Golden Chef Hats of Cyprus — The Best Restaurants and Culinary Trends on the Island

"Golden Hats Cyprus" — the main gastronomic award of the island, which annually recognizes the best restaurants and chefs in the country. This award has long been a benchmark for restaurant industry professionals and visitors to Cyprus seeking truly high-level cuisine and service.

In 2025, the ceremony once again confirmed that Cyprus is confidently moving toward haute cuisine, combining international trends, signature dishes, and a reinterpretation of its own culinary traditions.

• About the "Golden Hats Cyprus" Award
• History and Origin of the Award
• Golden Hats Cyprus 2025 Ceremony
• Golden Hat 2025 Recipients
• Top Notch Category
• Cyprus Cuisine Nomination
• Gastronomic Trends in Cyprus

About the "Golden Hats Cyprus" Award

Golden Hats Cyprus is a prestigious gastronomic award established by the magazines Athenorama and Phileleftheros. The award recognizes restaurants and chefs demonstrating high levels of cuisine, service, and overall concept.

Evaluation is conducted by an independent jury, including gastronomic experts, journalists, and professional chefs. Restaurants are assessed based on clear criteria: dish quality, technique, service, wine list, and atmosphere.

History and Origin of the Award

The award was created as a joint project of two leading Cypriot media outlets — Athenorama (covering culture, lifestyle, and gastronomy) and Phileleftheros (the largest daily newspaper in Cyprus).

The main goal was to raise gastronomic standards on the island, support local cuisine, and provide a clear guide for visitors and residents when choosing restaurants.

Over time, the award expanded its categories, including separate nominations for Cypriot cuisine and top-tier establishments, reflecting the growth and diversity of the island's restaurant scene.

Golden Hats Cyprus 2025 Ceremony

On November 26, the award ceremony for Golden Hats Cyprus 2025 took place at the Four Seasons Hotel (Limassol).

The jury named 36 of the best restaurants in Cyprus:

6 establishments received the highest award — Golden Hat
19 restaurants were recognized in the Top Notch category
11 restaurants were included in the Cyprus Cuisine nomination

Awards were presented by ministers, mayors, business representatives, diplomats, and cultural figures. The ceremony blended official protocol with social glamour.

Golden Hat 2025 Recipients

Maximum score 15.5/20:

Amber Dragon (City of Dreams Mediterranean) — Japanese cuisine
Helios (Anassa) — contemporary cuisine

Score 15/20:

Cor Gastronomy — contemporary cuisine
Matsuhisa Limassol (AMARA) — signature Japanese/Asian cuisine
The Polo Restaurant & Bar (Alasia Boutique Hotel) — contemporary cuisine
Sera by Ettore Botrini (Four Seasons) — Italian cuisine

Top Notch Category

This category includes restaurants scoring between 14.25 and 14.75/20 — establishments just a step away from the top award.

14.75/20
Anais (City of Dreams Mediterranean) — French cuisine
Tocayo — contemporary signature cuisine

14.50/20
Bistrot 55 Classic — fusion
Kingfisher Taverna — seafood
Limanaki (Amathus Beach Hotel) — seafood
Prime Steakhouse (City of Dreams Mediterranean) — meat cuisine
Locatelli (AMARA) — contemporary Italian cuisine
Seasons Oriental (Four Seasons) — Cantonese cuisine
Sentio — contemporary cuisine
Theta — Mediterranean cuisine
Basiliko (Anassa) — Pan-Asian cuisine
Beefbar (AMARA) — meat cuisine

14.25/20
Bottega Amaro — contemporary cuisine
The Grill Room (Amathus Beach Hotel) — meat cuisine
Kuzuba — contemporary cuisine
M Fusion (Four Seasons) — Pan-Asian cuisine
Mūsa — contemporary Greek cuisine
Oris — contemporary cuisine
Scale — contemporary cuisine

Cyprus Cuisine Nomination

The separate nomination Cyprus Cuisine Awards 2025 is dedicated to traditional and contemporary Cypriot cuisine. All winners received a score of 14/20.

Gefsikleous 62 (Nicosia) — traditional Cypriot cuisine
Dionysus Mansion (Limassol) — contemporary Cypriot cuisine
Ebers — contemporary Cypriot cuisine
Kamasias Tavern — traditional Cypriot cuisine
Koutsounikollias — traditional Cypriot cuisine
Oi Mageirisses — traditional Cypriot cuisine
Beba — contemporary Cypriot cuisine
Pelagos — contemporary Cypriot cuisine
Potamos tis Militsas (Militsa) — traditional Cypriot cuisine
Sofia and Andreas Traditional House — traditional Cypriot cuisine
Stou Roushia — traditional Cypriot cuisine

Gastronomic Trends in Cyprus

According to the organizers, the results of Golden Hats Cyprus 2025 reflect two key trends:

Active development of haute cuisine in resort-level hotels, where international chefs operate and world-class restaurants are established.

Growing interest in Cypriot cuisine — both authentic recipes and contemporary signature interpretations, increasingly appearing in gastronomic rankings.