FACT Dining Awards

The winners of Fact magazine’s muchanticipated Fact Dining Awards 2020 received their accolades in a somewhat different ceremony this year.

Despite the Covid-19 restrictions, the team at Fact were determined that the show must go on, so, with the help of sponsors Mövenpick Bahrain, BMMI, Bath & Body Works, HSP Marketing and Annoris Events, the awards were handed out at a safely socially distanced, Ministry-compliant, outdoor celebration of the best of the best from the island’s unique dining scene. Two winners were chosen in each category – the Favourites, which were picked by public vote, and the Best, as decided by a panel of industry experts and the Fact team. This year there were 92 winners, across 46 categories ranging from steakhouse and seafood to regional cuisines and lounges, as well as the Overall Best Restaurant, taken by CUT by Wolfgang Puck, Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, and Overall Favourite Restaurant, won by Rasoi by Vineet, The Gulf Hotel Bahrain Convention & Spa.

There were more than 400 entries and more than 61,000 unique online votes cast by the public, with winners receiving the coveted Fact Dining Awards 2020 plaques as well as goodie bags from the sponsors.

Fact publisher, Rami Khalil, said: “Of course we were sad not to have the great gala event that our winners always look forward to. But, in the current times, it was more important to be safe and responsible while still paying tribute to those dining establishments that are such a huge part of island life. Following the guidance and precautions for social distancing from the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism and, of course, the Ministry of Health, we were able to do that with our guests at an intimate but still fun ceremony.

“We at Fact are incredibly grateful to all our sponsors, the dining sector and our readers and voters. And we look forward to being able to host our famous parties again before too long.” ✤

WINNERS: FACT DINING AWARDS BAHRAIN 2020

AL FRESCO DINING
BEST – Trader Vic’s, Seef District
FAVOURITE – Fusions by Tala, The Gulf Hotel Bahrain Convention & Spa

ALL-DAY DINING
BEST – Silk’s, Mövenpick Hotel Bahrain
FAVOURITE – Flavours on 2, Downtown Rotana

BUSINESS LUNCH
BEST – CUT by Wolfgang Puck, Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay
FAVOURITE – Bushido, Seef District

CASUAL DINING
BEST – Baker & Spice, Al Aali Shopping Complex
FAVOURITE – Nomad Urban Eatery, Seef District

FAMILY-FRIENDLY
BEST – Florence & Dar Zowayed, Adliya
FAVOURITE – Lumee, Various Locations

FAMILY-FRIENDLY BRUNCH
BEST – Friday Brunch, The Mövenpick Hotel Bahrain
FAVOURITE – Absolutely Fabulous Friday Brunch, Crowne Plaza Bahrain

FRIDAY BRUNCH
BEST – The Grand Friday Brunch, Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea & Spa
FAVOURITE – Bahrain’s Sweetest Brunch, Baharat, Le Meridien City Centre Bahrain

SATURDAY BRUNCH
BEST – re/Asian Cuisine by Wolfgang Puck, Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay
FAVOURITE – Cantina Kahlo, The RitzCarlton, Bahrain

IN-MALL
BEST – The Butcher Shop & Grill, City Centre Bahrain
FAVOURITE – The Cheesecake Factory, The Avenues Bahrain

INTERNATIONAL
BEST – Mahonia, Adliya
FAVOURITE – Links, Royal Golf Club

NEWCOMER
BEST – Clay, Block 338
FAVOURITE – Crossroads Bahrain, Marriott Executive Apartments – Manama, Bahrain

THEMED NIGHT
BEST – Crowne Plaza Manama
FAVOURITE – The Gulf Hotel Bahrain Convention & Spa

VALUE FOR MONEY
BEST – Al Abraaj, Various Locations
FAVOURITE – Foods at Home, Budaiya

BURGER JOINT
BEST – Black Tap, Jumeirah Royal Saray
FAVOURITE – Jack’s, Various Locations

CHINESE
BEST – China Garden, The Gulf Hotel Bahrain Convention & Spa
FAVOURITE – Hong Kong Chinese Restaurant, Various Locations

INDIAN – CASUAL DINING
BEST – Lanterns, Various Locations
FAVOURITE – Copper Chimney Restaurant, Various Locations

INDIAN – FINE DINING
BEST – Nirvana, The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain
FAVOURITE – Rivaaj, Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea & Spa

