Ireland’s leading women in hospitality

In 2021, Grainne O’Keefe opened her own restaurant, mae (named after the her late grandmother), located above the French Paradox wine shop on Shelbourne Road. After cutting her teeth with the likes of The Merrion, Pichet, and Bastible, the chef, restaurant owner and culinary director extraordinaire has gone onto become a shining beacon in her industry in Ireland. Mae is described as a neighborhood restaurant in the heart of Ballsbridge Village with a focus on seasonal food and interesting wines.

The original Farmer Browns was established in 2011 by sisters Grace and Finnuala, both of whom have a passion for local produce and homemade goods. Since then the pair have grown this local eatery into a group of four pubs, restaurants and Farmers Markets, each of which is enormously popular with locals and visitors alike. Come for an all day brunch or one of the infamous burgers, and you’ll be instantly booking your next visit right after!

Monty’s of Kathmandu opened its doors to the public, very quietly, without any fanfare, on a wet September evening in 1997. But, after over 25 years of serving great Nepalese food to the Irish public, as well as visitors from abroad, the team and its restaurant is now very much part of Dublin’s fantastic dining scene. Owned by Lina Gautam and her husband Shiva, the menu boasts family recipes that are hugely popular with Dubliners. Among the favourites are starters lovingly created by Lina, which still bear her name: Lina’s Bhyanta Ko Bharta, Lina’s Aloo Jhinga Chat and Lina’s Deconstructed Veg Samosa Chat to name a few. Among the mains, too, you’ll discover more of Lina’s legendary creations – most famously Lina’s Maccha Ko Tarkari and Lina’s Chicken Achari.

A warm welcome awaits you in the heart of Doolin at Russells Seafood Bar, the home of delicious food, great cocktails, friendly atmosphere and a cosy open fire. Time has been taken by head chef Viv Kelly to source local ingredients, championing amazing local suppliers to bring the wonderful flavours of Clare to your plate.

Another DIT graduate, Roisin Gillen won the Rising Star of the Year at the 2019 Food and Wine Awards, having been a key member of the kitchen team at Michelin starred Liath in Blackrock (formerly Heron & Grey) since 2015. Conscious of the lack of female representation in kitchens she’s previously run a sold out pop-up dinner, Forás along with Ailish O’Neill where they served a seven course menu inspired by some of their favourite female chefs from around the world.

Niamh has a fine food pedigree having spent time in the kitchens of Ard Bia and Kai in Galway, Rochelle Canteen in London and Cafe Paradiso in Cork as well as cooking all over Ireland at some of the best pop-up events and festivals. Ard Bia in particular is where Niamh really flexed her culinary muscles, helping to turn this into one of Galway’s most enduring restaurants. It’s housed in one of the city’s most iconic restaurant spaces, and places as much emphasis on community experiences and aesthetic stimulation as on serving great food in a fun environment.