Pared-back monochrome interiors were the order of the day at the fifth annual Restaurant and Bar Design Awards, with Copenhagen’s Höst restaurant and London’s Atrium Champagne Bar taking out the top prizes in the Best Restaurant and Best Bar categories respectively.

Höst – Denmark – Overall Best Restaurant

Höst – Denmark – Overall Best Restaurant

Höst’s restrained design, a collaboration between Norm Architects and Danish designers Menu, was praised by the judging panel for its elegance, attention to detail and “folky sophistication”. The interior combines a contemporary urban and rural Scandinavian aesthetic where greenery and natural timber give warmth to an otherwise stark concrete and exposed brick interior. The subtlety of its design belies a clever storytelling, in which every aspect of the restaurant – from the menu to the interior – works together to create a distinctive mood and experience.

Höst – Denmark – Overall Best Restaurant

Atrium – United Kingdom – Overall Best Bar

The Foster and Partners-designed Atrium Champagne Bar, part of the recently refurbished ME Hotel in central London, also exudes a minimalist albeit more contemporary style, with a focus on contrasting colours, strong geometric forms and striking lighting features. Described by judge David Kester as combining “an appropriate mix of elegance with a touch of champagne decadence,” Atrium is a perfect example of how luxury is now being defined more by choice of material and space than opulence.

Atrium – United Kingdom – Overall Best Bar

Atrium – United Kingdom – Overall Best Bar

Australasia was well represented in the international categories, with Tony Hobba Architects awarded top prize in the Canteen category for their Third Wave Kiosk in Torquay. Judges commented on the effective use of salvaged materials, which give a weathered effect and echo their coastal surroundings to create the impression of having always belonged to the landscape.

Third Wave Kiosk – Australia – Overall Best Canteen

Third Wave Kiosk – Australia – Overall Best Canteen

Neri&Hu took out the Lighting category with Shenzhen’s The Feast. Its starry night lighting installation was described by the panel as “a wonderful and magical statement of delicacy… working seamlessly from both the exterior and interior, creating drama in what may have otherwise been a hard and overtly minimal space.”

The Feast – China – Overall Best Lighting

The Century – Australia – Australia & Pacific Best Restaurant

The Australia & Pacific Restaurant award went to Paring Onions for The Century – a series of moody interiors with striking lighting and sculptural features that, as the judges noted, remain coherent throughout. Judge Sandy Suffield described it as “clever use of a difficult space…. weird and a little bit wonderful.”

Alfred & Constance – Australia – Australia & Pacific Best Bar

Alfred & Constance – Australia – Australia & Pacific Best Bar

The equally weird and wonderful Alfred & Constance, designed by Derlot, won top honours in the Australia & Pacific Bar category. Judge Mourad Mazouz described its eclectic mix of vintage objects as “déjà vu well made”, and the jury praised the diversity of the interior as its major strength.

Shyo Ryu Ken – Japan – Asia Best Restaurant

Shyo Ryu Ken – Japan – Asia Best Restaurant

Stile’s Shyo Ryu Ken was awarded Best Restaurant in the Asia category, praised by the judging panel for its stylised modern Japanese aesthetic and bold appearance which nevertheless maintains a warm atmosphere. The best Asian bar award also went to a Japanese project – Cronus, designed by Doyle Collection, with its dramatic and contrasting interiors in a palette of black, brown and gold.

Cronus – Japan – Asia Best Bar

Cronus – Japan – Asia Best Bar

Restaurant & Bar Design Awards
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