Inside 10 inspiring dining spaces from the Restaurant & Bar Design Awards 2026

Artwork and carefully considered styling contribute to the layered interiors, bringing the building’s past into conversation with a more adventurous approach, complementing the restaurant’s daring, modern Chinese cuisine that also nods to Arrowtown’s deep Chinese heritage.

The Overall Regional Winner for Australia & Pacific and Regional Category Winner for Australia & Pacific in Colour, piqued the interest of juror Fay Economides of M Management Company, who described the design as “maximalist, artistic, artsy, feminine and full of heritage,” adding that it is “entrenched in character.”

At Casa de los Leones, Mexican heritage finds contemporary expression through craftsmanship, local materials and curated experiences that celebrate the country’s cultural identity.

The experience begins with Taste of Time, a tequila tasting featuring five iconic Clase Azul México tequilas paired with chef-crafted bites. The cocktail bar extends the occasion into sobremesa, the tradition of lingering at the table after a meal, while a Collector’s Lounge offers private tastings of rare tequila expressions.

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Designed by C Cúbica Arquitectos, Casa de los Leones was named Global Category Winner in Heritage Building. Juror Marc Antoni Ledesma of Marriott International commended its “contemporary architectural language rooted in Mexican craftsmanship, developed with local materials and artisanal collaboration.”

At the modern Mediterranean brasserie Chintemani, heritage and contemporary design meet through a considered interplay of historic references, expressive materials and sculptural details.

Designed by Istanbul-based design firm Burēau, the interior reinterprets the Çintemani motif—a traditional Ottoman symbol comprising three circles and wavy lines—through a rhythmic composition of light and shadow across the wall panels.

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The original fireplace has been restored and framed by custom bas-reliefs inspired by nomadic culture, while leopard-patterned seating, sculptural lighting and a marble bar lend the dining space a distinctive character—complementing the culinary offering that blends traditional Turkish and regional meze culture through a shared-plate dining experience.

Named Regional Category Winner for Europe in Surface Interiors, juror Alex Cordova of Savaya Group is taken by “how confidently the surfaces have been designed,” noting that the interplay of colours, textures and decorative details is “playful and expressive without feeling random.”

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Located in Alserkal Avenue, Gooder is a skater-owned, community-driven cultural hub and indoor skatepark that brings together everything from skating and events to dining and everyday gatherings.

Designed by Studio Pheasant, the 1,500-sqm venue space is anchored by a central community fountain, around which a flexible, modular layout accommodates Habibi Skate Shop, Ollie’s Pizzeria and DRVN café.

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Designed to evolve alongside its community, Gooder functions as a living platform for creative exchange, whether as a pop-up venue, co-working environment or gathering place.

Named Regional Category Winner for the Middle East & Africa in Colour, Gooder was praised by jury member and managing director of Design Hotels Stijn Oyen as “quirky and playful,” reflecting the judges’ appreciation of its use of colour within the space.

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Located on Level 38 of The Henderson—a sculptural tower by Zaha Hadid Architects in Hong Kong—Studio Paolo Ferrari’s design for Peridot is built around a conceptual duality, balancing abstraction and familiarity through a lens of “timeless futurism.”

With expansive views of the city, the sky-high bar features an immersive green interior, where a continuous, soft green plastered volume extends across the walls and ceilings, punctuated by a rhythmic arrangement of frosted acrylic cylinders that cast a diffuse glow across the space.

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A monumental green marble bar anchors the lounge, its sculptural form providing a striking counterpoint to the ethereal interior. Elsewhere, mirrored finishes capture and refract daylight and city lights, while plush mohair seating and high-gloss lacquered furnishings introduce contrasting textures.

A concealed private room, complete with a bespoke stainless steel and marble bottle display, adds another layer of discovery, alongside its servings of terroir-inspired cocktails, plant-based cuisine and immersive live music.

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“Creating an intimate interior within such a dynamic architectural envelope, while deliberately avoiding nostalgia, requires a high level of design discipline and confidence,” says juror Natalie Salzmann of Krume Bäker, commenting on Peridot’s win in the Regional Category for Asia in Lighting.

Perched atop Andaz Lisboa in Baixa, Luzzi draws on the city’s artistic heritage, contemporary energy and maritime history to create a restaurant and rooftop terrace with a distinctive sense of place.

