The third FACT Dining Awards Riyadh took place on Thursday, 27 November, at JW Marriott Hotel Riyadh.
The third FACT Dining Awards Riyadh took place on Thursday, 27 November, at JW Marriott Hotel Riyadh.
28 November 2025, Abu Dhabi, UAE – This year, the Kingdom’s food and beverage professionals turned out to celebrate the very best of the industry. 45 awards were given out across 23 categories, which covered over 200 hotels and independent restaurants, resulting in over 45,000 online votes cast by the public. More than 300 guests enjoyed a sociable evening of canapés, free-flowing mocktails and live entertainment overlooking the Riyadh skyline.
Speaking after the event, Edward Smith, at FACT Magazine FZ LLC, said: “Now in our third year, the FACT Dining Awards Riyadh looks to become a highlight on the hospitality calendar in Riyadh, and an event that we are very honoured to host. It’s our privilege to recognise and award the efforts of all the excellent food and beverage outlets here in the Kingdom.
The dining scene in Riyadh is so diverse and dynamic, with so many beloved venues alongside exciting new ventures that are opening up all the time. As members of the media, it is our duty to give credit to the venues that have become such a big part of daily life here in Saudi Arabia,” he added.
“I would like to congratulate all of the winners – you are the heartbeat of this great city, and this is just our way of showing appreciation for your continued hard work. It’s incredible to see the mutual support shared and received between the media and the hospitality industry in Riyadh, especially given the numerous high-quality venues available.
We thank everyone who has helped us to commend the best in the culinary game, and we’ll be back next year with more to celebrate,” he said.
The FACT Dining Awards recognise excellence in the food and beverage industry, with winners awarded based on public votes and critics’ opinions. Each category was given two awards, the BEST and the FAVOURITE. The latter is the result of a popular choice decided through online voting, and the former is the critics’ choice chosen by the FACT editorial team and an independent panel of industry experts.
This year, a staggering 45,000 unique votes were cast online by diners in the Kingdom. Some standout accolades included ‘Best Newcomer’, which was awarded to Julien at Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh, whilst the ‘Favourite Newcomer’ went to Chotto Matte in KAFD. The ‘Best Restaurant in Riyadh’ for 2025 went to the Japanese juggernaut Zuma in KAFD. A slew of independent and homegrown venues also walked away with accolades, namely Maiz for ‘Best Saudi Cuisine’, Marble Steakhouse in Turki Square for ‘Best Steakhouse’, and Mama Noura for ‘Favourite Casual Dining.’
Sponsors on the night included Lyre’s, Omyncom, JW Marriott Hotel Riyadh, Transmed and our trophy partner, Crystal Corp.
Social media was abuzz, as the Kingdom’s dining elite shared their photos on Instagram and TikTok, with the FACT team taking readers behind the scenes of the event on their @factksa InstaStories.
The FACT Dining Awards is part of a wider initiative by FACT Magazine FZ LLC, with popular dining awards taking place in Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Dubai, London and Qatar.
