2023 FACT Dining Awards: WINNERS

The ninth annual FACT Dining Awards Abu Dhabi took place on Wednesday, 25 October at the beautiful beachfront locale of Jumeirah at Saadiyat Island Resort. 57 awards were given out across 29 categories covering more than 150 nominees and 55,000 unique online votes cast by the public in Abu Dhabi.

This year, Abu Dhabi’s food and beverage industry turned out to celebrate the very best of the food and beverage industry in Abu Dhabi. 49 awards were given out across 25 categories, covering over 150 hotel venues and independently operated restaurants and bars. 300 guests enjoyed a sociable evening of delicious canapés and free-flowing drinks overlooking the Saadiyat Shoreline from The Lounge at Jumeirah at Saadiyat Island Resort.

The ninth year heralds another successful year of operation for FACT Magazine in the UAE capital. A who’s who of Abu Dhabi’s hospitality industry turned out for the awards, attracting top GMs, F&B Directors, Chefs, Marketing and PR professionals, industry insiders and social media influencers. Embodying FACT’s down-to-earth and fun approach, the ceremony was a laid-back and fun affair, presented by the one and only DJ Saif. The popular DJ and MC announced all 49 awards to roaring cheers.

Speaking after the event, Edward Smith, Publishing Director at FACT Magazine FZ LLC, said: “I can hardly believe that we are now in our ninth year with the FACT Dining Awards. The city’s food sector has grown rapidly and there are so many great new venues and well-established classics, who we love to reward at the ceremony, which has become a highlight on the hospitality calendar in Abu Dhabi.”

“We are incredibly honoured to have been able to host another successful event that has well and truly become the authority on recognising the efforts of all the excellent food and beverage outlets in Abu Dhabi.”

“The turnout this year was one of the best we’ve had in the whole region”, he continued. “I would like to congratulate all the nominees and winners, and also give a huge shout-out to all of our sponsors – Bacardi, Bash Events Group, Bombay, Dibba Bay Oysters, Grey Goose, Italtouch, Jumeirah at Saadiyat Island, Lyre’s, Patron, Rocfort, Spinney’s, Transmed, and our trophy partner, Crystal Corporation – without you all, this wouldn’t be possible – so keep doing what you do best and we’ll be back next year with even more surprises and venues to commend” he added.

The FACT Dining Awards recognises excellence in the food and beverage industry, with winners awarded based on both public vote and critics’ opinions. Each category was given two awards, the BEST and the FAVOURITE. The latter is the result of a popular choice decided through online voting, and the former is the critic’s choice selected by the FACT editorial team and an independent panel of industry experts.

Some of the standout accolades included Best Newcomer, awarded to one of the most talked about new restaurants in the city: Les Dangereux at Mamsha Al Saadiyat. The Favourite Newcomer went to the ever-popular Sticky Rice in Yas Mall. FACT’s Restaurant Of The Year for 2023 was awarded to NIRI Restaurant & Bar located in Mamsha Al Saadiyat. Other notable wins included outlets at five-star hotels like Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers, Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel & Villas, Rosewood Abu Dhabi, The Abu Dhabi EDITION and The St. Regis Abu Dhabi.

Social media was abuzz too, as Abu Dhabi’s dining elite shared their photos and videos on Instagram and TikTok, with the FACT team taking readers behind the scenes via InstaStories posted on  @factmagazines

Next month will see the seventh annual FACT Dining Awards take place in Dubai, as well as the inaugural FACT Dining Awards Riyadh in Saudi Arabia.

FACT Dining Awards is part of a wider initiative by FACT Magazine FZ LLC with popular dining awards taking place in Bahrain, Dubai, Qatar and Riyadh.