Elena Ionascu, founder of Da Vinci, which has been nominated as the UK's Favourite Local Business 2026. Image - Courtesy of Miconex
An Aberdeen independent restaurant praised for its authentic Italian fare and cosy welcoming vibe is in the running to be the UK’s Favourite Local Business 2026.
Elena Ionascu opened Da Vinci in 2017 just one month after moving to Aberdeen from Italy with her partner. One year after opening the restaurant, her partner moved back to Italy, with Elena taking over sole ownership of the business.
The UK’s Favourite Local Business which receives the most nominations at lovelocalwin.co.uk by November 30 will win a £1,000 Town & City Gift Card, such as the Aberdeen Gift Card, with one person who nominated the winner receiving a £1,000 Town & City Gift Card.
Da Vinci is one of over 360 Granite City businesses which accepts the Aberdeen Gift Card. The card is backed by Aberdeen Inspired, with over £7.5m locked into the city’s economy through the card since its launch in November 2020.
Other Granite City businesses nominated in the national 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.
Elena 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.”
The Aberdeen Gift Card supports more than 360 bricks and mortar businesses in the Granite City and locked £7.5 million into the local economy. Image - Aberdeen Inspired.
The restaurant founder said she owned a B&B in Italy and found her passion for cooking after attending culinary school and discovering food she really liked – nice food cooked from fresh, simple ingredients.
“When we came to Scotland in 2017, I fell in love with the country and with Aberdeen straight away, especially the climate. Coming from the 40 degree heat of an Italian summer to the fresh climate of Scotland felt wonderful.
“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.
“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.
“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.
“I’m so happy that Da Vinci has been nominated as the UK’s Favourite Local Business because it means my hard work is paying off. One of my business rules is to treat people as I would want to be treated, and the second is to serve proper, honest Italian food that I’d eat myself.”
Shona Byrne of Aberdeen Inspired is urging people to vote for their favourite local Aberdeen business in the UK wide contest. Image - Aberdeen Inspired
Elena said she is glad to be a part of the Aberdeen Gift Card and regularly has people spending their cards at Da Vinci.
“The first thing people do when they receive an Aberdeen Gift Card is search where it can be spent, and this gives people a chance to try out a new business,” she said.
“It’s a really positive thing when people discover new businesses and support local. When you spend with me for example, that money goes back into the city when I buy fresh produce for the restaurant and pay my team.
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.”
Shona Byrne, project manager for Aberdeen Inspired who oversees the Aberdeen Gift Card 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.
“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.”
Colin Munro, CEO of Miconex. Image - Courtesy of Miconex
The Aberdeen Gift Card is part of the multi-award winning Town & City Gift Cards concept from fintech Miconex. Over 27,000 local businesses are part of Miconex’s local gift card programs around the world with over £69m of cards sold to date.
Colin Munro, CEO of Miconex, said: “As a former restaurateur, I know first-hand the challenges of running a business and how vital these last few months of the year are for local businesses including restaurants, shops and venues.
“The UK’s Favourite Local Business 2026 is a reminder of the incredibly value that our local businesses bring to our communities and the need to support them. 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.”
Enter the UK’s Favourite Local Business competition free at: lovelocalwin.co.uk until November 30.
You can find out more about the Aberdeen Gift Card – including a full list of where it is accepted - at the Aberdeen Inspired website.