Fact Qatar is back again with their second edition of their Fact Dining Awards. If you would like to know who won last year then check out our FACT Dining Awards Doha 2015 Feature.
UPDATE: The FACT Dining Awards 2016 will be announced on 12th April at The Westin Doha Hotel & Spa. Winners will be announced from the shortlisted nominees in 30 awards categories. Like last year, each award will have two winners based on online voting by the public, and a critic’s winner as decided by an independent panel of food bloggers and industry experts in Doha.
2015 was the inaugral year for the Fact Dining Awards and it was a very successful first event – over 250 guests were invited and 54 awards were given out over 27 categories.
The team at FACT Qatar also embarked on an epic ‘road-trip’ in a Maserati to celebrate the Fact Dining Awards. Their aim was to highlight all the nominated venues. They posted selfies at each location on their social media channels. Starting in the morning with Grand Hyatt Doha, they attempted to cover all all 150 nominated venues, and finished late in the evening with Nandos Qatar. Unfortunately they were unable to cover all the venues – but it was an epic task to defeat Doha traffic!
For the second year of the FACT Dining Awards Doha the team have set out on a 160 Venue Challenge. The FACT team will be eating at each of the nominated venues in 60 days to raise money for charity. You can follow their progress on the Twitter account @FactAwardsDOHA.
The Qatar nominees for Fact Dining Awards 2016 are listed below and there are some interesting additions to the list. Although no clear indication has been given for the criteria used for this year, we can look at last year’s guidance:
Fact Qatar Dining Award Criteria for last year:
- FACT Qatar choose 25 categories last year, and had two winners in each category.
- There was a ‘Best’ Award which was decided by FACT Qatar’s panel of reviewers.
- There was also a second winner with the ‘Favourite’ Award, which was voted for by the public – although the original shortlist was decided by FACT Qatar.
If you are interested in voting for this year’s awards then head to the Fact Qatar Dining Awards 2016 nominees voting page. Last year voting took place online and voting forms were also available at shortlisted venues. UPDATE: Public Voting has closed.
Fact Qatar Dining Awards 2016
The nominees for this year’s Fact Dining Awards are listed below. Some categories have not changed much, however others have some interesting additions to the list. A hearty congratulations to the shortlisted venues! (This is the Nominees list as of 9th Feb 2016).
Our Thoughts:
It is always excellent to see F&B venues get the recognition and acclaim that they deserve, particularly where awards involve public participation to some degree. However there are some oddities – one being the inclusion of venues that are barely open, whilst Wagamama’s inclusion in the Newcomer category is also hard to understand. It does deserve to be nominated but perhaps is better suited in the ‘In-Mall’ category. Also French Olive has made it’s way from the Italian category to the Meditteranean and Patisserie category – their name really is a misnomer!
It is a shame to see Asha’s and Emirgan Sutis out of this year’s shortlist. There is no North American food category this year, but a new Al Fresco category has been introduced. And it is no surprise to see certain heavy hitters dominate this year’s nominations including Nozomi, Antica Pesa, Toro Toro, and Nobu.
What we would like to see is more variety. There is an understandable bias towards Doha-based eateries, but there really are some lovely places not far out from the city – and the awards are supposed to represent Qatar. It would also be a welcome change to see more local and affordable restaurants on the list – perhaps it is time for a ‘neighbourhoods’ category?
