Award-Winning Restaurants in Cyprus 2026: Where to Book a Special Meal

If you want to book somewhere special in Cyprus this year, start with the restaurants recognised by the island's two main food awards, then pick by occasion: a hotel dining room on the Limassol coast for a big anniversary, an old-town bistro for a relaxed birthday dinner, or a long fish lunch in Nicosia with visiting family. Below is our own shortlist of nine places, grouped by area, with what each one is like and how to get a table.

Our own picks, checked in October 2026. Opening days and hours change, especially in winter, so check before you go. Know a great place we've missed? Tell us.

Which awards matter for restaurants in Cyprus?

Two awards come up again and again when Cypriots talk about where to eat.

• WiZ 50 Best Restaurants. Run by the WiZ restaurant guide with Bank of Cyprus, it ranks 50 restaurants across the island after anonymous visits. The list covering 2025 was announced at the Hilton Nicosia on 27 January 2026. It mixes fine dining with tavernas, so being on it does not always mean a formal evening.
• Cyprus Eating Awards. Organised by Check In Cyprus and decided by public and trade votes, these awards are given by category: best fish, best taverna, best hotel restaurant and so on. The awards for 2025 were presented at the Four Seasons in Limassol on 3 February 2026. Voting for the next edition is open until 2 November 2026.

Neither award is a guarantee that you will love a place, but between them they are the most useful local benchmark for a special meal.

Where are the award-winning restaurants on the Limassol coast?

The coast road east of Limassol, through Agios Tychonas and Parekklisia, has the island's densest cluster of special-occasion restaurants, most of them inside five-star hotels. Expect smart casual dress, online booking and prices at the top end for Cyprus. Our Agios Tychonas area guide explains the area.

What to know before you book

Sera serves dinner from 19:00, and its 2026 menu shows mains roughly between €38 and €120, plus a sharing "menu for two". Several dishes are meat-free (risotto, ravioli, burrata, aubergine), so vegetarians are covered even without a separate menu. Children under eight are welcome at the first sitting until 21:15. Instagram: @sera_limassol.

Seasons Oriental serves dinner from 19:00 and recommends booking ahead. Children under five can sit outdoors only, and five- to eight-year-olds are welcome until 21:15. Both restaurants follow the hotel's weekly programme, so check the opening nights when you book. Instagram: @seasons_oriental.

Ristorante Locatelli opens for dinner only, Wednesday to Saturday, and is closed Sunday to Tuesday. Its menu marks vegetarian and vegan dishes, there is live entertainment on Friday and Saturday nights, and children are welcome as long as they stay seated with an adult. The hotel's Instagram is @amarahotelcy.

Acane is the sister restaurant of Dionysus Mansion in town. Go for the grill and the wine rather than a formal tasting menu; it suits a birthday dinner with friends.

Limanaki closes for the winter at the end of October, so keep it in mind for a summer celebration. Children under eight are welcome at the first sitting.

Which award winners are in old Limassol?

If you prefer a smaller room and a walk around the castle area afterwards, the old town has two of our favourites. Parking is the hard part here: use one of the paid car parks near the Old Port or the castle and walk the last few minutes. Our Limassol old town guide has the background.

• Alley, on Tositsa Street, is a chef-led bistro with a short Mediterranean menu that changes with what is in season, designed for sharing. It was on the WiZ 50 Best list announced in January 2026. Bookings are taken by text or WhatsApp on the number on its website, and dinner runs from 18:00. Instagram: @alleylimassol.
• Dionysus Mansion is a restored mansion with a courtyard near the town centre, serving modern Greek-Cypriot cooking with a long list of local wines chosen by its owner, a sommelier. It also has a private room for 8 to 12 people, useful for a family celebration. Also on the WiZ 50 Best list announced in January 2026. Book online through its reservations page. Instagram: @dionysusmansion.

For everyday places in the same streets, see our guide on where to eat in Limassol.

Where can you book a special meal in Nicosia?

Nicosia's award winners are less formal than Limassol's hotel restaurants, which suits long lunches and family dinners.

• Pyxida Fish Tavern, on Menandrou Street in the centre, has served fish and seafood since 2004. The Nicosia restaurant was on the WiZ 50 Best list announced in January 2026 and received the "All Time Classic" honour at the Cyprus Eating Awards in February 2026. It books online through its website. A second branch is at Limassol Marina. Instagram: @pyxidafishtavern.
• Oi Mageirisses, on Makariou Avenue in Lakatamia, cooks traditional Cypriot food the way families do at home, in a modern dining room. It was also on the WiZ 50 Best list announced in January 2026. It opens for dinner Tuesday to Saturday and for lunch on Sunday, and you can book with the online form, which the restaurant confirms by phone within 24 hours. Instagram: @oi_mageirisses_cy.

Our guide on where to eat in Nicosia covers more places by area and budget.

How do you book a top restaurant in Cyprus?

1. Book online where you can. Hotel restaurants use OpenTable or SevenRooms, linked from their own pages. Smaller places often prefer a phone call or a WhatsApp message.
2. Plan a week ahead for weekends. Friday and Saturday fill first. Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Christmas and New Year's Eve fill weeks ahead, and many places serve a set menu on those nights.
3. Say what you are celebrating. Mention a birthday or anniversary when you book; many restaurants will plan a dessert or a quieter table.
4. Check the dress code. Smart casual is standard at the hotel restaurants. In summer that can allow smart knee-length shorts, but not vests, flip-flops or swimwear.
5. Ask about children. Several fine-dining rooms limit young children to the first sitting, roughly until 21:15.
6. Mention dietary needs early. Vegetarian dishes are now common on these menus, but vegan, gluten-free or allergy requests are easier with notice.
7. Think about the drive home. The coast road restaurants are a taxi ride from central Limassol. A taxi or a designated driver is the sensible plan if you are having the wine pairing.

What does a special meal cost in Cyprus?

Prices vary a lot. At the top end, Sera's 2026 menu lists mains from about €38 to €120 and a sharing menu for two at €180, before wine. Bistros such as Alley, and fish restaurants such as Pyxida, cost noticeably less. Tipping is at your discretion; rounding up or leaving a little extra for good service is appreciated. Always check the current menu on the restaurant's own site before you go, as prices change with the season.

Related guides

• Cyprus meze explained: how it works and what it costs
• A food lover's guide to the best restaurants in Paphos
• Village restaurants in Cyprus worth the drive
• The best wine routes in Cyprus
• Family-friendly restaurants with play areas in Cyprus