More than a decade later: Five companies still BOP Number Ones

A total of five companies in Pretoria have garnered the Number One spot for the 11th time in the prestigious Best of Pretoria competition.

They received their awards at a glamorous function held by Rekord on October 29 at the Pretoria Botanical Gardens.

This means readers of Rekord have voted for them 11 consecutive years in a row since the competition was launched in 2013.

These consistent winners who have been crowned 11 years in a row are:

– MHC World as Best Appliance Store,
– Spec-Savers as Best Optometrist,
– Tiger Wheel & Tyre as Best Place to Buy Tyres,
– Jacaranda FM as Best Local Radio Station and
– Ocean Basket as Best Seafood Restaurant.

Sunette Visser, editor of the Rekord, said to be voted the best in their respective categories yearly since the inception of the awards is an incredible achievement.

“It is clear that their commitment to excellence sets them apart and that our readers appreciate their dedication and passion,” said Visser.

In the 2024 competition, a few stalwarts celebrated receiving more than one award, with Toula’s Family Restaurant in Silver Lakes in Pretoria east walking away with an astounding seven awards in the Eat, Drink and Be Merry category.

Raquel Ferreira from the restaurant said their success can be attributed to their focus on being a family restaurant.

“Its all about teamwork and also being a family-run restaurant,” said Ferreira.

Hot on their heels are Skin PhD Zambezi in Pretoria North with six awards in the Glam it Up category and Southdown College and Silver Lakes Golf and Wildlife Estate with each four awards in respectively the Kids category and Living in Pretoria category.

Stephané Niemand from Skin PhD Zambezi thanked readers who voted for their services.

“We are so excited that readers voted for us. We would like to live up to this vote of confidence,” said Niemand.

Winners who received awards for 2024 are:

