Culinary Hotel Awards Return to Gran Canaria for a Second Edition This October

For a few years now, the Canary Islands have been quietly building a reputation that goes far beyond sun loungers and buffet dinners. Hotel restaurants here are winning Michelin stars, sommeliers are curating extraordinary Canarian wine lists, and breakfasts are becoming destination experiences in their own right. The Culinary Hotel Awards Canarias were created to put all of that talent on one stage, and after a promising debut, they are back for a second round.

What we know so far is that the main gala is scheduled for Monday, 13 October at 19:30. The official awards site confirms the date and time, describing it as an evening where excellence in hotel gastronomy will be recognised in an unforgettable ceremony. While the exact venue on Gran Canaria has not yet been publicly named, the choice of island makes perfect sense when you look at the culinary momentum building here.

What Exactly Are the Culinary Hotel Awards?

Unlike the many restaurant awards that already exist in the Canary Islands, this one is focused entirely on hotels. The idea is to reward culinary excellence, innovation and a genuine commitment to high-level hospitality within the hotel sector. It is not about standalone restaurants, but about hotel dining rooms, breakfast services, bar programs and the professionals who make them exceptional.

The awards bring together hotel chefs, sommeliers, food and beverage teams and hotel management from across the archipelago. The organisers describe it as a celebration of hotels capable of turning the gastronomic experience into a unique hallmark within the hotel world. In other words, these are places where you might book a room just to eat there.

Confirmed Categories and a Notable Nominee

The full list of categories for the upcoming edition has not yet been published, but we can piece together a reliable picture from previous nominees. Hotel Palacio Ico, a charming boutique property in Teguise, Lanzarote, has publicly announced its nominations in three categories linked to the Culinary Hotel Awards Canarias.

These are Best Boutique Gastronomic Hotel in the Canary Islands, Best Hotel Breakfast in the Canary Islands, and Best Sommelier in the Canary Islands. The hotel also highlights recognitions for Diego Schattenhofer as Best Chef of Canary Islands 2025 and Diego Tornel as Best Sommelier of Canary Islands 2025, attributing these distinctions to the Hotel Culinary Awards framework.

Why Gran Canaria Is a Natural Host

Even without the official venue confirmation, Gran Canaria is an obvious and credible choice to host a Canary-wide hotel gastronomy gala. The island has been steadily accumulating culinary accolades that put it firmly on the food lover's map. In Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, the restaurant Bevir earned a Michelin star, confirming the city's place in top-tier Spanish gastronomy.

Down in the south, La Aquarela at Anfi has been recognised for its outstanding commitment to Canary Islands wines in regional competitions. The island also regularly hosts major gastronomic events, including the Qué Bueno Canarias Regional Restaurant Awards at Infecar and the Gran Canaria Me Gusta fair, now a benchmark event for local produce and culinary talent. Gran Canaria combines strong hotel infrastructure with a robust, award-winning food scene, making it a logical stage for an event of this kind.

What Food-Loving Visitors Can Expect

If you happen to be on Gran Canaria around 13 October, the gala itself is likely to be an industry-focused evening rather than a public festival. But the buzz around it shines a useful light on the island's hotel dining scene for any visitor who cares about what is on their plate. The awards recognise everything from boutique gastronomic hotels to the quality of a hotel breakfast and the expertise of a sommelier, which means the shortlisted properties are worth knowing about when you are choosing where to stay or dine.

Beyond the awards night, Gran Canaria offers Michelin-level cuisine, strong wine programs in hotels like La Aquarela, and a dense calendar of gastronomy fairs and competitions. The Culinary Hotel Awards simply add another layer of recognition to a scene that has been quietly thriving. Closer to the date, the organisers are expected to publish the full list of categories, the complete nominations and the exact venue, so keep an eye on the official channels if you want the finer details.