With the world opening up again and people itching to get out, attention was well and truly focused on the world of hospitality. New hotels seemed to be launching more frequently than ever before, with each one more beautiful and arresting than the last, while restaurants upped their interior design game. These places we had missed so terribly welcomed us back with open arms and the quality of their offering was simply outstanding. Themes were broad, as was aesthetic, however, the emphasis was always on wanting to make customers feel as comfortable as possible.

It was difficult to choose only 10, but here are some of the best from 2022.

1. Ace Hotel by Flack Studio

Flack Studio once again proves its eye for colour with this lush kaleidoscopic dream in Sydney’s Surry Hills. The hotel’s interior is beautifully curated, with an emphasis on plush furnishings and plenty of textural vignettes. A material palette of terracotta, sandstone and marble, accented with timber, steel and leather, is coupled with deep browns, golds and greens and the result is simply stunning.

2. Nabila by Frederick Tang Architecture

Frederick Tang Architecture’s design for the interior of Nabila offers a sophisticated dining experience smack bang in the heart of Brooklyn’s bustling Cobble Hill. Influenced by the intricate details and colours in traditional Middle Eastern decorative arts, the designers have mixed textures and patterns to great effect. We only wish it was closer to home so we could enjoy the excellent Lebanese cuisine on a regular basis.

3. Continental Sorrento by Woods Bagot

This beauty on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula features new additions by Woods Bagot, who worked closely with Broached Commissions in the curation of art, photography, sculpture and installation work. The interior design features a number of themes, including flowers, and Woods Bagot CEO Nik Karalis also took inspiration from the film The Great Gatsby. Our favourite room is the sumptuous Barlow lounge, resplendent with deep emerald green velvet armchairs.

4. Living Bakkali by Masquespacio

Spanish studio Masquespacio is prodigious in its hospitality design output and Living Bakkali in Valencia is yet another dynamic example of what they do best. Their concept for this restaurant fit-out takes inspiration from the menu’s focus on Arabic delights, creating an ode to the adobe-style architecture that is found across the region. A palette of earthy tones, which evokes the colours of the desert, is complemented by linen curtains, bold arches and comfortable banquettes – perfect for relaxed long dinners. 

5. The Standard Bangkok by Jaime Hayon

Jaime Hayon worked with The Standard’s in-house design team to deliver the brand’s latest iteration. This 155-room hotel has a wealth of experiences to explore, from a Mexican inspired restaurant and an American steakhouse to Sky Beach, the highest alfresco rooftop bar in Bangkok. Rooms are tasteful and sophisticated, with an emphasis on colour and furniture that’s as comfortable as it is good looking.

6. Moonhouse by Ewert Leaf

This cosy restaurant in an inner suburb of Melbourne boasts the city’s classic cool grittiness via custom distressed concrete wall finishes and ambient lighting. Ewert Leaf took inspiration from the building’s Art Deco architecture and so sweeping curves abound, complemented by a palette of burnt orange, gold and black. It’s intimate and welcoming and good for spending a long night with good company.

7. Holiday Inn by Studio Tate

Located on the outskirts of Melbourne’s west, Studio Tate’s Holiday Inn is a fresh, modern re-imagining of the brand. The open plan concept has been rolled out across a number of its European iterations, but this is the first Australian location to embrace the new direction. Lounge areas are playfully posh and rooms are understated and fun, with a light, bright aesthetic peppered by a gelato-hued colour palette.

8. God of Teppanyaki by Steve Leung Design Group

God of Teppanyaki in Hong Kong is moody, dark and terribly handsome. Steve Leung Design Group’s minimalist scheme is striking for its black and gold palette and memorable for its overtly immersive qualities. The Japanese restaurant’s design and generous 604 square metre interior is a visual treat of discovery, from the multiple private dining rooms to a sake bar, a sushi bar and a wine and sake tasting room.

9. Aman New York by Denniston Architects

Aman New York on Fifth Avenue has all the grandeur befitting its building’s Beaux Arts architecture. Step inside and Denniston Architects has created a series of spaces within spaces that makes the hotel appear warm and inviting, without losing any of its high-end charm. This is definitely a getaway to spoil yourself and your loved ones with.

10. The Upper Tokyo by Luchetti Krelle

Australian hospitality design darling Luchetti Krelle brings its signature layered aesthetic to The Upper Tokyo. Spanning two levels, the restaurant features a treasure trove of lush materials (granite, oak, glass brick) and finishes (Kelly Wearstler Graffito curtains, booths in deep blue leather, Popham Design tiles). No one does casual opulence quite like Luchetti Krelle and this project is simply dreamy.   

Inspired by these projects? Dive into more hospitality here!