The 2025 Eat Drink Design Awards were announced on 29 October, with the winning projects spanning a wide range of styles, locations and types, from a cave-like Gold Coast restaurant that doesn’t rely on ocean views to a dynamic, genre-bending Japanese cafe and convenience store in Melbourne.
“Every year, the winners and commendations of the Eat Drink Design Awards highlight the excellent standard of Australia and New Zealand’s hospitality design,” said the jury.
“The standout spaces this year were immersive environments that are exceptionally executed, creating interiors that guests want to visit time and time again,” said the jury.
Winners and commendations of the 2025 Eat Drink Design Awards were announced, along with this year’s inductee into the Hall of Fame, an accolade that acknowledges enduring excellence in the design of a hospitality venue that is of more than ten years’ standing. Designed in 2012, The Apollo by George Livissianis celebrates the building’s original architecture, blending raw textures, refined materials, intimate spaces and personal Greek references to create a space of timeless warmth. Read the story here.
The 2025 winners are:
Best Restaurant Design
Norte – J.AR Office
Best Bar Design
Bar Julius – SJB
Best Cafe Design
Palace Coffee – Kerry Kounnapis Architecture Practice
Best Hotel Design
Melbourne Place – Kennedy Nolan
Best Retail Design
Suupaa – IF Architecture
Best Identity Design
Suupaa – A Friend of Mine
Hall of Fame
The Apollo – George Livissianis
Commendations
See the nine commended projects here.
The 2025 Eat Drink Design Awards jury comprises Jean‑Paul Ghougassian (director, Ritz and Ghougassian), Callan Boys (national restaurant editor, Good Food), Simone McEwan (director, Nice Projects), Jason M. Jones (founder, Entrecôte and Hopper Joint) and Cassie Hansen (editor, InteriorsAu).
See the full gallery of winning and commended projects on the Eat Drink Design Awards website.
The Eat Drink Design Awards are organised by Architecture Media (publisher of ArchitectureAu and InteriorsAu).
The Eat Drink Design Awards are endorsed by the Australian Institute of Architects and the Design Institute of Australia.
Source: Architecture - architectureau
