The Michelin guide to the best restaurants is out - with little change.

Ireland's eight restaurants with one star and one restaurant with two stars have all kept them.

But no new restaurants have received a star from the discerning critics this year.

The nine restaurants that retain their Michelin Star status amongst the top places to eat in Ireland are Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud which has two stars, and the eight with one star are Thornton’s at the Fitzwilliam Hotel, Chapter One and L’Ecrivain, all in Dublin City, plus the Bon Appétit in Malahide.

Beyond the capital, Kilkenny hosts two Michelin Star restaurants - Campagne in Kilkenny City and the Lady Helen at Mount Juliet Hotel, Thomastown. Others are the House Restaurant at Cliff House Hotel, Ardmore, Co. Waterford and Aniar Restaurant at Lower Dominic Street in Galway City.

The guide also recommends good value restaurants.

Michelin Bib Gourmand awards recognise those establishments that offer good food at affordable prices of €40 or less for a three-course meal.

New to the list of 12 Bib Gourmand recipients featured in the 2015 Michelin Guide is Etto on Merrion Row in Dublin City.

Others, all of which also retain Bib Gourmand status from earlier years, are The Courthouse (Carrickmacross), Deasy’s (Clonakilty), Sha-Roe Bistro (Clonegal), Chart House (Dingle), Downstairs Restaurant (Clontarf, Dublin), Pichet (Trinity Street, Dublin), Pig’s Ear (Nassau Street, Dublin), Aldridge Lodge (Duncannon), Fishy Fishy (Kinsale), Wild Honey Inn (Lisdoonvarna) and La Brasserie (Malahide) - part of the Bon Appétit establishment, itself a Michelin starred restaurant.