By Annette Shailer
Citysearch has announced Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney’s Eye-Con winners in the 2009 Citysearch Best in the City awards campaign.
In the people’s choice award program, Citysearch called out to local residents to nominate and vote for their favourite local haunts across 10 unique award categories.
The list of winners revealed each city’s favourite watering-holes and much-loved restaurants, the friendliest cafes and even the most lavish loos.
Iconic Sydney pub The Oaks in Neutral Bay was crowned the Best Place to Watch the Game, while the London Hotel in Balmain was voted Best Sunday Session venue.
Best Friday Night Drinks went to Merivale’s ivy, while The Argyle won the prestigious title of Best Bathroom.
Melbourne’s 10 Eye-Con winners, included landmark Federation Square taking out the Best Place to Watch the Game, while Belgian Beer Café Bluestone won Best Sunday Session and Collin’s Quarter took out Best Friday Night Drinks.
Up north and Brisbane’s Eye-Con winners featured some iconic spots such as The Story Bridge Hotel, which won Best Place to Watch the Game and The Plough Inn which took home the Best Sunday Session title.
British-themed Pig ‘n’ Whistle secured Best Friday Night Drinks, while the spectacular design at Cloudland saw it crowned Best Bathroom.
* Winners in italics
Best in the City Sydney Finalists:
Best Vegie Fare
Yulli’s – Surry Hills
Green Gourmet – Newtown
Bodhi in the Park – Sydney
Kawa – Surry Hills
Best Service to Make You Smile
Charlotte Café – Birchgrove
Café Giulia – Chippendale
Bertonia Casalinga – Balmain
Chat Thai – Haymarket
Best Sunday Session
The Tilbury Hotel – Woolloomooloo
The London – Balmain
The Shop and Wine Bar – Bondi Beach
Teascape Café – Randwick
Best Place for a First Date
Restaurant Atelier – Glebe
Uchi Lounge – Surry Hills
Oscillate Widly – Newtown
Tastevin – Darlinghurst
Best Bathroom
Steel Bar and Grill – Sydney
North Bondi Italian – Bondi Beach
360 Bar and Dining – Sydney
The Argyle – The Rocks
Best Friday Night Drinks
The White Horse – Surry Hills
Pocket Bar – Sydney
Gazebo Wine Garden – Elizabeth Bay
The Ivy – Sydney
Best Place to Watch the Game
Woolwich Pier Hotel – Woolwich
The Oaks – Neutral Bay
The Light Brigade – Woollhara
Royal Hotel – Paddington
Best Cheap and Cheerful
Don Don – Darlinghurst
The Sultans Table – Enmore
Chinese Noodle Restaurant – Sydney
Mamak – Haymarket
Best in the Kid Friendly Stakes
The Bather’s Pavillion Café – Balmoral
Kazbah Restaurant – Balmain
Centennial Parklands Restaurant – Centennial
Arthur’s Pizza – Randwick
Best Street Performance
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras
Michael Bevan
The Leaping Loonies
Liqueur Flambé
Best in the City Melbourne Finalists:
Best Vegie Fare
The Vegie Bar – Fitzroy
Shakahari – Carlton
Moroccan Soup Bar – Fitzroy North
Lentil as Anything – Abbotsford
Best Service to Make You Smile
Maedaya – Richmond
Mirka at Tolarno – St Kilda
Cibi – Collingwood
Movida – Melbourne
Best Sunday Session
Windsor Castle – Windsor
The College Lawn – Prahran
The Anglers Tavern – Maribyrnong
Belgian Beer Café Bluestone – Melbourne
Best Place for a First Date
Bosistos – Richmond
Supper Club – Melbourne
Bar Lourinha – Melbourne
Moonlight Cinema – South Yarra
Best Bathroom
Sofitel No.35 – Melbourne
Auction Rooms – North Melbourne
Order of Melbourne – Melbourne
Middle Brighton Baths – Brighton
Best Friday Night Drinks
Collins Quarter – Melbourne
The Toff in Town – Melbourne
Wesley Anne – Northcote Hill
Riverland Bar – Melbourne
Best Place to Watch the Game
Station Hotel – Prahran
Federation Square – Melbourne
Napier Hotel – Fitzroy
The London Tavern – Richmond
Best Cheap and Cheerful
Jim’s Greek Tavern – Collingwood
Waiters Restaurant – Melbourne
Minh Minh – Richmond
Laksa King – Flemington
Best in the Kid Friendly Stakes
Birdie Num Nums – Carlton North
Touks – Seddon
The Collingwood Children’s Farm – Abbotsford
Taipan – Doncaster East
Best Street Performance
Spanish Fiesta – Fitzroy
George Kamikawa – Bourke St. Mall
Inka Marka – Queen Victoria Market
Take Off Your Skin – Well Theatre
Best in The City Brisbane Finalists:
Best Vegie Fare
Sol Breads – Newstead
Grub Street Cafe – Gaythorne
Thai Wi Rat – Fortitude Valley
Fundies Cafe – Paddington
Best Friday Night Drinks
Pig ‘n’ Whistle – Brisbane
Cicada – Brisbane
Cru Bar – Fortitude Valley
The Bowery – Fortitude Valley
Best Service to Make You Smile
Il Centro – Brisbane
Urban Grind – New Farm
Lure on Latrobe – Paddington
Stove – West End
Best Place to Watch the Game
The Story Bridge Hotel – Kangaroo Point
Paddington Tavern – Paddington
Mustang Bar – Fortitude Valley
The Pineapple Hotel – Kangaroo Point
Best Sunday Session
Plough Inn Tavern – South Bank
New Farm Bowls Club – New Farm
Bar Alto at the Powerhouse – New Farm
The Lark – Paddington
Best Cheap and Cheerful
The Fishmonger’s Wife – East Brisbane
Trang Restaurant – West End
No No’s -Red Hill
The Vietnamese Restaurant – Fortitude Valley
Best Place for a First Date
Montrachet – Paddington
Anise – New Farm
Belle Epoque – Fortitude Valley
Les Amis – Fortitude Valley
Best in the Kid Friendly Stakes
The Hutch – New Farm
Bada Bing – Chermside
Breathing Space Café – Indooroopilly
Avid Reader – West End
Best Bathroom
The Caxton – Brisbane
Cloudland – Fortitude Valley
Sono – Hamilton
1889 Enoteca – Woolloongabba
Best Street Performance
The Twine
PopEyed
Star and the Hoola Hooper
Dr Rhythm