Each Thacks Awards panelist may only award five of their top food, drink or travel choices per year as a Winner. A hearty congratulations to these fine establishments for catching the eyes of the Thacks Awards panel in 2022.
Introducing
THE BEST OF THE BEST
for 2022:
The panelists each award their Top 5 Awards again.
Global winning cities and areas for 2022 first focused on the Western Hemisphere to include Napa Valley, Colombia, Mexico City, Mendoza and Buenos Aires; with the latest winners crowned in France, UAE, Australia, the UK, Austria, Croatia and South Africa. If you live in or will be visiting any of the winning countries or cities and have not yet experienced their offerings, make a booking today.
Each of these entities caught the fine eye of a discerning panelist for reasons encompassing the excellent quality and service offering you will want to experience for yourself.
They will have scored 9 or 10 out of 10 in the five Thacks Awards categories: Ambience, Exclusivity, Overall Experience, Service and Value for Money.
2022 WINNERS –
Wine Bars: 4
Dining: 10
Wineries: 1
Pubs: 1
Night-life: 1
TOP INTERNATIONAL EATERY
RUST EN VREDE RESTAURANT
City, Country: Stellenbosch, South Africa
Category: Food
Although it’s not the cheapest restaurant experience in South Africa, the Rust en Vrede Restaurant ‘Estate Experience‘ is a truly memorable and amazing evening you’ll remember – and it’s worth every penny when you compare it to international offerings. The friendly, knowledgeable team and overall feel and atmosphere all add to the award-winning experience.
-full blog post here.
TOP BREAKFAST LUNCH SPOT IN AUSTRALIA
CHARLES STREET KITCHEN (CSK) Putney
City, Country: Sydney, Australia
Category: Food
The vibrant cafe which results in delight as it welcomes you and your pet. Korean-inspired Australian fusion for lunch and brunch and breakfasts that are hearty and tasty – try the Green breakfast and coffee!!
-full blog post here.
TOP RESTAURANT IN CROATIA
MEDITERRANEO
City, Country: Hvar, Croatia
Category: Food
Although Croatia isn’t as cheap as it used to be, there are still many great value gems which are well worth the price. Romantic, cozy, welcoming and calm between some historic buildings near the marina and narrow walkways of Hvar city, lies Mediterraneo which is a treat for a great meal (amazing rich mushroom soup, homemade pastas and the meats are worth their grams!) and excellent personal service.
-hm’s full blog post here.
TOP OYSTER VENUE IN SOUTH AFRICA
KNYSNA OYSTER COMPANY
City, Country: Cape Town, South Africa
Category: Food
Not everyone loves oysters but once you’ve mastered the art of taste, there’s no turning back. Fresh, plump and creamy are words used to describe the fabulous fare at Knysna Oyster Company’s V&A Waterfront in Cape Town where you will find some of the best oysters in the world – not just in South Africa.
-bm’s full blog post here.
TOP WINE VENUE IN AUSTRIA
LEO HILLINGER WINESHOP & BAR
City, Country: Vienna, Austria
Category: Wine
After a desperate and ongoing hunt for the best wine bars in Croatia, Germany and Austria, this was a great find. Fabulous atmosphere with great service and more than just wine: we loved Leo Hillinger Wineshop & Bar. Another gem in Austria!
-jjt’s full blog post here.
TOP WINE VENUE IN MEXICO
TIERRAS DE UVA
City, Country: Mexico City, Mexico
Category: Wine
Taco stands line literally every corner of this metropolis, the smell of tortillas and suardero passing your nose as you wander the busy streets of Mexico City: it’s easy to find good food, but good wine is hard to come by although Mexico does produce wines. The Spanish owner decided to go against the grain and offers a little something different – top boutique wines from Spain and exceptional quality cold cuts.
-hm’s full blog post here.
TOP WINE VENUE IN ARGENTINA
VINOBIEN
City, Country: Mendoza, Argentina
Category: Wine
With so many amazing wine bars to choose from in Mendoza and the whole of Argentina offering superb wine experiences, you need to up your game to stand out from the crowd. Vinobien goes the extra mile to offer something special, warm service, something spectacular and an experience that will make you return over and over again (the simple but succulent roasted fillet PLATITO is a winner too): so be sure to try their many exclusive wines from around this beautiful country.
-hm’s full blog post here.