Fact Qatar Dining Awards 2016
INTERNATIONAL
CROSSROADS KITCHEN – Marriott Marquis City Centre Doha
SEASONAL TASTES – The Westin Doha
CHOICES – Oryx Rotana Doha
THE GRILL – Grand Hyatt Doha
CORNICHE RESTAURANT – Doha Marriott Hotel
THE SQUARE – Intercontinental Doha The City
ITALIAN
PORCINI – The Ritz-Carlton Doha
CUCINA – Marriott Marquis City Centre Doha
THE ITALIAN JOB – Radisson Blu Hotel Doha
ANTICA PESA – Marsa Malaz Kempinski, The Pearl-Qatar
ROCCA – Grand Hyatt Doha
LA VERANDA – Sheraton Doha Resort & Convention Hotel
IL TEATRO – Four Seasons Hotel Doha
MEDITTERANEAN
AL NAHHAM – Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara
IDAM – Museum of Islamic Art
THE FRENCH OLIVE – Al Sadd
OLIVE OIL – City Centre Rotana
SAWA – Marsa Malaz Kempinski, The Pearl-Qatar
FRENCH
MAXIM – Radisson Blu Hotel Doha
LA VARENNE – Qatar Luxury Group
LINA’S PARIS – Ezdan Mall
LAMER – The Ritz-Carlton Doha
CONTEMPORARY EUROPEAN
AROMA – Kempinski Residences & Suites
OPAL BY GORDAN RAMSAY – The St. Regis Doha
MARKET BY JEAN-GEORGES – W Doha Hotel & Residences
ELEMENTS RESTAURANT & LOUNGE – Four Seasons Hotel Doha
MIDDLE EASTERN
AL LIWAN – Sharq Village & Spa
MAMIG – Katara Cultural Village
MAJLIS – Grand Hyatt Doha
BURJ AL HAMAM – The Pearl-Qatar
THE LAGOON – The Ritz-Carlton Doha
AL NAFOURAH GARDEN – Oryx Rotana Doha
LEBANESE
AL MOURJAN – Corniche
AZIZA – Marriott Marquis City Centre Doha
LEILA – The Gate Mall
AL SULTAN BRAHIM – The St. Regis Doha
MOROCCAN
ARGAN – Souq Waqif
TAJINE – Souq Waqif
MARRAKECH – Lagoona Mall
TANGIA – Wyndham Grand Regency Doha
SEAFOOD
AZIZA – Marriott Marquis City Centre Doha
FISHMARKET – InterContinental Doha
L’WZAAR – Katara Cultural Village
PIER 12 – Radisson Blu Hotel Doha
AL MASKAR – Sheraton Doha Resort & Convention Hotel
AL DANA– Sharq Village & Spa
CHINESE
SHANGHAI GARDEN – Oryx Rotana Doha
HAKKASAN – The St. Regis Doha
CHOP STICKS – Wyndham Grand Regency
CHI’ZEN – Oryx Rotana Doha
RUBY WU’S – Radisson Blu Hotel Doha
JAPANESE
NOBU – Four Seasons Hotel Doha
MEGU – The Pearl-Qatar
SAKURA – Radisson Blu Hotel Doha
YEN SUSHI BAR – La Cigale Hotel
NOZOMI – Marsa Malaz Kempinski, The Pearl-Qatar
SOUTH EAST ASIAN
ASIA LIVE – Doha Marriott Hotel
SPICE MARKET – W Doha Hotel & Residences
ISAAN – Grand Hyatt Doha
HWANG – InterContinental Doha The City
INDIAN
CHINGARI – Radisson Blu Hotel Doha
TAJ RASOI – Doha Marriott Hotel
SAFFRON LOUNGE – Katara Cultural Village
SIGNATURE BY SANJEEV KAPOOR – Melia Doha
ROYAL TANDOOR – Souq Waqif
LATIN AMERICAN
TORO TORO – Marsa Malaz Kempinski, The Pearl-Qatar
OYSTER BAY & BAR – The St. Regis Doha
SALSA – Doha Marriott Hotel
PALOMA – InterContinental Doha
IPANEMA – Marriott Marquis City Centre Doha
SPANISH
EL FARO – Marsa Malaz Kempinski, The Pearl-Qatar
THE CELLAR – Oryx Rotana Doha
PICASSO’S – Radisson Blu Hotel Doha
ACEITE – Melia Doha
STEAKHOUSE
JW’S STEAKHOUSE – Doha Marriott Hotel
THE ANVIL ROOMS – Qatar Luxury Group
PRIME – InterContinental Doha The City
NEW YORK STEAKHOUSE – Marriott Marquis City Centre Doha
LATINO STEAKHOUSE – Sheraton Grand Doha
ASTOR GRILL – The St. Regis Doha Resort & Convention Hotel
BENTLEY’S GRILL – Radisson Blu Hotel Doha
ALL-DAY DINING
AZRAQ – Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara
SEASONS RESTAURANT – Mövenpick Hotel Doha
