The Michelin Guide 2024 has announced that six Irish restaurants have been awarded a Bib Gourmand, five of which are newly awarded. Three have been awarded across Dublin, demonstrating the city’s already appealing dining scene. This year’s selections are pleasingly varied, with culinary influences ranging from Spanish to Indian, although there is a key theme of small plates menus running throughout. With 20 restaurants added overall across Great Britain and Ireland, pub dining has been a common theme that has appeared across the board, with 5 pubs among this year’s new Bib Gourmands.
Starting off in Cork, Ichigo Ichie Bistro & Natural Wine offers well-prepared Japanese dishes. A new incarnation of Cork’s Ichigo Ichie, which previously held a Michelin Star and has relaunched as a more relaxed, accessibly priced restaurant, has entered the guide. As it comes with a bustle of contented diners, the menu includes rice bowls, cold and hot handmade buckwheat noodles, with daily changing specials.
Heading West, Solas, based in the charming town of Dingle, has been added to the guide. With organic Irish produce at the core of their restaurant, Solas serve Tapas style small plates, where Spanish flavours shine through their unique offerings.
The theme of small plates and Tapas is evident in this year’s Michelin Guide, demonstrated further by the Dublin additions. Spanish delights can be savoured in La Gordita, the sister restaurant of Anna Cabrera and Vanessa Murphy’s Las Tapas de Lola. Serving authentic, Spanish bodega-style food with matching wines, La Gordita is a lively spot in the Irish capital and has been in the works for quite some time, becoming a much-loved Dublin spot less than a year after opening.
Within walking distance from La Gordita is Amy Austin, serving small plates with dishes taking cues from all over the world. A casual-dining restaurant and wine bar, diners enjoy free-flowing wine on tap as they delight in Amy Austin’s offerings, ranging from open octopus tacos to sweetbread yakitori.
Heading further South of the city to Rathmines, Lottie’s, headed by Domini Kemp and Tudorel Ostache, is a buzzing neighbourhood brasserie, making its way into the Michelin Guide 2024. Visitors can enjoy views of the open kitchen as they dine on unfussy dishes packed with flavour and enjoy a few drinks upstairs from their extensive cocktail menu.
In Northern Ireland, Home in Belfast has regained its Bib Gourmand thanks to a new chef and some terrific produce. What started as a three month pop-up turned into a popular Belfast restaurant, still standing strong 13 years later. The extensive menus include a host of fresh, seasonal dishes using artisan Irish produce, accompanied by friendly service and a welcoming feel.
Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of The MICHELIN Guide, commented: “It is a joy to see 20 restaurants newly awarded the Bib Gourmand in the 2024 edition of The MICHELIN Guide Great Britain & Ireland. These are establishments that deserve recognition for their continued commitment to offering affordable, delicious cooking. The generosity and value for money they offer is wonderful to see during these challenging economic times for the restaurant industry.”
The full online listings for the 2024 Bib Gourmand awarded restaurants will be updated in the evening of 5th February, following the Great Britain & Ireland 2024 MICHELIN Guide Ceremony in Manchester, when all of the new MICHELIN Stars, Green Stars and Special Awards will be announced.
