What's On Saudi Arabia Awards 2025: Shortlist revealed

We’re ready for round three, are you?

After many, many months and thousands upon thousands of votes cast by you, our incredible readers, the time has finally come for us to reveal our coveted shortlist for the What’s On Saudi Arabia Awards 2025. The list below reveals the crème de la crème of the Saudi dining scene, battling it out in the big leagues for the crown in each category of the What’s On Saudi Arabia Awards 2025.

The winners and highly commended recipients for all categories will be announced at a shiny ceremony that will be held at the JW Marriott Hotel Riyadh on Tuesday September 16.

Since we couldn’t let you have all the fun, though, we also have three categories voted for solely by an expert panel comprising the iconic What’s On editorial team (don’t mind us tooting our own horns). These include the Newcomer of the Year, Restaurant of the Year, and Homegrown Restaurant of the Year categories, or as we like to call them, the Grand Prix (fancy, we know) awards.

Table bookings are now available, and with limited space, you’re advised to book now to avoid missing out. To book your table, please reach out to Mario Saaiby at [email protected] and Taran Singh at [email protected]. Bookings can also be made via platinumlist.net.

Check out the events page for all the details

Without further ado, allow us to introduce the shortlist for the What’s On Saudi Arabia Awards 2025…

Leisure and Entertainment

Favourite Concert, Show or Festival

A Thousand and One Music Festival

Balad Beast

Kevin Hart: Acting My Age

Soundstorm Music Festival

XP Music Futures

Favourite Fitness Facility or Studio

Formé Wellness

Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh Spa & Wellness Centre

Reform

The Yoga House

Favourite Luxury Hotel in Riyadh

Bab Samhan, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Diriyah

Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh At Kingdom Centre

Mansard Riyadh, A Radisson Collection Hotel

The Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh

The St. Regis Riyadh

Favourite Food Concept

Favourite Afternoon Tea

Favourite Breakfast

Café Boulud, Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh At Kingdom Centre

Jackie, The St. Regis Riyadh

Lunch Room Social Dining

Saddle House Riyadh

56th Avenue Diner, Hyatt Regency Riyadh Olaya

Favourite Business Lunch

Coya

SUSHISAMBA Riyadh

Takara

Ziba

Zuma Riyadh

Favourite Dessert

Cold Stone Creamery

Pierre Hermé, Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh At Kingdom Centre

Saddle House Riyadh

Favourite Hotel Brunch

Al Orjouan, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Riyadh

Café Boulud, Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh At Kingdom Centre

Jackie, The St. Regis Riyadh

The 365, Fairmont Riyadh

Favourite Lounge

Obaya Lounge, Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh At Kingdom Centre

Soleil Rooftop, Rosewood Jeddah

Stella Sky Lounge, The St. Regis Riyadh

Tea Lounge, Hyatt Regency Riyadh Olaya

The Den, The Jeddah EDITION

Favourite Mocktail

Favourite Pizza

Crazy Pizza

Jamie’s Italian

Favourite Urban Bites

Allo Beirut

Barbar

Dave’s Hot Chicken

Sold Out

Restaurants in Riyadh

Favourite Alfresco Restaurant

Agio

Feels

Kayzo

Robata

Favourite All-Day Dining Restaurant

Brunch & Cake

Kitchen On 3, JW Marriott Hotel Riyadh

L’ETO Caffe

Milwan, Le Méridien Riyadh

The Lighthouse Restaurant & Lounge

Favourite Asian Restaurant

Hong, The Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh

Kayzo

Phet Phet

Yauatcha Riyadh

Favourite Cafe

Feels

Saddle House Riyadh

Urth Caffé

Favourite European Restaurant

Beefbar Riyadh

Jackie, The St. Regis Riyadh

JW Glass Garden, JW Marriott Hotel Riyadh

Parea, Hilton Riyadh Olaya

Favourite Fast-Casual Restaurant

Dave’s Hot Chicken

Feels

Urth Caffé

Wingstop

Favourite French Restaurant

Café Boulud, Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh At Kingdom Centre

L’ami Dave, Mansard Riyadh, A Radisson Collection Hotel

La Petite Maison Riyadh

Favourite Italian Restaurant

Agio

Azzurro, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Riyadh

Crazy Pizza

MAMO Michelangelo

PASTAMAMMA

Favourite Japanese Restaurant

Chotto Matte

Myazu

Robata

SUSHISAMBA Riyadh

Zuma Riyadh

Favourite Middle Eastern Restaurant

Barbar

MLLe

Yawmiyat By Dalal

Favourite Saudi Arabian Restaurant

Maiz

Taleed by Michael Mina

Zalata

Favourite Steakhouse

Beefbar Riyadh

Habra

House Of Grill, Fairmont Riyadh

JW Steakhouse, JW Marriott Hotel Riyadh

Restaurants in wider KSA

Favourite Restaurant in the Eastern Province

Crazy Pizza

L’ETO Caffe

San Carlo Cicchetti

Takara

Ziba

Favourite Restaurant in Jeddah

Habsburg, Rosewood Jeddah

Meat The Fish

Myazu

Orient, Rixos Obhur Jeddah Resort & Villas

Ricci San

Favourite Restaurant in Saudi Arabia

Al Sarab, Six Senses Southern Dunes, The Red Sea

Maraya Social, AlUla

Saffron, Banyan Tree AlUla

We look forward to welcoming you to an evening of glamour, celebration, and entertainment on Tuesday September 16, 2025. whatsonsaudiarabia.com/awards