TOP WINE VENUE IN FRANCE
CONSONANCE
City, Country: Bordeaux, France
Category: Wine
Although Bordeaux has many amazing wine bars with a superb collection of local and international wines, this one caught our eyes for super friendly service, great and affordable food menu items and the classy interior – with quality all over. And we only made our way through a few of the menu items so need to go back!!
-jjt’s full blog post here.
TOP SUSHI RESTAURANT IN ARGENTINA
NAMIDA
City, Country: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Category: Food/Drink
An unassuming and fresh-looking small venue with a friendly co-owner in front-of-house serving up amazing sushi with his chef team visibly hard at work. But don’t just stop there – their ‘MINIDISHES’ menu is a winner with the meatiest ‘SUPER MEAT ROLLS’ springrolls ever and their prawns and gyozas left us craving more.
-jjt’s full blog post here.
TOP BRUNCH VENUE IN THE UK
IVY ROYAL WINDSOR BRASSERIE
City, Country: Windsor, UK
Category: Food/Drink
A lovely, lively, and a bit of a spoil with friendly, attentive staff offering a thriving breakfast trade which flowed into brunch. Each dish was beautifully presented, with fine ingredients – and was delicious: very close to perfect!
-panelist full blog post here.
TOP LUNCH VENUE IN THE UK
THE CAMPAIGN ROOM BISTRO
City, Country: Musselburgh, UK
Category: Food/Drink
Locally known as a positive spoil, this ‘Exceptional Since 1480’ establishment uses the best, fresh local produce for some mouth-watering meals that are beautifully presented. The ambiance is relaxed and warm with attentive friendly staff.
-panelist full blog post here.
TOP WINERY IN THE USA
CHATEAU MONTELENA WINERY
City, Country: Napa Valley, USA
Category: Wine
The breathtakingly beautiful Chateau Montelena lies right in the northern end of California’s Napa Valley and is housed in a majestic castle built into the hillside overlooking luscious gardens and a scenic lake. Choose your tasting experience and explore the Chinese garden, lake and vineyards.
-aw’s full blog post here.
TOP EATERY IN THE UAE
TASHAS
City, Country: Abu Dhabi, UAE
Category: Food
Although Tasha’s has spread her wings to different countries and continents, Tasha’s Al Bateen has a special luxury coastal vibe on a breathtaking island with special design and general management which stands out. It combines the best of many countries in terms of culinary delights where you can sample local fare but taste the best of the world.
-full blog post here.
TOP PUB IN AUSTRALIA
THE ROYAL OAK
City, Country: Balmain, Australia
Category: Pub
Not everyone likes a pub but this type of pub is somewhere anyone would love. Australia has an interesting and modern take on pub culture with quality wines and oysters – but still authentic pub fare and a great menu.
-full blog post here.
TOP NIGHT-LIFE ESTABLISHMENT
CLUB69
City, Country: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Category: Night-Life
Don’t ever say you’re too old to party. Two of our panelists took on the ‘if you can’t beat them join them’ approach when their Airbnb was on a noisy party strip of Palermo in Buenos Aires, and they found an awesome and memorable nightclub experience that they’d like to repeat all over again. If you could only have one more nightclub experience in life, this is it!
-jjt’s full blog post here.
TOP STEAKHOUSE IN EUROPE
MONARCH
City, Country: Prague, Czechia
Category: Food
It was a busy night in December and we hadn’t made a reservation but they were very obliging and managed to fit us in. The hospitality was great and the steaks were simply superb. And best of all, the wine menu… To say it was impressive would be a huge understatement!
TOP RESTAURANT IN COLOMBIA
Bakúrú cocina del Pacifico
City, Country: Filandia, Colombia
This little gem of a seafood restaurant is hidden on a side street in the little town of Filandia. Although not a big seafood fan, the lovely hostess/owner made sure my palate was catered for. Each course makes the best use of locally sourced goods and highlights spoils from the Pacific Ocean: even a delicious homemade mini aperitif between each course to wet your palate for the next taste sensations. The attention to detail is amazing and the setting is beautifully quaint – it’s easy to see why they’ve been nominated as a top restaurant in Colombia!
Have you experienced any of these superb offerings?
If not, MAKE A PLAN TODAY… Book a trip or make a reservation today. You won’t regret it.
SEE THE FULL LIST OF 2021 WINNERS HERE.
SEE THE FULL LIST OF 2023 WINNERS HERE.
SEE THE FULL LIST OF 2024 WINNERS HERE.
MEET THE INTERNATIONAL PANELISTS HERE.
READ ALL THE BLOG POSTS HERE.
Thacks Awards 