on flavour\u201d.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, all 10 three-Michelin Star restaurants \u2013 all located in the UK \u2013 retained their status at this year\u2019s ceremony.<\/p>\n

There are five strict criteria that must be met in order to gain Michelin Stars: ingredient quality, mastery of flavour, expression of the chef\u2019s personality in their cuisine, harmony of flavours and consistency between visits.<\/p>\n

One Star means that the restaurant has exhibited \u201chigh quality cooking\u201d that is \u201cworth a stop\u201d. Two Stars means the restaurant has demonstrated \u201cexcellent cooking\u201d that is \u201cworth a detour\u201d, while three Stars indicates \u201cexceptional cuisine\u201d that is worthy of \u201ca special journey\u201d.<\/p>\n

There was particular Irish interest in this year\u2019s instalment of the highly anticipated ceremony as five restaurants in Dublin and Cork entered into contention with two of the globally coveted stars already to their names, hoping to gain more.<\/p>\n

All five retained their two stars: Chapter One (Dublin), Liath (Dublin), Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud (Dublin) Dede (Cork) and Terre (Cork).<\/p>\n

The \u201ciconic\u201d dining location \u2013 as described by the Michelin Guide \u2013 Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud on Merrion Street, Dublin 2, has been cooking up French dishes since its establishment by its namesake in 1981. The restaurant has held two stars since 1996, eight years after it gained its first.<\/p>\n

The Michelin Guide credits it with a dining experience that \u201coozes sumptuousness and sophistication\u201d, going hand-in-hand with its \u201crestrained modernity\u201d.<\/p>\n

\"Mickael<\/p>\n

Mickael Viljanen of Chapter One hoped to win a third star at the ceremony. Photo: Nina Val<\/p>\n

Fellow Dublin-based restaurant, Mickael Viljanen\u2019s Chapter One on Parnell Square in Dublin 1, earned its two stars in 2022 owing to its \u201ctruly top-drawer cooking\u201d comprising Donegal lobster, Limousin sweetbreads and Irish coffee, combining to make \u201can experience to remember\u201d, according to the guide.<\/p>\n

Dede in Baltimore, Co Cork is run by chef Ahmet Dede and is commended in the Guide for its \u201csuperb local produce\u201d used to create authentic Turkish flavours.<\/p>\n

There were 15 other Irish restaurants who retained their one-star rating under the Michelin Guide for 2026.<\/p>\n

These include The Oak Room, Limerick\u2019s first Michelin Star restaurant, fine dining location D\u2019Olier Street in Dublin, 200-year-old cottage Homestead Cottage in Doolin, Co Clare and The Bishop\u2019s Buttery in Cashel, Co Tipperary.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The ceremony took place at the Convention Centre where the biggest names in British and Irish gastronomy gathered…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":289441,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[42,1286,43,40,38,41,39],"class_list":{"0":"post-289440","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-headlines","8":"tag-headlines","9":"tag-keith-kelly","10":"tag-news","11":"tag-top-news","12":"tag-top-stories","13":"tag-topnews","14":"tag-topstories"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/289440","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=289440"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/289440\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/289441"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=289440"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=289440"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=289440"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}