IRANIAN
BEST – Takht Jamsheed, The Gulf Hotel Bahrain Convention & Spa
FAVOURITE – Banu Restaurant, Hala Plaza

ITALIAN – CASUAL DINING
BEST – Fatto, Seef District
FAVOURITE – San Carlo Cicchetti, Al Aali Complex

ITALIAN – FINE DINING
BEST – Primavera, The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain
FAVOURITE – Fiamma, Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea & Spa

JAPANESE
BEST – Sato, The Gulf Hotel Bahrain Convention & Spa
FAVOURITE – Mirai, Adliya

LEBANESE
BEST – Al Fayez, Reef Island
FAVOURITE – Bebabel, The Avenues Bahrain

MEDITERRANEAN
BEST – Brasserie Royale, Jumeirah Royal Saray Bahrain
FAVOURITE – Bifteki, Riffa

MEXICAN
BEST – Cantina Kahlo, The RitzCarlton, Bahrain
FAVOURITE – Margarita Mexicana, The Gulf Hotel Bahrain Convention & Spa

MIDDLE EASTERN
BEST – Furn Bistro & Bakery, The Westin City Centre Bahrain
FAVOURITE – Saffron, Al Areen Palace & Spa

NORTH AMERICAN
BEST – Bennigan’s, Various Locations
FAVOURITE – Buffalo Wings & Rings, Adliya

SEAFOOD
BEST – The Fish Market, Al Bander Hotel & Resort
FAVOURITE – Waves, Crowne Plaza Bahrain

SOUTH EAST ASIAN
BEST – re/Asian Cuisine by Wolfgang Puck, Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay
FAVOURITE – Monsoon, Adliya

STEAKHOUSE
BEST – Plums, The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain
FAVOURITE – The Meat Co., Adliya

THAI
BEST – Royal Thai, The Gulf Hotel Bahrain Convention & Spa
FAVOURITE – Thailand Restaurant, Adliya

TURKISH
BEST – Kosebasi, City Centre Bahrain
FAVOURITE – Namli, Various Locations

BAR
BEST – Hazel Rooftop Lounge, Adliya
FAVOURITE – Downtown, InterContinental Regency Bahrain

BEACH CLUB
BEST – Al Hadiqa, Jumeirah Royal Saray
FAVOURITE – La Plage Beach Club, Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea & Spa

LADIES NIGHT
BEST – Meisei, Adliya
FAVOURITE – McGettigan’s, Adliya

LOUNGE
BEST – Blue Moon Lounge, Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay
FAVOURITE – Alto, Downtown Rotana

POOL BAR/LOUNGE
BEST – La Plage, The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain
FAVOURITE – Al Hadiqa Pool & Beach, Jumeirah Royal Saray Bahrain

PUB
BEST – JJ’s Irish Restaurant, Adliya
FAVOURITE – Sherlock Holmes, The Gulf Hotel Bahrain Convention & Spa

SHISHA LOUNGE
BEST – Phoenix, Hidd
FAVOURITE – Bushido, Seef District

SPORTS BAR
BEST – Repartee, Royal Golf Club
FAVOURITE – Sherlock Holmes, The Gulf Hotel Bahrain Convention & Spa

CAFÉ
BEST – Café Lilou, Various Locations
FAVOURITE – Angelina Paris, Adliya

COFFEEHOUSE
BEST – Dose, Various Locations
FAVOURITE – Grind, Saar

PATISSERIE
BEST- Lilou Artisan Patisserie, Various Locations
FAVOURITE – Haute Cupcakes, Seef

TEA ROOM
BEST – The Orangery, The Palace Boutique Hotel
FAVOURITE – The Ritz Gourmet Lounge, The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain

RAMADAN AT HOME
BEST – The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain, Seef District
FAVOURITE – The Gulf Hotel Bahrain Convention & Spa

TAKEAWAY & DELIVERY – HOTEL
BEST – Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay
FAVOURITE – Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea & Spa

TAKEAWAY & DELIVERY – RESTAURANT
BEST – Malgoom, Hala Plaza
FAVOURITE – The Lebanese Bakery, Seef District

OVERALL
BEST- CUT by Wolfgang Puck, Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay
FAVOURITE – Rasoi by Vineet, The Gulf Hotel Bahrain Convention & Spa