The NOW! Bali Best Restaurant, Bar & Café Awards 2017 came to an official close at the competition’s official Gala Night on Thursday, 5 October 2017. The winners of this 2-month long online campaign were finally announced, setting the new title holders for Bali’s best dining establishments in the coming year.
Background
Started over 4 years ago, the Bali Best Restaurant Bar & Café Awards (BRBCA) was launched to fill a large gap; the island’s restaurant and bar scene was growing quickly with no one singling out the best of them in a fair, transparent manner. So, we at NOW! Bali launched an open platform allowing any legitimate restaurant to join and any guest or diner to vote freely for their favourite establishments – this is to avoid any bias in the results, leaving real guests to decide. Now matured, the awards are a trusted source, both for the industry and consumers. The awards are split into three sections:
The Reader Choice Awards is an online competition (best.nowbali.co.id) where venues register in specific categories (e.g. Best Café, Best Fine Dining Restaurant, Best Sports Bar, etc) and fight to win the votes of guests and diners.
The Editor’s Choice Awards sees NOW! Bali Magazine’s editor handpick 6 venues noted for unique traits and triumphs that patrons will love or find particularly interesting.
Finally, the Industry Choice Awards, where 100 selected food and beverage experts and professionals choose for their top 3 venues in Bali. Results are then weighted (first choice, 3 points; second choice, 2 points; third choice 1 point) and the venue with the largest amount of points wins, with first, second and third place being announced.
BRBCA 2017
This year, both the Bali and Jakarta BRBCA competitions had the strong support of American Express, dubbed the official card of the BRBCA. “One of the things American Express is known for around the world is the outstanding access we can give to Card members to some of the best restaurants.” says Mr. Sanjiv Malhotra, Vice President and General Manager, Partner Card Services Asia at American Express. “Indonesia is a popular destination for American Express Card members. With the Best Restaurant, Bar & Café Awards, in addition to our local dining offers, we’re bringing to our customers incredible culinary experiences to enjoy in Jakarta and Bali.”
With that, in Bali 175 establishments joined the Reader Choice Awards, competing in one of 18 different titles/categories. The campaign garnered over 70,000 live votes and over 1,000,000 page views on the voting website. It was an electric race to the finish.
New in 2017 are the Sustainable Restaurant Awards, this is NOW! Bali’s initiative to reward venues making a conscious effort in creating a business that is environmentally friendly – a growing need on the island. For this, we partnered with 2 eco companies, Avani and Eco-Bali Recycling, to give their professional input.
The Gala Night
The BRBCA always ends in a glamorous Gala Night, where the winners are announced on stage during a full night of food, drinks and entertainment.
This year’s Gala Night was held at the Mangupura Hall of the Bali International Convention Centre, hosting 270 prestigious guests from Bali’s food and beverage community. Warm welcomes were given by NOW! Publisher, Mr. Alistair Speirs; the General Manager of the Westin Resort Nus Dua, Mr. Bipan Kapur; and guest presenter for the evening, Mrs. Wina Bisset, a celebrated Indonesian cookbook writer based out of Jakarta. Guests enjoyed a three-course dinner prepared by resident Executive Chef Manoj Rawat, and many libations from Stark Beer, Plaga Wine, Emporium Gin, Iceland Vodka and a special Nitro Martini from Bootstrap Coffee.
Of course, the focus of the evening was the announcement of the winners and runners up, who received their distinguished trophy plates, made by leading tableware company Royal Doulton. Between awards and dinner, guests enjoyed entertainment by the El Salvadore Band and a unique dance called “Mie and You”, an original piece by group Kita Poleng inspired by Indonesia’s “mie ayam”. The event could not have been possible without the support of Focus Productions and AVB Media.
To finish, NOW! Publisher Mr. Alistair Speirs announced the start of a brand new platform called NOW! Eat, a directory of Bali’s top restaurants, which he informed all guests that everyone’s businesses would be invited to take part in this new online venture. Thus, another year of the Bali Best Restaurant Bar and Café Awards finishes, before the campaign begins again next July 2018 for winners to hold their titles and newcomers to fight up the Bali F&B ladder.
