Winner decided by public nominations at lovelocalwin.co.uk by 30 November
Da Vinci, an independent Italian restaurant in Aberdeen, is in the running to be named UK’s Favourite Local Business 2026. The business which receives the most nominations at lovelocalwin.co.uk by 30 November will win a £1,000 Town & City Gift Card, such as the Aberdeen Gift Card, with one person who nominated the winner also receiving a £1,000 Town & City Gift Card.
Elena Ionascu opened Da Vinci in 2017, one month after moving to Aberdeen from Italy with her partner. Her partner moved back to Italy a year after the restaurant opened, and Ionascu took over sole ownership of the business.
Da Vinci is one of more than 360 Aberdeen businesses which accept the Aberdeen Gift Card, which is backed by Aberdeen Inspired. More than £7.5m has been spent into the city’s economy through the card since its launch in November 2020, according to the release. Other Aberdeen businesses nominated in the competition so far include Finnies the Jeweller, Highland Moss, Craigdon Mountain Sports, Mackies 19.2, Books and Beans, Juniper, Al Fresco, Urban Wellness, Charles Michie’s, Signature Menswear, Aberdeen Whisky Shop and The Ashvale.
Ionascu said: “Winning the UK’s Favourite Local Business would be a dream. I’m just a normal person working to keep my business open. If we win, the £1,000 Aberdeen Gift Card will be spent with local businesses in the city, going straight back into our local economy.”
Ionascu previously owned a B&B in Italy and said she found her passion for cooking at culinary school. She said: “My ethos at Da Vinci is for good, honest Italian food. Lots of my recipes are from my granny, like our chicken liver recipe, and we’ve also adapted to local tastes including our 50% beef and 50% venison ragù.”
She added: “We installed a wood-fired oven where we cook our ragù overnight and all of our pizzas; it makes such a difference. One of the best things on the menu is our beef cheeks – it sounds unusual but trust me, it’s one of the best pieces of meat you’ll ever try. Our Tiramisu is also very popular, made using our secret family recipe.”
On running the business alone, Ionascu said: “I think to be successful as a restaurant owner, especially a solo restaurant owner, you have to dedicate your life to it, and that’s what I do, looking after everything from the food to the accounts.”
One person who nominated Da Vinci said: “Da Vinci is the most friendly, welcoming Italian restaurant which serves authentic Italian food made with passion. It’s a small business but is perfectly formed. The best tiramisu I have ever tasted.”
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Shona Byrne, project manager for Aberdeen Inspired, said: “We’re proud to see Da Vinci and many other Aberdeen businesses recognised in this national search for the UK’s Favourite Local Business 2026. It is these businesses that make the Aberdeen Gift Card the ultimate ‘shop local’ Gift Card, a single card to eat, shop and explore the very best of Aberdeen.” She added: “It is the business which has the most nominations who will win, so please take a moment to nominate your favourite for a chance to win a £1,000 Aberdeen Gift Card in time for Christmas.”
The Aberdeen Gift Card is part of the Town & City Gift Cards concept from fintech Miconex. The company said more than 27,000 local businesses take part in Miconex’s local gift card programmes around the world, with over £69m of cards sold to date. Colin Munro, CEO of Miconex, said: “Nominating your UK’s Favourite Local Business or choosing a local Town & City Gift Card like the Aberdeen Gift Card for your gifts, rewards and incentives this festive season are easy ways to support local businesses.”
Entry to the UK’s Favourite Local Business competition is free at www.lovelocalwin.co.uk until 30 November.
