Inside 10 winning dining spaces from the Restaurant & Bar Design Awards 2024

The space is anchored by a triangular layout that directs attention toward an exposed oven, while geometric patterns–particularly triangles and circles inspired by the restaurant’s logo–create visual depth and movement throughout.

The structural ceiling immediately captures attention, crafted from glass reinforced concrete (GRC) with a custom-coloured microcement finish, and integrated lighting and HVAC systems without compromising the colourful aesthetics.

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“Love the shapes and colours. It is busy, but fun. Different fabrics and textures, contours and lines,” notes Jessica Frankopan, panel judge and co-founder of A Curious Group of Hotels, of the distinctive dining environment that blends wood elements with natural tones of cream and terracotta.

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Drawing inspiration from the coastal city it is located in, Coffee Bar at Gaoxingli Insun Cinema in Haikou, China showcases the narrative of waves and tides through its undulating composition.

Rather than falling into the obvious choice of ocean blues, Hong Kong-based One Plus Partnership opted for a sustainable approach using bricks formed from the local sand of nearby beaches. This adds an earthy quality that is rough in texture yet polished to the curved surfaces of the walls, ceilings, flooring and countertops.

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Subtle glass panels allow sunlight to permeate the café, casting dynamic reflections that resemble sunlight glistening off waves. The lighting integration into the hidden vents of the brickwork transforms what could have been a heavy, imposing structure into something that appears to float and flow.

“The integration of lighting into the bricks is a clever touch to make it all feel lighter than it really is too–brilliant piece of work,” notes Bruno Veninga, panel judge and director of projects at Time Out Market. 

The project received the Overall Bar Winner award, along with Best Asia Restaurant/Bar and Global Category Winner for ceiling design.

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Housed in Melbourne’s historic 1890s Stock Exchange building, award-winning Akin Atelier and RBA Heritage Architects have successfully restored the neo-gothic landmark into two distinct dining spaces for Reine & La Rue–earning them the Global Category Winner award in the Heritage Building category.

The main restaurant, Reine, occupies the impressive Cathedral Room, where NOMAD Group’s executive chef Jacqui Challinor and head chef Brendan Katich create French classics while highlighting Victorian producers.

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The site’s original architectural elements–stained-glass windows, limestone walls, solid grey granite columns, vaulted ceilings, marble dado, and encaustic floor tiling–serve as a dramatic backdrop. 

Complementing these historic features are the 10-metre statement marble cocktail and seafood bars, brass finishes, velvet upholstery, and caramel leather banquettes that adorn intimate dining booths and a heated outdoor courtyard.

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In contrast, La Rue offers an intimate speakeasy atmosphere imbued with modern French-noir ambience. Black stained timber joinery and terrazzo flooring harmonise with carefully selected furnishings from Australian designers like Jardan, grazia&co, and Volker Haug Studio, alongside curated artworks and a premium wine vault featuring French and American vintages.

“Beautifully and seamlessly integrated into the original architecture, very tastefully executed,” praises Charlie North, panel judge and Ennismore’s global VP of design.

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Operated by Villa Foksal, a veteran of Warsaw’s event and catering scene, LookUp! is an elegant event venue that captures the essence of wind and sky in its design, situated on the top two floors of Warsaw’s Skyliner skyscraper.

Created by Wrocław-based MIXD design studio, the design draws inspiration from the skyscraper’s distinctive asymmetric silhouette, which resembles a blade cutting through the city’s skyline.

While the space appears almost minimalist at first glance, it reveals a wealth of carefully considered details, patterns, and textures that balance flexibility with sophisticated aesthetics to accommodate various corporate and private events.

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This includes the striking ribbon installation that appears to swirl through the air, while a spectacular bar serves as a bold centrepiece–dramatic elements that contrast beautifully with the neutral, high-quality materials that adorn the walls, floors, and ceilings.

As noted by Adam Crocini, panel judge and Hilton Worldwide’s senior VP and global head of F&B brands, “simplicity in wall and ceiling treatments allow the architecture of the room to be the star” MIXD’s design clinched the Regional Category Winner for Europe award in the Surface Interiors category.

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Stepping into The Oreum in Goyang-si, South Korea, is akin to scaling a small mountain, with each level of the three-storey café offering distinct sensory experiences that mirror the journey of ascending the small, extinct volcanic formations it is named after.

The design for the café–located near Seooreung’s royal tombs and created by SPACE DOT, earning them recognition as the Regional Category Winner for Asia in the Café category–takes inspiration from its setting along a popular walking path.

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The first floor evokes an expansive reed field at sunset, with reflective surfaces and warm hues. Here, visitors can enjoy freshly baked bread while surrounded by reed-inspired textures and a symbolic oak forest staircase crowned with skylights.

The second floor recreates a cave environment, featuring flowing water elements and varying floor heights with mist rising from the ground, as carefully placed lighting creates a shimmering cave-like ambience.

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The third floor culminates in a cloud-inspired space, where white fabric partitions sway like billowing clouds above intimate dining areas. This includes the “Swimming of Garden” area with 100,000 pearl-like cloud objects suspended at different heights, accompanied by floor-level moss formations and gentle mist that correlate with the unobstructed views through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

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Designed by Badie Architects, one of Egypt’s leading architectural firms known for pushing boundaries in both residential and commercial projects, Esca Cueva in Giza, Egypt, draws inspiration from the female form; featuring natural curves and complexity that’s rationalised into a deeply organic space that connects diners with their surroundings.

The realisation of this vision required advanced 3D technology and expert craftsmanship before local artisans were brought in to craft a steel infrastructure based on the form’s “exoskeleton,” layering it with stucco to achieve the desired organic aesthetic.

