The Irish Times have recently released a list of sixteen restaurants across Ireland that they believe are worth a visit.

Two Laois restaurants have made an appearance on the list- Bramley in Abbeyleix, and Ballyfin Demesne. 

"Sam and Emily Moody’s fine-dining spot in Abbeyleix turns out sharp, confident cooking built on serious pedigree – Sam cooked at Ballyfin and Bath Priory – and produce from their own walled garden," the Irish Times said on Bramley.

Pictures: Food being prepared in Bramley Abbeyleix.

"The lunch menu and midweek Supper at Six are great value, but it’s at dinner that the kitchen really hits its stride, with a la carte and tasting menus (€80) delivering dishes like seared scallops, honey-glazed quail with leek emulsion, pan-fried wild halibut with mussels, and slow-roast organic duck," they highlighted.

"At Ballyfin – a hotel so exclusive it barely seems real – Richard Picard-Edwards has delivered the final flourish: a Michelin star for the dining room.

"The €145 eight-course tasting menu is on the familiar side of grandeur, with a thrillingly good Jerusalem artichoke cream topped with chicken jelly and gold leaf, and dishes featuring lobster and caviar," they gushed.

"Broths, purées and reductions bring depth without being overwrought. Non-residents can book, but getting a table feels about as casual as applying for citizenship," they said.

Pictured: Ballyfin Demesne

Last May, New York magazine Travel + Leisure recognised Ballyfin Demesne in their 2025 T+L 500 list.

The list compiles the hotels and resorts that Travel + Leisure readers turn to again and again for quality, luxury, exceptional service, and outstanding amenities.

In March, Bramley Abbeyleix won Best Restaurant at the Irish Restaurant Awards. Owner and head chef Sam Moody previously worked at Ballyfin Demesne, and the Bath Priory Hotel.

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