Where there is a win there is a way. Modifying this year’s ceremony to accommodate Covid restrictions, over two consecutive days the FACT team celebrated the crème de la crème of the Qatar dining scene during the much-anticipated FACT Dining Awards 2021.

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Mindful of the health and safety of all, the team at FACT were determined that the show would go on. The winners received their due accolades in compliance with Ministry regulations, responsibly honouring the best of the best from Qatar’s lavish food and hospitality milieu. With the help of sponsors Marsa Malaz Kempinski, The Pearl Doha, Mitsubishi Doha, Bath & Body Works, Qinwan Dates and Boutique Garnie, the 2021 awards were handed out in segmented 30-minute timeslots for socially distanced groups of five.

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 together with the FACT team.

This year celebrated 72 winners across 36 categories ranging from Steakhouse and Seafood winners to Regional Cuisines and Lounges, as well recognising the key titles of Overall Best Restaurant, taken by La Mar Doha by Gastón Acurio at InterContinental Doha Hotel & Residences, and Overall Favourite Restaurant, won by Morimoto Doha, Mondrian Doha.

More than 63,000 unique online votes were cast by the public, with winners receiving the coveted FACT Dining Awards 2021 plaques in addition to stylish goodie bags from the sponsors.

FACT publisher, Chirine Halabi enthused over the successful ceremony saying: “This year’s awards were absolutely memorable in their own unique way. It was an amazing event and we happily hosted our partners, nominees and friends in a beautiful and original manner and were honoured to commemorate and reward the best of the best among Qatar’s culinary masters. We at FACT are incredibly grateful to all our sponsors, the dining sector, and of course our readers and voters, and we look forward to being able to host our famous parties again before too long.”

Breakfast Restaurant
BEST – Twisted Olive – Burj Doha Tower
FAVOURITE – Choices – Hyatt Regency Oryx Doha

Family Friendly Brunch
BEST – Market Brunch at Market by Jean-Georges – W Doha Hotel & Residences
FAVOURITE – Friday Brunch at Le Cigalon – La Cigale Hotel Managed by Accor

Friday Brunch
BEST – CUT by Wolfgang Puck – Mondrian Doha
FAVOURITE – The Big Apple Brunch at New York Steakhouse – Marriott Marquis City Center Hotel

Saturday Brunch
BEST –   Yum Cha at Deli Kitchen – Al Messila, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Doha
FAVOURITE – Royal Thai Brunch at Sabai Thai – The Westin Doha Hotel & Spa

Social Brunch
BEST –   The Bubbalicious Brunch at Seasonal Tastes – The Westin Doha Hotel & Spa
FAVOURITE – Froze Brunch at B-Lounge – The Ritz-Carlton, Doha

All Day Dining Restaurant
BEST – Coral – InterContinental Doha
FAVOURITE – The Village – Various Locations

Al Fresco Dining
BEST – Chef’s Garden – Education City
FAVOURITE – Le Veranda – Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel

Casual Dining Restaurant
BEST – Crossroads Kitchen – Marriott Marquis City Center Doha Hotel
FAVOURITE – Debs W Remman – Various Locations

In-Mall Restaurant
BEST – Mezzo – AlRayyan Hotel Doha, Curio Collection by Hilton
FAVOURITE – Jamie’s Italian – Doha Festival City

Burger Joint
BEST – Champions Bar – Marriott Marquis City Center Doha Hotel
FAVOURITE – Stock Burger Co. Doha – Holiday Inn Doha – The Business Park

Chinese Restaurant
BEST –  Hakkasan Doha – The St. Regis Doha
FAVOURITE – Liang – Mandarin Oriental, Doha

European Restaurant
BEST –   Bibo Dani Garcia – The St. Regis Doha
FAVOURITE – Bentley’s Grill – Radisson Blu Hotel Doha

French Restaurant
BEST – IDAM – Museum of Islamic Art
FAVOURITE – Sel & Miel – The Ritz-Carlton, Doha