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The restaurant’s organic forms evoke a sense of visual peace through thoughtfully placed depressions and creases. This creates an environment that disconnects guests from the outside world while engaging their curiosity through both architectural elements and culinary offerings.

“Most original design and great realisation of concept to create a uniquely memorable experience,” praises Agnes Mandeville, panel judge and director of concepts at Starbucks Coffee Company–a recognition that earned Esca Cueva the Regional Category Winner for the Middle East and Africa in the Standalone category.

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Under Taiwan-based TaG Living’s design direction, Chef Thomas Chien’s Michelin Green-starred French restaurant demonstrates how sustainability and luxury dining can coexist harmoniously, acquiring the Global Category Winner award in the Sustainability category.

Located in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, the 198-square-metre space features six immersive zones, where 80 per cent of materials used are recycled, reducing greenhouse gas emissions in its build.

The circular layout mirrors water movements, connecting diners to Kaohsiung’s maritime heritage. At its heart, three arc-shaped sculptures feature parabolic grooves that interact with natural light during the day and artificial illumination at night.

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Local oyster shells are transformed into concrete-free paints for textured surfaces, while abandoned fishing nets serve as organic carpets. 

These elements complement the 3D-printed furniture with its pottery-like finish, biodegradable pendant lights, and decorative elements by local artisans, including florists who create wave-inspired hemp frameworks adorned with coral stones, red quinoas, and skeleton leaves.

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“This project excels in its use of renewable materials, demonstrating a thoughtful approach to environmental impact by prioritising recyclables and eco-friendly alternatives–sustainable solutions [that] can also be visually pleasing,” touts Simon Freeth, panel judge and Azumi Group’s global head of bars.

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Mirroring its culinary concept that fuses Japanese and Mexican influences, Juno Omakase is an intimate six-seat jewel box in London’s Notting Hill district, ingeniously transformed from a former storage cupboard.

Under Manuela Hamilford’s leadership, Hamilford Design maximised the minimal space by incorporating curved elements that create flow and movement, as a reflective ceiling wallpaper creates an illusion of height and underwater submersion.

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Eco-conscious material choices align perfectly with the restaurant’s commitment to sustainable fishing practices: seagrass wall coverings evoke delicate fish scales and waves throughout the space, while rich velvet seating with warm, gold-toned metalware adds touches of luxury and comfort.

Furthermore, the centrepiece is a bamboo light fixture on the back wall, as bespoke timber worktops honour the rich history of this ritualistic experience, where world-class chef Leonard Tanyag carefully crafts his 15-course menu for distinguished guests.

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“A great use of light and various materials in the smallest space of all yet it feels comfortable and unique,” notes Xavier Padovani, panel judge and partner at Experimental Group, earning Juno Omakase the Global Category award for Small Space.

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Created through a collaboration between Toronto-based Studio Munge and Las Vegas’ Friedmutter Group, Mijo, a modern Mexican restaurant in Durango Resort and Casino just off the vibrant Las Vegas Strip, pays homage to tequila and the iconic agave plant–a cornerstone of Mexican culinary heritage.

The design that won Overall Regional Winner for Best Americas Restaurant/Bar and Regional Category Winner for Americas in the Surface Interiors category, begins at the vibrant entryway, featuring an elaborate installation of marigold plants and flowers that hang from the ceiling and decorate the walls between twisting brick partitions. 

It then transitions into a moody cobalt blue in the main dining area, where silvery-blue hand-woven wicker screens billow as agave leaves and bell-shaped pendants hang above velvet banquettes.

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Here, the central bar showcases an illuminated floor-to-ceiling bottle display with dark metal rods and blue beads, suspended above the blue quartzite bar top with high-gloss reeded ceramic tiles along the base.

Mijo also houses a second dining area that draws inspiration from traditional Mexican ceramics, with sculptural beige-plaster walls and an intricate arched freestanding wood carving, concealing a semi-private dining room, where perforated clay pendants cluster above a large ash wood table.

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Furthermore, the outdoor patio creates an intimate urban oasis with curved wood-slatted screens, 11-foot rope chandeliers, and seating areas surrounded by lush greenery.

“The details here are incredible; so much to look at but the overall impact is harmonious,” says Tina Lofthouse, panel judge and group editor at Time & Leisure, of Studio Munge’s design that balances elaborate details with cohesive aesthetics.

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Perched dramatically on the cliffside of Bali’s Nyanyi Beach, Luna Beach Club, employs sustainable materials–including composite SIP panels, natural stone, and green roofs that capture rainwater–to create organic forms that respect and enhance the site’s existing vegetation, microclimate, and topography.

Designed by Inspiral Architects, the Fibonacci-inspired architecture integrates various spaces for events, dining, arts, and holistic relaxation, accommodating both intimate gatherings and large-scale festivals.

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These areas are connected through elevated platforms crafted from recycled materials that weave through the forest, creating playful zones featuring nets, tunnels, and climbing routes.

The venue’s key spaces include the underground Utopia VIP Club, complete with a nine-metre river slide; the ceremonial Elysium designed for meditation and yoga; and the main restaurant area featuring woven shades for optimal daytime comfort and evening ambience.

At the heart of the complex stands a majestic vortex-like centrepiece–a world-first dual structural system combining bamboo and basalt.

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“Exceptional ambience that creates a refreshing, open-air experience surrounded by greenery, fostering relaxation and a strong connection to the outdoors,” comments Raffaele Ruocco, panel judge and general manager of The Westin London City, commented on the Global Category winner for Alfresco and Biophilic Design.

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