date night awards

Hundreds of votes were calculated in this year's Orlando Date Night Awards, which ran from February 4 to 12, 2016 and was sponsored by the Epicurean Hotel, Tampa. Readers selected from dozens of fabulous nominees for best date night picks, but only one can be crowned king in each category. So, without further delay, here are this year's winners in the 2016 Orlando Date Night Awards.

The winner of the 1-night stay at the Epicurean Hotel, Tampa is Maribel Guthala.

Best Food-Focused Activity
1st Place: East End Market Classes
2nd Place (TIE): Orlando Food Tours (Winter Park Walking Tour) AND Downtown Orlando Food Tour
3rd Place: Farris & Foster's Chocolate Date Night

Best Interactive Date Night Activity
1st Place: Painting with a Twist
2nd Place: Paint Nite Orlando
3rd Place: All Fired Up

Best Active Date Night
1st Place: A Day Away Kayak Tours
2nd Place: Full Moon Paddle with Adventures in Florida
3rd Place: Paddleboard Orlando

Best Date Night Ticket
1st Place: La Nouba by Cirque du Soleil
2nd Place: Orlando Improv Comedy Club
3rd Place: Orlando Magic

Best Live Music Venue for Date Night
1st Place: House of Blues Orlando
2nd Place: Howl at the Moon Orlando
3rd Place: Hard Rock Live Orlando 

Best Arts and Culture Offering
1st Place: Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts
2nd Place: Orlando Shakespeare Theatre
3rd Place: Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra

Best Movie Date Night
1st Place: Enzian
2nd Place: AMC CityWalk
3rd Place: Date Night at Leu Gardens

Best Date Night Restaurant – Upscale
1st Place: Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse
2nd Place: Ravenous Pig
3rd Place: (TIE) Fiorenzo Italian Steakhouse AND Seasons 52

Best Date Night Restaurant – Moderate
1st Place: Cask & Larder
2nd Place: TR Fire Grill
3rd Place: (TIE) Ceviche AND Santiago's Bodega

Best Date Night Restaurant – Budget Friendly
1st Place: 4 Rivers Smokehouse
2nd Place: Hawkers Asian Street Fare
3rd Place: The COOP

Best Sushi Date Night
1st Place: Amura
2nd Place: Dragonfly Robata Grill & Sushi
3rd Place: Sushi Pop

Best Spa for Couples
1st Place: The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Grande Lakes
2nd Place: Waldorf Astoria Spa
3rd Place: The Spa at Hyatt Regency Orlando

Best Spot for Drinks
1st Place: The Wine Room
2nd Place: The Alfond Inn
3rd Place: Eola Wine Company

Best In-City Overnight
1st Place: The Alfond Inn
2nd Place: Grand Bohemian Hotel
3rd Place: Hyatt Regency Orlando

Best Monthly Event
1st Place: Food Truck Bazaar
2nd Place: Thornton Park 2nd Thursday Wine & Art Walk
3rd Place: Wine Down Friday at Quantum Leap Winery

Best Periodic Event
1st Place: Winter Park Sip, Shop & Stroll
2nd Place: Science Night Live (Orlando Science Center)
3rd Place: Get Your Jazz On (The Alfond Inn)

Congratulations to all of our winners and nominees!