Indian Restaurant
BEST – Riyasat Doha – The St. Regis Doha
FAVOURITE – Bombay Balti – Radisson Blu Hotel Doha

International Restaurant
BEST – Teatro – City Centre Rotana Doha
FAVOURITE – Reberu – Msheireb

Italian Restaurant
BEST – Veritas – Al Messila, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Doha
FAVOURITE – Scalini – Al Gassar Resort

Japanese Restaurant
BEST –   Sora – Park Hyatt Doha
FAVOURITE – Nozomi – Marsa Malaz Kempinski, The Pearl-Doha

Latin American Restaurant
BEST – Fuego – JW Marriott Marquis City Center Doha
FAVOURITE – The Cellar – Hyatt Regency Orxy Doha

Lebanese Restaurant
BEST – Em Sherif – Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel
FAVOURITE – Al Sultan Brahim – The St. Regis Doha

Mediterranean Restaurant
BEST – Izu – Mandarin Oriental, Doha
FAVOURITE – Pearl Social Doha – Marsa Malaz Kempinski, The Pearl-Doha

Middle Eastern Restaurant
BEST – Al Sufra – Marsa Malaz Kempinski, The Pearl-Doha
FAVOURITE – Al Nahham – Banana Island Resort Doha By Anantara

Pan Asian Restaurant
BEST – Spice Market – W Doha Hotel & Residences
FAVOURITE – Trader Vic’s – Hilton Doha

Qatari Restaurant
BEST – Nassayem Qatar – The Diplomatic Club
FAVOURITE – Opus – Park Hyatt Doha

Thai Restaurant
BEST – Isaan – Grand Hyatt Doha Hotel & Villas
FAVOURITE – Caprice – Centara West Bay Residences & Suites

Turkish Restaurant
BEST – Sazeli – Various Locations
FAVOURITE – Sukar Pasha – Katara Cultural Village

South East Asian Restaurant
BEST – Zengo – Kempinski Residents and Suites, Doha
FAVOURITE – Elements Restaurant & Lounge – Four Seasons Hotel Doha

Seafood Restaurant
BEST – Al Nahham – Banana Island Resort Doha By Anantara
FAVOURITE – Al Baraha – Al Najada Doha Hotel by Tivoli

Steakhouse
BEST –  Hunters Room & Grill – The Westin Doha Hotel & Spa
FAVOURITE – Nusr-et Steakhouse – Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel

Café
BEST – Patio Café – Al Aziziyah Boutique Hotel
FAVOURITE – Flat White Specialty Coffee – Various Locations

Dessert Parlour
BEST – W Café – W Doha Hotel & Residences
FAVOURITE – Bella Ciao Café – The Pearl-Qatar

Lounge
BEST – Manko – InterContinental Doha
FAVOURITE – Sky View Lounge – La Cigale Hotel Managed by Accor

Tea Room
BEST – AtTEAtude Tea Lounge & Terrace – Alwadi Hotel Doha – MGallery
FAVOURITE – Seasons Tea Lounge – Four Seasons Hotel Doha

Sundowners Restaurant
BEST – Shanghai Club – JW Marriott Marquis City Center Doha
FAVOURITE – Infinity Rooftop Lounge – Alwadi Hotel Doha – MGallery

Bar Restaurant
BEST – Infinity Rooftop Lounge – Alwadi Hotel Doha – MGallery
FAVOURITE – Brewskis and Grub – Crowne Plaza Doha West Bay

Outdoor Bar Restaurant
BEST – Mulberry Tavern – Hilton Doha The Pearl Hotel & Residences
FAVOURITE – IRIS – Sharq Village & Spa, a Ritz-Carlton Hotel

Pub Restaurant
BEST –   Hudson Tavern Doha – Mondrian Doha
FAVOURITE – Belgian Cafe – InterContinental Doha

Overall Winner
BEST – La Mar – InterContinental Doha
FAVOURITE – Morimoto Doha – Mondrian Doha