Designed by Studio Patricia Urquiola in collaboration with Mörschel Arquitectos, the space features large skylights with glass sun-shading and retractable roofs that establish a connection with the outdoors.

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Bespoke furniture, curated artworks and expressive materials complete the setting, which celebrates modern Lusitanian cuisine through traditional recipes reinterpreted with contemporary techniques.

Named Global Category Winner in Rooftop, Luzzi caught the attention of juror Michael Stillman of Quality Branded, who described the design as “bold, very bold,” praising “the consistent layering and reframing of one idea in so many thoughtful ways.”

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Set within a revived lumber warehouse in the Canadian town of Golden, Stolen Bell Distillery takes an unconventional approach to its mountainous surroundings.

Rather than framing views of the Rocky and Purcell mountain ranges, Ryan Jordan Industrial Design removed all the windows, creating an immersive lounge inspired by the distilling process—where textured concrete, brass accents and curved white oak millwork referencing whisky barrels and column stills establish a tactile, industrial character.

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Overhead, a striking parametric ceiling of curved acoustic fins creates a sculptural canopy, which juror Meshari Aloudah of Social Eats Hospitality Group likened to “storm clouds moving over the room”.

Hundreds of programmable LED modules allow light to shift in colour and intensity, illuminating the intimate custom banquettes that ribbon through the space.

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Named Regional Category Winner for the Americas in Surface Interiors, Stolen Bell Distillery “ties material and concept together with real conviction,” adds Aloudah.

Located within the historic Pushkin Hotel—a 19th-century building near Lake Baikal—Knyaz Gvidon draws on Russian literary heritage to bring the building’s historical character into dialogue with contemporary design.

Inspired by the Russian poet’s The Tale of Tsar Saltan, the restaurant—designed by Siberia-based LEFTdesign—features a hand-painted mural that reproduces plasterwork across the walls and ceiling, forming the artistic centrepiece that envelopes the restaurant.

Contemporary furniture, art objects and stainless steel elements introduce a modern counterpoint, while a multi-level lighting scheme balances atmospheric scenography with everyday comfort to its servings of European with a delicate marine accent, including fresh seafood, oysters and gourmet delicacies.

“The marriage of modernity and tradition is captivating,” says juror Economides of the Global Category Winner in Murals & Graffiti. “I like the simple modernity of the spotlights and furniture as a contrast.”

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Located in Khaleejiya Tower, Odachi takes its name from the fluid motion of the Japanese sword, with a sculptural interior that translates the sweeping brush strokes of Edo-era art into an undulating surface.

Designed by Kuwait-based studio Seba Spaces in collaboration with Lamáquina, the interior features 38 large-scale panels—some exceeding two metres in height—made from recycled PETG composite reinforced with 30 per cent glass fibre.

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Individually engineered to accommodate the complex angles of robotic 3D printing, the panels introduce depth and rhythm through organic patterns that flow throughout the contemporary Japanese dining space rather than repeat a fixed motif.

Named Global Category Winner in Sustainability, Odachi impressed juror Economides of M Management Company, who praised the attention to detail, noting that the design “delivers maximum impact through the dimensional walls and ceiling, with wave effects that also play with the lighting.”

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Spanning approximately 1,017 sq ft, the first Jakarta outpost of The Matcha Tokyo translates the ritual of the Japanese matcha ceremony into a considered interplay of form, light and material.

Designed by K-Thengono Design Studio, the spatial sequence draws on the sensibility of a traditional Japanese tea house, expressed through Indonesian materials. Andesite tiles ground the main floor, while stepping stones lead towards a raised timber platform at the bar.

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Positioned at the rear, the bar anchors the space with a curved, rippling counter that recalls the shape of a matcha bowl. Rattan veneer infused with natural pigment wraps the bar, cabinetry and seating, bringing warmth and tactility to the pared-back palette.

Above, a sculpted ceiling evokes the foam formed by whisking matcha, diffusing light to create an airy, contemplative atmosphere.

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Named Regional Category Winner for Asia in Café, The Matcha Tokyo caught the attention of juror Tony Machado of Highgate for its “sophisticated yet unexpected moments”—a design approach to sustainability that extends from soil preparation to contemporary tea cultivation.

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