Best Bottle Store: Liquor City
Best place to Karaoke: Mask Pub & Grill, Murrayfield
Best Cocktail Spot: Rafters Pub
Best Neighbourhood Pub: Rafters Pub
Best Live Music Venue: The Barnyard Theatre, Menlyn
Best Breakfast Spot: AfroBoer
Best Outdoor Dining: AfroBoer
Best New Restaurant: Bossa Silver Lakes
Best Sit-Down Burger: Burger Bistro joint winner with Ribs & Burgers
Best Indian Restaurant: Geet Indian Restaurant
Best Chinese Restaurant: Kung Fu Kitchen
Best Sit-Down Pizzeria: Lupa Osteria
Best Italian Restaurant: Lupa Osteria
Best Portuguese Restaurant: O’ Peri Peri – Cornwall View
Best Seafood Restaurant: Ocean Basket
Best Mexican Restaurant: Salsa Mexican Grill
Best Bistro: Toula’s Family Restaurant
Best Business Lunch: Toula’s Family Restaurant
Best Romantic Restaurant: Toula’s Family Restaurant
Best Spoil Yourself Restaurant: Toula’s Family Restaurant
Best Greek / Mediterranean: Toula’s Family Restaurant
Best Neighbourhood Restaurant: Toula’s Family Restaurant
Best Sushi Spot: Toula’s Family Restaurant
Best Steakhouse: Turn ’n Tender
Best Fish Deli: Bazaruto Seafoods, Groenkloof
Best Coffee Shop: Bootlegger
Best Continental Deli: Checkers
Best Supermarket: Checkers
Best Fresh Produce: Food Lover’s Market
Best Bakery: Fournos Bakery
Best Patisserie: Fournos Bakery
Best Biltong Shop: Kings Meat Deli
Best Place to buy Boerewors: Kings Meat Deli
Best Butcher: Kings Meat Deli
Best Doughnut Spot: Krispy Kreme
Best Takeaway Chicken: Nando’s
Best Food Market: Pretoria Boeremark
Best Takeaway Pizza: Roman’s Pizza
Best Ice-Cream Parlour: Royal Danish Ice Cream
Best Chips: Steers
Best Takeaway Burger: Steers
Best Shoe Store: Kingsmead Shoes
Best Jewellery Store: Browns Jewellers
Best Accessory Shop: Lovisa
Best Fashion Boutique: Nicci Boutiques
Best Day Spa: SkinPhD Zambezi
Best Hair Salon: SkinPhD Zambezi
Best Men’s Grooming Spot: SkinPhD Zambezi
Best Nail Bar: SkinPhD Zambezi
Best Place for a Facial: SkinPhD Zambezi
Best Place for a Massage: SkinPhD Zambezi
Best Weight Loss Programme or Diet: Slender Wonder
Best Tattoo Parlour: True Blue Professional Tattoo Studio
Best Baby Essentials Store: Baby City
Best Computer Training Kids: CTU Training Solutions
Online Learning Institute Kids: Evolve Online School
Best High School (Afrikaans) Kids: Hoërskool Garsfontein
Best Primary School (Afrikaans) Kids: Laerskool Garsfontein
Best High School (English) Kids: Southdowns College
Best Primary School (English) Kids: Southdowns College
Best Private School Kids: Southdowns College
Best Nursery School Kids: Southdowns College
Best Kids’ Party Venue: SPUR
Best University: University of Pretoria
Best Developer (Property): Atterbury Property
Best Retirement Village: Bougainvillea Aftree-oord
Best Home Security Company: Bull Security
Best Craft Market: Busstop 7
Pretoria’s Best-Kept Secret (Living in Pretoria-category): Cracker Zac’s Menlyn
Best Weekend Getaway (Three hrs drive): Dinokeng
Best Theatre: Fairtree Atterbury Theatre
Best Local Radio Station: Jacaranda FM
Best Insurance Company (Home and Car): King Price Insurance
Best Dance Studio: Love of Dance Academy, Erasmuskloof
Best Local Radio Personality: Martin Bester
Best Place to Get Back to Nature: Pretoria National Botanical Gardens
Best Financial Advisor: PSG Financial Services Silver Lakes
Best Estate Agency (Buying and Selling): RE/MAX
Best Estate Agency (Letting): RE/MAX
Best Country Club: Silver Lakes Golf and Wildlife Estate
Best Estate (Place to live): Silver Lakes Golf and Wildlife Estate
Best Golf Course: Silver Lakes Golf and Wildlife Estate
Best Place in Pretoria (Category Living in Pretoria): Silver Lakes Golf and Wildlife Estate
Best Race (Long or Short Distance): SPAR Women’s Challenge Tshwane
Best Home Internet Service Provider: Telkom
Best Courier Service: The Courier Guy
Best Cinema Complex: The Grove Mall
Best Spot to Take Out-of-Towners: The Village – Hazelwood
Best Place to Gamble: Time Square Casino
Best Museum: Voortrekker Monument
Best Legal Firm: Weavind & Weavind Inc
Best Local Car Dealership: WeBuyCars
Best Bike Trail: Wolwespruit Mountain Bike & Trail Park
Best Place for a Family Outing: Wolwespruit Mountain Bike & Trail Park
Best Hospital: Zuid-Afrikaans Hospital
Best Pet Shop: Airport Pets
Best Pharmacy: Arrie Nel Pharmacy Group
Best Hardware Store: Builders Warehouse
Best Car Service Centre: Car Service City
Best Place to buy a Bed / Mattress: Dial-a-Bed
Best Furniture Store: House & Home
Best Computer and Electronics Store: Incredible Connection
Best Local Shopping Mall: Kolonnade Shopping Centre
Best Garden Centre: Lot of Pots
Best General Dealer / Wholesaler: Makro
Best place for Fabric and Haberdashery: Metro Home Centre Menlyn
Best Home Appliance Store: MHC World
Best Place to Buy Car Spares and Accessories: Midas
Best place to buy and sell pre-owned goods: My Car Boot Sale – Groenkloof
Best Outdoor and Camping Shop: Outdoor Warehouse
Best Electronic Brand: Samsung
Best Optometrist: Spec-Savers
Best place to buy Tyres: Tiger Wheel & Tyre
Best Gift Shop Shopping: Typo Menlyn Park

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