FACT Dining Awards 2016 – Winners Revealed!
The second annual FACT Dining Awards were recently hosted by Fact Magazine at the newly-opened The Westin Doha Hotel & Spa.
The FACT Dining Awards recognises excellence in the food and beverage industry. There were over 160 nominations with winners announced from 30 categories including Al Fresco Dining and Most Anticipated Venue.
The Dining Awards had two elements: the Best Winner as decided by critic’s choice, and the Favourite Winner as decided by public online voting. The critic’s choice was decided by an independent panel of food bloggers, the FACT editorial team and industry experts in Doha.
With two winners per award there were a total of 60 winners on the night, and some venues won multiple awards in different categories. The Pearl-Qatar’s luxury hotel, Marsa Malaz Kempinski, was the big winner walking away with seven awards including Best Japanese for Nozomi and Best Overall Winner for Toro Toro.
The who’s who of Doha’s hospitality industry turned out for the much-anticipated ceremony, with top GMs, F&B Directors, Chefs and Marketing and PR professionals in attendance. The Qatar Living team attended the event too and is proud to be media partner of the event.
Edward Smith, Publishing Director at Nans Group congratulated all the winners, including the Overall Category Winners Toro Toro and Nobu, commenting that it was “great to see some 'new kids on the block' who were nominated, coming out as winners this year - like Antica Pesa and Yabby at Shangri-La Doha.” He also thanked the public – “we received a staggering 17,500 online votes which is absolutely fantastic for Qatar. We can't wait for next year's event already.”
For more coverage and dining news check out Qatar Eating.
This month will also see the second annual FACT Dining Awards take place in Abu Dhabi. The FACT Dining Awards have also enjoyed six years of successful campaigns in Bahrain so far, with hundreds of venues awarded for excellence over the years.
FACT Dining Awards Doha – Winners 2016
BEST WINNERS:
OVERALL
Toro Toro
Marsa Malaz Kempinski, The Pearl Doha
INTERNATIONAL
The Lagoon
The Ritz-Carlton, Doha
ITALIAN
Antica Pesa
Marsa Malaz Kempinski, The Pearl Doha
MEDITERRANEAN
Idam
Museum of Islamic Art
FRENCH
La Varenne
Tornado Tower
EUROPEAN
Market by Jean-Georges
W Doha Hotel & Residences
MIDDLE EASTERN
Mamig
Katara Cultural Village
LEBANESE
Al Mourjan
The Corniche
MOROCCAN
Tangia
Wyndham Grand Regency
SEAFOOD
Aziza
Marriott Marquis City Centre Doha
CHINESE
Hakkasan
The St. Regis Doha
JAPANESE
Nobu
Four Seasons Hotel Doha
SOUTH EAST ASIAN
Spice Market
W Doha Hotel & Residences
INDIAN
Signature by Sanjeev Kapoor
Melia Doha
LATIN AMERICAN
Toro Toro
Marsa Malaz Kempinski, The Pearl Doha
SPANISH
El Faro
Marsa Malaz Kempinski, The Pearl Doha
STEAKHOUSE
JW’s Steakhouse
Doha Marriott Hotel
All-Day Dining
Quick Bites
Marriott Marquis City Centre Doha
Al Fresco Dining
La Veranda
Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel
BAR
Dunes
Grand Hyatt Doha
LOUNGE
Z Lounge by Zengo
Kempinski Residences & Suites
CAFÉ
Al Jazeera Media Café
Katara Cultural Village
TEA ROOM
Sarab Lounge
The St. Regis Doha
COFFEEHOUSE
Chocolate Bar
The Pearl-Qatar
IN-MALL
Vapiano
The Gate Mall
PATISSERIE
Fauchon
Various Locations
FRIDAY BRUNCH
Adults-Only Friday Brunch at Yabby
Shangri-La Hotel, Doha
FAMILY FRIENDLY FRIDAY BRUNCH
The Square
InterContinental Doha The City
NEWCOMER
Balmesan Seafood
The Pearl-Qatar
MOST ANTICIPATED
Hunter’s Room & Grill
The Westin Doha Hotel & Spa
FAVOURITE WINNERS:
OVERALL
Nobu
Four Seasons Hotel Doha
INTERNATIONAL
The Grill
Grand Hyatt Doha
ITALIAN
Cucina
Marriott Marquis City Centre Doha
MEDITERRANEAN
Sukar Pasha Ottoman Lounge
Katara
FRENCH
Maxim
Radisson Blu Hotel Doha
EUROPEAN
Belgian Cafe
InterContinental Doha
MIDDLE EASTERN
Al Nahham
Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara
LEBANESE
Al Sultan Brahim
The St. Regis Doha
MOROCCAN
Argan
Souq Waqif
SEAFOOD
Fish Market
InterContinental Doha
CHINESE
Ruby Wu’s
Radisson Blu Hotel, Doha
JAPANESE
Nozomi
Marsa Malaz Kempinski, The Pearl Doha
SOUTH EAST ASIAN
Isaan
Grand Hyatt Doha
INDIAN
Royal Tandoor
Various Locations
LATIN AMERICAN
Latino Steakhouse
Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel
SPANISH
The Cellar
Oryx Rotana Doha
STEAKHOUSE
Prime
InterContinental Doha The City
All-Day Dining
Seasons Restaurant
Movenpick Hotel Doha
Al Fresco Dining
Carluccio’s
The Pearl Qatar
BAR
Champions Sports Bar
Marriott Marquis City Centre Doha
LOUNGE
Strata
InterContinental Doha The City
CAFÉ
Lime Tree Lobby Lounge
Movenpick Hotel West Bay
TEA ROOM
Seasons Tea Lounge
Four Seasons Hotel Doha
COFFEEHOUSE
Costa
Various Locations
IN-MALL
Nando’s
Various Locations
PATISSERIE
Paul Bakery & Restaurant
Various Locations
FRIDAY BRUNCH
Choices
Oryx Rotana Doha
FAMILY FRIENDLY FRIDAY BRUNCH
Sawa
Marsa Malaz Kempinski, The Pearl Doha
NEWCOMER
Wagamama
Various Locations
MOST ANTICIPATED
Boston’s
City Centre Rotana Doha
Pic Credits: E&R Walker Photography.
Not sure it would be quite like that, and I doubt many of them got taken up the tower afterwards...
STEADY!
haha... I'm just picturing a place I went to in Blackpool a few years ago :O)
Brit - it was carnage. People staggering all over the place, girls spilling out of dresses, a 20st monster asleep on the sofa outside the bar who they couldn't wake.
All it needed was 'ooops up side your head' and it would have been complete.
Don't tell me that there are grannies dancing
Looks like if you went you got an award. Best bar 'Dunes' at the Grand Hyatt... pop in there on a Friday night after the liquid brunch.
For those who have never been to a UK wedding. This is as near as it gets.
And none of the food is authentic. In an Italian restaurant the cook is from Kenia.
Everybody knows the truth ..................
And herein lies the issue..
What percentage of Qatari population can afford to eat at these places ?
Yet, they are making a profit .....