Star Chefs · Ireland
Patrick Guilbaud The Frenchman who brought fine dining to Dublin in 1981 and has held two Michelin stars since 1996.
Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud has held two Michelin stars every year since 1996, including in the 2026 guide; a first star in 1988, the Légion d'honneur in 2015 and a 40th anniversary in 2021 make him the grand old name of Irish fine dining.
Patrick Guilbaud was born in Cognac and grew up in Paris and Caen[2]. He began cooking at the Hotel Moderne in Caen in 1969, then worked in Munich and at Ledoyen in Paris before moving to Manchester in 1972 and opening Le Rabelais in Alderley Edge[1][2].
In December 1981, in the middle of a recession, he opened his restaurant in Dublin[1][3]. It won a Michelin star in 1988 and a second in 1996, and it moved into the Merrion Hotel in 1997[1].
Guilbaud stopped cooking himself in the mid-1990s and leads the house as restaurateur, with executive chef Guillaume Lebrun in the kitchen and Stéphane Robin running the dining room[1][4]. He received the Légion d'honneur in 2015[1].
The restaurant celebrated 40 years in 2021 and kept its two stars in the 2026 Michelin Guide[1][5].
Life Timeline
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- Training A Useless Engineer Finds His Kitchen Born in Cognac and sent to aviation school by his father, the young Patrick Guilbaud quits and starts cooking at the Hotel Moderne in Caen in 1969. Read The Story
- Opening A French Cook In The North Of England In 1972 Guilbaud moves to Manchester. There he meets his wife Sally and opens his first restaurant, Le Rabelais, in Alderley Edge, Cheshire. Read The Story
- Opening French Fine Dining Arrives In Dublin In December 1981, in the depths of a recession, Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud opens its doors in Dublin and starts teaching the city a new way to eat. Read The Story
- Stars Michelin Notices Dublin's French Kitchen Seven years after opening, Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud wins its first Michelin star in 1988, a sign that French fine dining had taken root in Dublin. Read The Story
- Stars Two Stars And A New Home At The Merrion In 1996 the restaurant wins a second Michelin star. A year later it moves into the Merrion Hotel, where it has held both stars ever since. Read The Story
- Book Thirty Years Told In A Book For its 30th birthday in 2011 the restaurant publishes The First Thirty Years, a book of history, stories and more than 40 recipes, with a foreword by Bono. Read The Story
- Honour Forty Years, A Légion D'honneur And Two Stars Still Shining After receiving the Légion d'honneur in 2015, Guilbaud marks 40 years in Dublin in 2021 with a special menu and a Champagne cuvée. The two stars hold into 2026. Read The Story
Restaurants
- Hotel Moderne Caen, France cook · 1969–today Where his professional career began. [2]
- Ledoyen Paris, France cook [1]
- Le Rabelais Alderley Edge, United Kingdom chef-owner His first restaurant, opened after he moved to Manchester in 1972. [1]
- Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud Dublin, Ireland chef-owner · 1981–today Opened in December 1981; in the Merrion Hotel since 1997; two stars since 1996. [1]
- Venue Dublin, Ireland owner · 2002–today A second restaurant he ran for five years and closed in the recession. [4]
Ranking History
Rank7Six-month average62Assessment of the month62
We update the ranking every month. It follows a six-month weighted average of the fame score, so one quiet month changes little.
| Assessment of the month | Rank | Fame Score | Six-month average |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | 7 | 62 | 62 |
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from these sources. Each number in the text points to the source it came from.
- Guide MICHELIN Guide: Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud in Dublin marks its 40th Anniversary
- Press The Staff Canteen: Patrick Guilbaud, Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud, Dublin
- Press Limerick Post: 30 years – by Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud
- Press The Caterer: Chef Profile: Patrick Guilbaud
- Press TheTaste: MICHELIN Guide: Full List of Ireland's Michelin Star Restaurants for 2026