On 17 October, the ceremony for the new edition of Gourmet provided an overview of the best things to eat and drink in the Moravian capital and across the South Moravian Region. The Gourmet Brno brochure was launched for the ninth time, while Gourmet South Moravia is being published for the seventh time. This year, 67 establishments in Brno and 58 establishments in the South Moravian region were included in the guides.
The Gourmet Brno and Gourmet South Moravia guides present a selection of gastronomic establishments that have succeeded in evaluations by experts. They went incognito to assess the businesses based on nominations from gastro enthusiasts, professionals, and the general public. This year, for the first time, the Brno nomination committee was complemented by representatives of last year's winning establishments, who know the local environment and their competition best. Based on the results of independent evaluations, shortlists of restaurants, bistros, cafés, patisseries, bars, breweries, and wine bars presented in the guides were drawn up.
"Every year we see the Gourmet Brno brand getting stronger, and the theme of gastronomy resonating in our international campaigns. This year, we have again broken the record in the number of nominated and included businesses. Brno is a gastronomic mecca, and the Gourmet Brno guide can lead to the best the city has to offer. Brno's stalwarts appear among the establishments, but every year there are also new places that win the hearts of visitors after at least a year of operation," says Jana Janulíková, director of TIC BRNO.
Gourmet helps to discover places where honest work, excellent cuisine, and a unique atmosphere come together. People will find proven tips in the guides that will lead them to great gastronomy, sometimes in unexpected places. While Gourmet Brno 2025 includes 67 establishments exclusively from Brno, Gourmet South Moravia 2025 includes a total of 58 establishments across South Moravia, from Boskovice to Znojmo.
"We have long observed that gastronomy is one of the main drivers of tourism. In addition, South Moravia has been able to launch excellent businesses in areas that are not on the main tourist routes, which helps bring attention to new places. Evaluators of South Moravian establishments agree that they were surprised by the quality and standard, which, even in the Moravian countryside, keeps pace with global gastronomic trends," says Martina Grůzová, Director of the Tourism Centre - South Moravia.
"I was most surprised by the diversity - in a relatively small region, you can find top modern gastronomy, businesses focused on local ingredients, and classic rural pubs that retain their authenticity. I especially appreciate the courage of some chefs and restaurants to combine traditional Moravian flavours with modern techniques," says Švestka, who judged the restaurants for Gourmet South Moravia.
Selected delicacies, delicious drinks, and imaginative food directly accompanied the announcement of Gourmet 2025 on Friday, 17 October. The professional public and the participating businesses met in one place and were the first to see this year's list of recommended gastronomic destinations and the winners in each category.
The best Brno businesses are represented by Pavillon Steak House among restaurants and bistros in the price level above CZK 600, and Zaza in the price level below CZK 600. The best pastry shop this year is Mlsná chlíka, among cafés the winner is Kafe Friedrich, the winner of beer bars is on its way, the first among bars is the stalwart Super Panda Circus, and the best wine bar is Klára Bára Wine Café. The seventh category "takeaway" remained unranked due to its diversity.
The best restaurant in South Moravia was Chateau Petit in Hlohovec, and the best-rated bistro this year was Panelka Luleč. The best brewery was Frankies Chmelotéka in Břeclav, and among cafés, Dvorek Bořetice returned to the limelight. Among winemakers, Vinařství Válka from Nosislav defended its leading position, and the best small gastro stop is Průjezd 32 in Veverské Knínice. The top tip outside the established categories remains Restaurant Essens in Hraniční zámček in Hlohovec.
As in previous years, both guides stand out for their unique visual design. Gourmet South Moravia is in the spirit of cycling, which, along with gastronomy, is another important motive for tourism in South Moravia. The photographer Roman Franc captured authentic people and their cycling machines that can be found while wandering along the South Moravian cycle paths.
On the other hand, Gourmet Brno this year brings with it an aesthetic full of symbols and hidden meanings. The motif of the Brno guide was traditionally prepared by the photographer KIVA. "The photographs of this year's Gourmet Brno tell the story of the joy of gastronomy - of everyday rituals, of discovering new tastes, and of returning to favourite places. They play with the viewer's imagination and give the opportunity to immerse oneself for a moment in an imagination in which morning coffee is enjoyed with the scent of Japanese sakura, pubs are a geyser of joy, and bars are a boat on the evening surface of the Brno sea. Each photograph captures a moment when food and atmosphere turn into an experience," said the photographer KIVA, explaining the idea behind the visual. The graphic design of both guides was provided by graphic designer Barbara Zemčík.
Source: Gourmet Brno
