Cuisine Reveals Highly Anticipated Annual List Of The Nation’s Top Dining Destinations

Thursday, 24 July 2025, 2:28 pm
Press Release: Cuisine

The nation’s top restaurants and must-visit dining destinations were named today by Cuisine and will feature in this year’s Cuisine Good Food Guide. Around the country more than 300 venues made the list, showcasing the top hospitality establishments, from fine dining and regional destinations to metropolitan and neighbourhood favourites.

Following the release of this year’s Cuisine Good Food Guide list, 20 category winners and over 95 hatted restaurants, including American Express Restaurant of the Year and Cuisine Chef of the Year will be announced at the esteemed Cuisine Good Food Awards event, presented by American Express on 18 August.

Curated by a national panel of 30 judges comprising food and drink writers, critics, chefs and hospitality professionals and led by food & drink writer/hospitality expert Kerry Tyack, the Cuisine Good Food Awards and Guide is designed to showcase the country’s outstanding talent and hottest venues with the aim of encouraging patronage and showcasing New Zealand cuisine to local and international audiences.

Despite the continued challenges of staffing shortages and increased costs, the Cuisine Good Food Guide 2025, contains some new entries alongside many of the country's long-term players. According to Cuisine owner and editor Kelli Brett, this is a testament to the quality and passion of Aotearoa’s restaurant scene.

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“As always we are thrilled to release our list of the New Zealand restaurants that will be featured in our Cuisine Good Food Guide for 2025,” she says.

“Despite the challenges across the hospitality industry we are seeing new openings 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.”

The Cuisine Good Food Awards will be held on 18 August at the Aotea Centre Hunua Room.

Access the full list of restaurants here.

The categories for the 2025 Cuisine Good Food Awards and their sponsors are as follows:

GREENSTONE CREEK METROPOLITAN RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR 2025
YELLOW BRICK ROAD REGIONAL RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR 2025
SPECIALIST RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR 2025
SAWMILL BREWERY CASUAL RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR 2025
HOTEL RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR 2025
RESTAURANT PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR 2025
THE GOOD OIL INNOVATION AWARD 2025
WINERY RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR 2025
VILLA MARIA SOMMELIER & WINE EXPERIENCE OF THE YEAR 2025
THE REID DRINKS LIST OF THE YEAR 2025
PANASONIC LONG-TERM PLAYER 2025
PASTRY CHEF OF THE YEAR 2025
STURGEON VALLEY LUXURY LODGE CHEF OF THE YEAR 2025
NEW RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR 2025
CLYTH MACLEOD RISING TALENT 2025
NIWA HAKU KINGFISH CHAMPION FOR CHANGE 2025
ŌRA KING NEW ZEALAND GLOBAL CHAMPION 2025
PEAD LEGEND AWARD 2025
CUISINE CHEF OF THE YEAR 2025
AMERICAN EXPRESS RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR 2025

SUPPORTING PARTNERS

AUCKLAND CONVENTIONS
COLLECTIVE CATERING

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