2023

In 2023 each international Thacks Awards panelist could only award their top food, drink or travel choices per year as a Top Winner.
A hearty congratulations to these fine establishments for catching the eyes of the Thacks Awards panel in 2023.

• WordPress
• Facebook
• Twitter
• LinkedIn
• YouTube

Introducing
THE BEST
OF THE BEST
for 2023:

The panelists each award their
Top Awards.

South Africa, France and Japan kicked off 2023 as winning countries! Then we had more…
If you can and have not yet experienced these fine 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.

2023 WINNERS –

Dining: 9
Wine Bars: 1

TOP RESTAURANT IN THE WORLD
RUST EN VREDE RESTAURANT
City, Country: Stellenbosch, South Africa
Category: Food
Rust en Vrede Restaurant at the Rust en Vrede Wine Estate is no stranger to the panelists and their high regard for chef Fabio and his team.

RUNNER-UP TOP RESTAURANT IN THE WORLD
CDJ RESTAURANT
City, Country: Darwen, United Kingdom
Category: Food
CDJ Restaurant was a surprise contender discovered on a rainy UK day. The fresh ingredients and combination of friendly front-of-house and an intro to the chef blew us away.

BEST TAPAS BAR IN THE WORLD
BELLS BAR
City, Country: San Sebastian, Spain
Category: Food
Bells Bar was a stop after a few days of happy eating in what is arguably the ‘foodie capital of the world’! The most heavenly morsels you could ever imagine…

BEST CHRISTMAS SURPRISE
CAROLA ANN’S
City, Country: Mossel Bay, South Africa
Category: Food
Carola Ann’s was another surprise in South Africa – in a coastal town with a beautiful vibe. Healthy, tasty with breads baked on site.

BEST GRILL MEAL
ASYAK GRILL
City, Country: Abu Dhabi, UAE
Category: Food
Asyak Grill provided pleasant surprises all round. Although the Middle East has some exceptional up-and-coming eateries, this was a pleasant surprise.

TOP BRUNCH SPOT
LONGTABLE RESTAURANT
City, Country: Stellenbosch, South Africa
Category: Food
Longtable Restaurant at Haskell Vineyards in South Africa’s Cape Winelands won an International Thacks Award for ‘Best Winelands Brunch’, and it’s not hard to see why. The restaurant offers exceptional food, warm service, and stunning views, making it a must-visit destination. The menu boasts outstanding dishes, including BBQ pork belly with ponzu and citrus slaw, seafood bisque with fennel, potato and chimichurri, and poached eggs with chorizo, marinated chickpeas, spinach, and goat cheese.
Longtable Restaurant offers a relaxed atmosphere with indoor and outdoor seating options and staff who are incredibly attentive and knowledgeable. Overall, it’s a must-visit for foodies looking for exceptional cuisine in a stunning setting.
-full blog post here.

TOP CASUAL EATERY
BINGO IZAKAYA RESTAURANT
City, Country: Kyoto, Japan
Category: Food
The vibrant flavours and culinary abilities meant this was a favourite eatery for a two week trip taking in the tastes of Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto. After sampling amazing Japanese dishes, we saw some spring rolls that our neighbouring table ordered so decided to order a few. Who doesn’t like a perfectly fried crispy spring roll? Let’s just throw in a poached egg and you’ve got yourself the best restaurant meal in Kyoto.
-full blog post here.

TOP BRUNCH SPOT
CARLOTTA WITH
City, Country: Marseille, France
Category: Food
French cuisine can be informal and fun; in this amazing venue for the perfect brunch.

TOP CURRY
CURRY CLUB
City, Country: Cape Town, South Africa
Category: Food
With their excellent knowledge of aromatic Punjabi spices, fresh ingredients and traditional cooking techniques, each dish is bursting with flavour and authenticity. The butter chicken was a standout dish, with tender chicken in an aromatic creamy tomato sauce; and the wild mushroom curry was a taste-bud seducing earthy mushroom experience in a flavourful sauce that had just the right amount of spice. The lamb was cooked to perfection, with tender chunks of meat in a rich and savoury and medium heat sauce, while the Goan prawn curry was a deliciously tangy and spicy seafood option. This award is recognition and testament to The Curry Club‘s ability to wow but not overwhelm the tastebuds, in the best possible way… with an aromatic, full flavoured authentic Punjabi curry!.
-full blog post here.

BEST WINE BAR
VINORTE WINE BAR
City, Country: Valencia, Spain
Category: Wine
Vinorte Wine Bar is our favourite wine bar as the owners deliver the best consistent service and you’re treated with a trolley bringing over your wine bottles and glasses each time!

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.