The Cyprus Eating Awards, the island’s leading gastronomic institution, presented once again this year by Nespresso, return to celebrate excellence, creativity and quality across the restaurant industry.
For the 22nd year, the awards honour the island’s top restaurants, highlighting the continued evolution of Cypriot gastronomy and the contribution of industry professionals to shaping a modern and competitive culinary scene.
Following international standards, the Cyprus Eating Awards carry a significant responsibility towards the public, restaurateurs, restaurant owners and chefs seeking recognition in an intensely competitive industry. With professionalism, consistency, superior ingredients and service quality, as well as value for money among the key considerations, the awards seek to discover and recognise restaurants that continue to set high standards for dining in Cyprus.
The Cyprus Eating Awards, presented by Nespresso and organised by Check In Cyprus, remain a benchmark for gastronomy in Cyprus, continuously evolving and adopting practices designed to strengthen their standing and credibility.
For 2026, 90 restaurants have been selected across 15 categories and voting is now under way.
The 15 categories
The categories are New Arrival, Fish, Greek Cuisine, Mediterranean Cuisine, International Contemporary Cuisine, International Fusion, Grill Bar/Pub, Seaside Restaurant, Street Culture, Tavern, Souvlaki, Hotel/Resort Restaurant – Luxury Dining, Hotel/Resort Restaurant – Lifestyle Dining, Hotel/Resort Restaurant – Outdoor Dining and the Check In Special Award 2026, which this year celebrates the “Μαειρκό”.
As every year, the restaurant receiving the most votes from Check In Cyprus readers will also receive the Readers’ Favourite award, which is independent of the individual categories.
Honorary awards will also be presented for distinctions including Cypriot Product of the Year, Wine Culture, Best Concept, Timeless Value and Chef of the Year.
How the restaurants are selected
To be included among the nominees, each restaurant must demonstrate high quality and continuous improvement in its services.
The final selection in each category is based on criteria including food quality, presentation, hygiene, the atmosphere inside and outside the restaurant, the flow of dishes, quality of service, the wine list and value for money.
For the first time this year, the public also played an active role in shaping the list of nominees, with people given the opportunity to recommend restaurants they believed deserved to be considered.
The assessment period covered July 2025 to July 2026.
Teams of food critics are subsequently formed and tasked with visiting the nominated restaurants incognito for a professional evaluation. The results of the two scoring processes are then combined to determine the eventual winners.
The Cyprus Eating Awards 2026 ceremony, organised by Check In Cyprus, will take place in February 2027.
Voting is now open
Vote for your favourite restaurants, help select the best and enter a draw for the chance to win valuable prizes.
The prizes will be announced through Instagram.
Readers can vote until 2 November 2026 in three ways:
- Online at Cyprus Eating Awards voting page
- By telephone
- By SMS
For more information and continuous updates on the Cyprus Eating Awards, follow Check In Cyprus through its website and the Check In Cyprus app, available on iOS and Android.
See the nominated restaurants and vote for your favourites at Check In Cyprus.
Also read: Five Cypriots climb Mount Olympus to support children with cancer and leukaemia
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