Gourmet guide crowns South Moravia's tastiest restaurants and wineries

UK publication The Guardian recently described Brno as a "Moravian Rhapsody " touting its distinct culture and dining scene.

The existence of the annual Gourmet South Moravia culinary guide heartily affirms the region's appeal for visitors from home and abroad. The guide, a handy online tool for gastro-minded travelers, has bestowed its latest awards on eateries in Brno and throughout the region.

The area is an increasingly desirable destination for travelers from home and abroad. And not just for its wine cellars. According to Martina Grůzová of the Tourism Center for South Moravia, which co-produces the guide with the Brno Tourist Information Center (TIC), "gastronomy is one of the main motivators why people go" to South Moravia.

The guide highlighted 45 top restaurants, cafes, breweries and other culinary destinations. Eleven of the honored businesses were new to this year's guide. Immediate standouts included Café and Bistro Karma in Břeclav, which won in the "Bistro" category, and Pivovar Lednice, taking the "Pub & Brewery" title.

Other returning winners acknowledged by the guide included the Mikulov restaurant Víno Šílová, the Bořetice spot Dvorek: café wine bistro, and the Nosislav winemaker Válka.

Newcomers like Pohárek Pavlov, the APRI restaurant at Thaya Winery in Havranice, naKofein cafes in Hodonín and Luna Café in Boskovice also made their debut in the culinary guidebook.

Karma's owners Silvie and Radomír Tureček told Czech Crunch, "Getting the first place in the bistro category was a dream for us, but we never thought it would come true." They credited the "very high level" of South Moravian gastronomy with driving ambitious new businesses to excel.

In refining South Moravia's growing food scene, the Gourmet Brno and Gourmet South Moravia guides have helped attract more "foodies from all over the country" to the region over their seven years, according to Grůzová.

From vineyards and historic landmarks to a bounty of new cafes, bistros and brewers, South Moravia is establishing its reputation as a destination for distinguished Czech gastronomy.