GOOD FOOD AWARDS
Presented by
GOOD FOOD AWARDS
Honouring the Best of the Best
at Cuisine Good Food Awards 2025
Honouring the Best of the Best
at Cuisine Good Food Awards 2025
The Cuisine Good Food Awards 2025, presented by American Express, have once again celebrated the extraordinary talent, dedication, and innovation at the heart of Aotearoa’s hospitality industry. In a night filled with excitement and applause, the country’s most exceptional restaurants and culinary leaders were recognised for their craft, creativity, and contribution to New Zealand’s dining culture. More than 400 of the nation’s top chefs, restaurateurs, and industry figures gathered for the glittering ceremony, which shone a light on the individuals and teams who have shaped unforgettable dining experiences over the past year.
For over two decades, Cuisine has set the gold standard for restaurant quality, offering the benchmark by which New Zealand dining excellence is measured. This year, 20 category winners were named, each representing the pinnacle of achievement in their field. Alongside these honours, 320 restaurants across the country were awarded destination status, marking them as standout dining experiences worth travelling for. The night’s most coveted accolades, the prestigious one, two, or three hats, were reserved for those whose commitment to excellence, innovation, and consistency placed them firmly among the best in the world.
The global benchmark for
NEW ZEALAND RESTAURANT QUALITY
In 2025 we are delighted to announce that more than 300 establishments have been featured in our Cuisine Good Food Guide presented by American Express. It’s our pick of the nation’s top restaurants and must-visit dining destinations from fine dining and regional destinations to metropolitan and neighbourhood favourites.
Twenty category winners and 102 hatted restaurants – including the American Express Restaurant of the Year and Cuisine Chef of the Year – were announced at the highly anticipated Cuisine Good Food Awards event, presented by American Express on 18 August in the Hunua Rooms at the magnificent Aotea Centre, Auckland.
Curated by a national panel of judges, comprising food-and-drink writers, critics, chefs and hospitality professionals, and led by food-and-drink expert Kerry Tyack, the Cuisine Good Food Awards and Cuisine Good Food Guide 2025 are designed to showcase the country’s outstanding talent and hottest venues, with the aim of encouraging patronage and showcasing New Zealand cuisine to both local and international audiences.
Despite the continued challenges of staffing shortages and increased costs in the hospitality sector, the Cuisine Good Food Guide 2025 contains some new entries alongside many of the country’s long-term players and is a testament to the quality and passion of Aotearoa’s restaurant scene.
Challenges for the hospitality industry have not prevented some spectacular new openings across the country and it’s exciting to see that many are embracing an elevated casual approach that showcases the flavours and hospitable culture of Aotearoa so well.
“The Cuisine Good Food Awards are a celebration of the incredible talent, dedication and creativity that makes up New Zealand’s dining and hospitality scene. The Awards highlight not only the joy of dining out, but also play a valuable role in championing the industry,” says Rob Bourne, Country Manager NZ, American Express. “American Express is proud to continue our strong partnership with Cuisine for the fourth consecutive year and to show our support for the people who are shaping world-class culinary experiences in Aotearoa.”
Kerry Tyack
Lead Assessor Cuisine
Good Food Awards
Rob Bourne
American Express
New Zealand
PRESENTING PARTNER