THE GRILL – Grand Hyatt Doha
W CAFÉ – W Doha Hotel & Residences
CORAL – InterContinental Doha
AL FRESCO DINING
MYKONOS – InterContinental Doha
SEA LOUNGE – Sharq Village & Spa
MAMIG – Katara Cultural Village
CARLUCCIO’S – The Pearl-Qatar
ADMIRAL’S CLUB – The Ritz-Carlton Doha
THE ROOFTOP – The St. Regis Doha
POOL GRILL – Four Seasons Hotel Doha
BAR
TRADER VIC’S – Hilton Doha
SHEHRAZAD – Radisson Blu Hotel Doha
DUNES – Grand Hyatt Doha
BELGIAN CAFÉ – InterContinental Doha
IRISH HARP – Sheraton Doha Resort & Convention Hotel
CHAMPIONS SPORTS BAR – Marriott Marquis City Centre Doha
LOUNGE
JAZZ CLUB – Oryx Rotana Doha
BOHEMIA – Marsa Malaz Kempinski, The Pearl-Qatar
Z LOUNGE – Kempinski Residences & Suites
VINTAGE LOUNGE – The St. Regis Doha
WAHM – W Doha Hotel & Residences
HABANOS – The Ritz-Carlton Doha
CAFÉ
AL JALSA – Sharq Village & Spa
GOURMET HOUSE – Kempinski Residences & Suites
ARGO TEA CAFÉ – Landmark Mall
LIME TREE LOBBY LOUNGE – Mövenpick Hotel Doha
MAYA LA CHOCOLATERIE – Landmark Mall
BISCOTTI – Grand Hyatt Doha
CAFÉ MURANO – Marsa Malaz Kempinski, The Pearl-Qatar
TEA ROOM
KUFIC LOUNGE – The Torch Doha
SEASONS TEA LOUNGE – Four Seasons Hotel Doha
LOBBY LOUNGE – InterContinental Doha The City
SUGAR & SPICE – Lagoona Mall
LOBBY LOUNGE – The Ritz-Carlton Doha
TEA LOUNGE – InterContinental Doha
SARAB LOUNGE – The St. Regis Doha
COFFEE HOUSE
THE COFFEE BEAN & TEA LEAF – Various Locations
EMPORIO ARMANI CAFFE – The Pearl-Qatar
STARBUCKS – Various Locations
MOKARABIA CAFE – The Pearl-Qatar
GLORIA JEAN’S – Various Locations
COSTA COFFEE – Various Location
QUICK BITES – Marriott Marquis City Centre Doha
IN-MALL
EATOPIA – The Gate Mall
VAPIANO – The Gate Mall
JONES THE GROCER – The Gate Mall
NANDO’S – City Centre Mall
THE BUTCHER SHOP & GRILL – Villagio Mall
PAUL CAFÉ – Various Locations
WAFFLEMEISTER – LAGOONA MALL
ANGELINA – The Gate Mall
SHAKESPEARE & CO – Various Locations
PATISSERIE
CHOCOLATE BAR – The Pearl
THE FRENCH OLIVE – Al Sadd
ANGELINA PARIS – The Gate Mall
CHAC’LATE – Katara Cultural Village
PAUL CAFÉ – Various Locations
PIERRE HERME – Lagoona Mall
FAUCHON – Various Locations
RED VELVET CUPCAKERY – West Bay
BRIOCHE DOREE – The Gulf Mall
FRIDAY BRUNCH
CHOICES – Oryx Rotana Doha
MARKET BY JEAN-GEORGES – W Doha Hotel & Residences
NOBU – Four Seasons Hotel Doha
SAWA – Marsa Malaz Kempinski, The Pearl-Qatar
IPANEMA – Marriott Marquis City Centre Doha
CORAL – InterContinental Doha
THE LAGOON – The Ritz-Carlton Doha
VINE – The St. Regis Doha
FAMILY-FRIENDLY BRUNCH
ELEMENTS RESTAURANT & LOUNGE – Four Seasons Hotel Doha
THE GRILL – Grand Hyatt Doha
THE SQUARE – InterContinental Doha The City
SEASONS – Mövenpick Hotel Doha
AL LIWAN – Sharq Village & Spa
NEWCOMER
NOBU – Four Seasons Hotel Doha
NOZOMI- Marsa Malaz Kempinski, The Pearl-Qatar
TORO TORO – Marsa Malaz Kempinski, The Pearl-Qatar
ANTICA PESA – Marsa Malaz Kempinski, The Pearl-Qatar
ELEMENTS RESTAURANT & LOUNGE – Four Seasons Hotel Doha
SAWA – Marsa Malaz Kempinski, The Pearl-Qatar
WAGAMAMA – Various Locations
URBAN JAZZ KITCHEN – The Pearl-Qatar
So what do you think of this year’s nominees? How does it compare to last year’s?
Most importantly, who would you have liked to see on the nominations list for 2016 Best Restaurants in Qatar?