2017 Winners
EDITOR’S CHOICE:
CASCADES RESTAURANT, Viceroy Bali – Outstanding Kitchen Collaboration
RU YI CHINESE RESTAURANT, Awarta Nusa Dua Luxury Villas & Spa – Intimate Oriental Setting
THE SAYAN HOUSE – Excellent Fusion
BLOW BAR BALI – Original Concept
SUNDARA, Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay – Inspiring Mixology
BIKINI RESTAURANT BALI – Innovative Food Creation
INDUSTRY’S CHOICE:
WINNER: Locavore
1ST RUNNER UP: Cuca
2ND RUNNER UP: Mamasan
MOST SUSTAINABLE RESTAURANT
BALI BUDA
SEASALT, Alila Seminyak Bali
READER’S CHOICE:
BEST FINE DINING RESTAURANT
Winner: Kubu Restaurant, Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve 1st Runner Up: Kayuputi Restaurant, The St. Regis Bali Resort 2nd Runner Up : Copper Kitchen & Bar, Bisma Eight Ubud
BEST FRENCH RESTAURANT
Winner: Ju-Ma-Na, Banyan Tree Ungasan Bali
1st Runner Up: Métis 2nd Runner Up : SIP Wine Bar
BEST ITALIAN RESTAURANT
Winner: Cucina
1st Runner Up: Prego Italian Restaurant, The Westin Resort Nusa Dua, Bali
2nd Runner Up: Da Maria
BEST SPANISH RESTAURANT
Winner: La Finca
1st Runner Up: Breezes Tapas Lounge and Bar, The Ritz-Carlton, Bali
2nd Runner Up: Velada Tapas Bar & Kitchen, The Westin Resort Nusa Dua, Bali
BEST MEDITERRANEAN RESTAURANT
Winner: Soleil, The Mulia, Mulia Resort & Villas – Nusa Dua Bali
1st Runner Up: The Pool Cafe & Bar
2nd Runner Up: Sands Restaurant, The Anvaya Beach Resort, Bali
BEST MEXICAN AND LATIN RESTAURANT
Winner: Unique Rooftop Bar & Restaurant, Rimba Jimbaran Bali by Ayana
1st Runner Up: What the Truck!, Courtyard Bali Seminyak Resort
2nd Runner Up: Motel Mexico
BEST INTERNATIONAL RESTAURANT
Winner: Tamarind Mediterranean Brasserie, Nusa Dua Beach Hotel & Spa
1st Runner Up: The Restaurant, The Trans Resort Bali
2nd Runner Up: Sateria Beachside Restaurant, Meliã Bali
BEST PAN-ASIAN RESTAURANT
Winner: Kwee Zeen, Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua Beach Resort
1st Runner Up: The Tao Bali
2nd Runner Up: Ginger Moon Canteen
BEST BALINESE/INDONESIAN RESTAURANT
Winner: Bale Agung, Tugu Hotel Bali
1st Runner Up: Raja’s Balinese Restaurant, Nusa Dua Beach Hotel & Spa
2nd Runner Up: Bejana Indonesian Restaurant, The Ritz-Carlton, Bali
BEST JAPANESE RESTAURANT
Winner: Ji at Bale Sutra & Ji Terrace by the Beach, Hotel Tugu Bali
1st Runner Up: One Eyed Jack Bali
2nd Runner Up: Hamabe Japanese Restaurant, The Westin Resort Nusa Dua, Bali
BEST CHINESE RESTAURANT
Winner: Ah Yat Abalone & Seafood Restaurant, Rimba Jimbaran Bali by Ayana
1st Runner Up: Chopstick Chinese Restaurant, Grand Mirage Resort & Thalasso Spa – Bali
2nd Runner Up: Golden Monkey
BEST INDIAN RESTAURANT
Winner: Queen’s of India
1st Runner Up: Queen’s Tandoor
2nd Runner Up: Bumbu Delhi, Grand Mirage Resort & Thalasso Spa – Bali
BEST STEAK AND GRILL RESTAURANT
Winner: Wahaha Restaurant
1st Runner Up: Dava, Ayana Resort and Spa Bali
2nd Runner Up: Hog Wild with Chef Bruno
BEST VEGAN/VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT
Winner: Kafe Ubud
1st Runner Up: Alchemy
2nd Runner Up: Herb Library by Alaya Resort Jembawan
BEST BEACH CLUB
Winner: Sakala Beach Club
1st Runner Up: Sunset On Seminyak (S.O.S), Anantara Seminyak Bali Resort
2nd Runner Up: S.K.A.I. Beach Club, Padma Resort Legian
BEST CAFE
Winner: The Harbour Cook & Brew
1st Runner Up: Folk Pool & Gardens
2nd Runner Up: Mövenpick Café, Mövenpick Resort & Spa Jimbaran
BEST COCKTAIL AND WINE LOUNGE
Winner: Above Rooftop, Lounge & Bar, Four Points by Sheraton Bali, Seminyak
1st Runner Up: The 18th Rooftop Bar, The Trans Resort Bali
2nd Runner Up: Frestro & Bar
BEST PUB AND SPORTS BAR
Winner: Nu Lazer
1st Runner Up: The Best Brew, Four Points by Sheraton Bali, Kuta
2nd Runner Up: Centerstage, Hard Rock Hotel Bali
