Kyiv Post is pleased to announce the winners of its 8th annual “Best of Kyiv” readers’ survey of the capital’s best business and entertainment services - the places that make us particularly happy and proud to call ancient Kyiv home.

This year, the mechanics of the voting was changed. The readers had the opportunity to vote online at the newspaper’s redesigned website at www.kyivpost.com. They chose 24 category winners from 120 nominees (5 in each category).

“We felt it was very important to let the readers have their say when we started surveying them back in 2003,” said Kyiv Post publisher Jed Sunden. “Back then, business was booming across the board, and it was important to separate the wheat from the chaff. But even in these tougher economic times, it’s important to know where other people feel they get the best value for their hard-earned money.”

Nominees were chosen by a panel of 50 experienced business owners and top managers working in the capital city. “All the companies included in the survey are top-notch. This is really the best of the best,” Sunden added.

Readers picked the best commercial bank, investment fund, passenger airline, car sales, car rental companies, insurance company, private health clinic, English-language school, auditing, public relations, human resource and express courier services, among others.

They were also asked to pick the best high-end, Ukrainian, American and sushi restaurants. They chose the best confectionary, best place for wine-tasting and drinking coffee, as well as the best beer pub.

Here is the complete list of winners:

-         Best Commercial Bank: Raiffeissen Bank Aval

-         Best Investment Fund: Dragon Capital

-         Best Language School - English/Other: British Council

-         Best Passenger Airline: Ukraine International Airlines

-         Best Human Resources Agency: Hudson

-         Best Car Dealer: Winner Automotive

-         Best Car Rental Company: Avis

-         Best Insurance Company: Providna

-         Best Private Health Clinic: Boris

-         Best Audit Firm: Ernst & Young

-         Best Express Courier: DHL

-         Best Public Relations Agency: Pulse

-         Best Hotel: Hyatt Regency

-         Best Fitness center: 5th Element

-         Best Clock Store: Noblesse

-         Best Casino: Premier Palace Casino

-         Best Wine Boutique: Good Wine

-         Best High-End Restaurant: Concorde

-         Best Ukrainian Cuisine Restaurant: Tsarske Selo

-         Best American Cuisine Restaurant: TGI Friday's

-         Best Sushi Restaurant: Murakami

-         Best Beer Pub: O'Briens Irish Pub

-         Best Coffee Bar: Coffee House

-         Best Confectionary: Repriza

For more information, contact Kyiv Post brand manager Sergiy Vasalatiy at 496-4563.