Middle East and North Africa’s 50 Best Restaurants of 2023.
The greatest culinary talents from the region gathered at Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers to celebrate the Middle East and North Africa’s 50 Best Restaurants 2023. One of the capital’s largest and most talked-about events, the second edition of 50 Best captivated the food community. Guests gathered for a glamorous black tie event in the hotel’s ballroom where Orfali Bros Bistro was given the top honour. Tresind Studio, Ossiano, 3Fils and Kinoya made up the rest of the top five.
From the moment of arrival, VIP guests were entertained by a swirl of culinary themed activations, accompanied by live musicians and, later, a thumping soundtrack from one of the country’s best DJs. Attracting much of the guests’ attention was a tempting wall of treats from the Conrad team, celebrity chef Jose Pizarro, and luxury chocolatier Valrhona that required several repeat visits.
After reconnecting with old friends and catching up on all the foodie gossip, the excited crowd gathered as the anticipation of hearing which restaurants had won a prestigious award began to build.
Loud cheers, warm embraces, and high fives greeted the announcement of each winning restaurant as its proud owners and chefs were recognised while sporting the red scarf that has become symbolic of the 50 Best event.
In the lead-up to the Middle East and North Africa’s 50 Best Restaurants 2023 awards night, we also hosted the Chefs’ Feast, an evening for chefs and industry folk to catch up in a relaxed setting, which took the form of a casual dusk-to-night pool party. Food stations from The Abu Dhabi Edition team and two local chefs, Faisal Naser and Faisal Al Harmoodi, served up tantalising finger food, while a pizza oven turned out fresh, hot, tasty pizzas for hungry guests.
After taking a fun snap in the dizzying 360 photo booth with friends and colleagues, partygoers mingled and networked as graffiti artists decorated the 50 Best logo. With the party eventually drawing to a close, guests headed home clutching a luxury goodie bag that included a variety of treats the sponsors. Elsewhere, as part of the Middle East and North Africa’s 50 Best Restaurants six-day spectacle, urbanevents also orchestrated #50BestTalks, an engaging and thought-provoking seminar discussing “What is Luxury?” a hot topic affecting the region’s restaurants.
Held at Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi at Al Maryah Island, #50BestTalks featured a live Q&A with Chef Mauro Colagreco from three-Michelin-starred Mirazur near Nice on the French Riviera who gave his views on sustainability and the future of fine dining. Chef Akmal Anuar, food writer Anissa Helou – who won the icon award at the main ceremony – Qais Malhash and Maha Damash tried to nail down the definition of luxury in contemporary gastronomy.
Giulia Sgarbi, Deputy Content Editor at The World’s 50 Best Restaurants & Bars, gave fascinating insight about the region’s culinary scene to round out the 2023 Middle East North Africa’s 50 Best Restaurants event that has now established itself as one of the region’s most important and eagerly anticipated nights on the social calendar.
