The headline of the night depended on where you were. For Ireland’s gastronomic world, this was the evening the Michelin Guide came to Dublin – yet still left the country waiting for its long-anticipated first three-star restaurant.
In the end, no three-star recognition was handed out in the 2026 edition of the Great Britain and Ireland guide. In England, two restaurants walked away with two stars: Chef Jason Atherton’s Row on Five was promoted from one star while Bonheur by Matt Abé entered the guide with two stars having opened just three months ago in November 2025.
Elsewhere, this was a night of joy for 20 restaurants who received their first star, among them Nieves Barragán Mohacho recognized for her new London opening Legado; Adam Handling whose Ugly Butterfly in Cornwall was rewarded for its “well-balanced flavours and technical prowess”; and Tom Tsappis who took a star home to Killiecrankie House in Scotland.
The local crowd in Dublin Convention Centre cheered for three home-grown success stories: Galway’s Pullmann restaurant and Dublin’s Forest Avenue were both recognized with their first star while Barbara Nealon from Saint Francis Provisions in Kindle was given the service award.
“In a year filled with challenges and turbulence in the industry, chefs and restaurateurs have once again shown their admirable resilience and innovation. This is reflected in a record number of restaurants being added to the Great Britain and Ireland Guide this year,” said Gwendal Poullennec, international director of The Michelin Guides. “Our newly awarded restaurants, including a pair of new two-star eateries and 20 establishments receiving one Michelin star, will rightly make headlines for their exceptional cooking.”
Other special recognitions included Young Chef of the Year Tom Earnshaw from Bohemia in Jersey and new opening Shwen Sheen, delighting diners in Sevenoaks with cuisine inspired by chef Maria Bradford’s Sierra Leonean heritage.
The guide also announced 37 new Bib Gourmand, recognizing restaurants that offer good food at a great price and seven new green stars, a nod for those who embrace sustainability.
As a reminder that the Michelin Guide is about more than stars, the 2026 edition of the UK and Ireland guide lists a total of 1,210 restaurants.
Tina Nielsen
