Australia’s Hospitality Design Elite Reveals Industry’s New Directions.

The 2025 Eat Drink Design Awards shortlist just dropped, and it’s telling us everything we need to know about where Australian hospitality is heading.

With 64 restaurants, bars, cafés, hotels and retail spaces making the cut, this year’s selection reveals projects embracing industrial aesthetics, celebrating Australian identity, and reimagining what hospitality venues can achieve.

This year’s picks are particularly interesting because they show an industry that’s found its confidence and isn’t afraid to get a bit rough around the edges. These venues function as experiential destinations rather than simple dining spaces.

A Little Taste of Australia's Most Beautiful Hospitality Interiors.

From otherworldly bars to intimate restaurants and regional gems, this year's selection of Australia's most beautifully designed hospitality venues reflects the industry's resilience and creativity.

Central Brisbane by J.AR Office. Photography: David Chatfield.

Industrial Aesthetic Takes Centre Stage

Walk into almost any venue on this year’s shortlist and you’ll notice it immediately—exposed steel beams, concrete floors, metal fixtures. It’s industrial design vibes, but make it sophisticated, and they appear across all six award categories, from intimate bars to expansive hotel lobbies.

“The strong presence of steel, metal, and a distinct turn towards an industrial aesthetic evident across all categories, signalled a broader design shift,” explains jury chair Cassie Hansen. “Raw materials and metal finishes dominated, reflecting a growing appreciation for utilitarian beauty and structural honesty.”

Translation? Designers have stopped trying to hide how buildings are made. Instead, they’re celebrating it. Those steel beams aren’t getting covered up—they’re becoming the hero of the space.

This shift makes sense when you think about it. People are craving authenticity, and there’s nothing more honest than a space that shows you exactly what it’s made of. No pretence, no fake finishes—just good materials doing their job beautifully.

J.AR Office Transforms Brisbane's CBD with Naturally Ventilated Paradise.

In Brisbane's heritage-protected CBD, J.AR Office has delivered a dining oasis that redefines urban hospitality expectations.

Lunetta, Canberra by ACME. Photography: Lillie Thompson.

Norté Brisbane by J.AR Office. Photography: David Chatfield.

Studio Mensa Adelaide by Sans Arc. Photography: Jack Fenby.

Marmelo Melbourne by Mitchell & Eades. Photography: Anson Smart.

Lito at Mondrian Gold Coast by Alexander & Co. Photography: Alicia Taylor.

Euro-Inspired Design Meets Burleigh Beach Charm at the New Mondrian Hotel.

Australia's first Mondrian hotel has transformed Burleigh Beach's hospitality landscape through Alexander & CO’s sophisticated design approach.

Supernormal Brisbane by ACME. Photography: Earl Carter.

Sofia Bistro by Sans Arc Studio. Photography: Jonathan VDK.

Harriot Melbourne by Studio Esteta. Photography: Sean Fennessy.

Studio Esteta Nails Intimate Dining with Melbourne's New Bistronomy Concept Harriot.

Harriot is the kind of restaurant that gets better each time you visit, where you notice new details and appreciate the thought behind every choice.

Inverloch Esplanade Hotel by Studio Heck. Photography: Jade Cantwell.

Finally, Venues That Feel Australian

Beyond the industrial influence, what’s really exciting about this year’s shortlist is that Australian venues are starting to look and feel distinctly Australian. Not in a clichéd way, but in a way that genuinely connects to our landscape and culture.

“This year, there was a real appreciation for what we might align with the Australian identity,” Hansen explains. “Many venues exuded authenticity, warmth, and a uniquely Australian character, with honest, authentically local materials at the heart of many venues.”

Think native timbers, local stone, earthy colour palettes that make sense in our climate. It’s taken us a while to get here, but Australian hospitality design is finally growing up and finding its own voice.

Coopers Brand Home by Studio Gram. Photography: Timothy Kaye.

Circular Thinking: Coopers Brewery's Brand Home in Adelaide.

Australia's oldest family-owned brewery has found a new architectural expression at Regency Park, Adelaide. The $70 million building transforms the brewing experience with its distinctive circular plan reflecting the brewing process and brand's roundel logo.

Bar Julius Redfern by SJB. Photography: Anson Smart.

Burly Bar by Studio Plenty. Photography: Jessie Prince.

An Eclectic Cosmopolitan Bar From Mars: Burly Bar by Studio Plenty.

Drawing inspiration from Burly Gin's bottle design, this Byron Bay interior features experimental epoxy resin elements that connect brand to interior.

Regional Australia Is Having a Moment

One of the best surprises in this year’s shortlist is that regional venues are absolutely smashing it. From the Tolpuddle Tasting Pavilion in Richmond, Tasmania, to the Kincumber Hotel renovation in Toowoon Bay, NSW, regional Australia is producing design work that rivals anything found in capital cities.

This representation reflects the decentralisation of design talent and the growing sophistication of hospitality outside major cities. These venues often have the advantage of stronger connections to local identity and materials, creating experiences that feel authentic to their specific location.

Practice Palace Coffee by Kerry Kounnapis Architecture. Photography: Tom Ross.

Renos by RADS. Photography: Simon Cecere.

S’wich Surry Hills by Studio Shand. Photography: Levon Baird.

Mid-Century Meets Modern Sandwich Culture at S'WICH Surry Hills.

Drawing inspiration from streamline moderne diners and archetypal utility kitchens, every element from the curvilinear entry bar to Amy Vidler's custom light reinforces the brand's visual identity while delivering a memorable sensory experience.

Green Cup Chadstone by Hecker Guthrie. Photography: Shannon McGrath.

Lucci Eatery by Studio Esteta. Photography: Sean Fennessy.

Iftar Merrylands by Killing Matt Woods. Photography: Lucia Braham.

A Modern Middle Eastern Eatery in Sydney’s West by Killing Matt Woods.

Sustainable materials and thoughtful design unite in this modern Middle Eastern cafe in Sydney’s West.

Venues Are Becoming Experiences

Perhaps the most significant shift revealed in the shortlist is the evolution of hospitality venues from simple dining spaces to immersive experiential destinations. Designers are creating spaces that tell stories and forge emotional connections with visitors.

“In an increasingly digital world, the jury observed many compelling interiors that encourage visiting in person,” Hansen explains. “Designers are exploring new and creative ways to engage audiences beyond the traditional. From immersive bars to expansive breweries, the focus has shifted toward storytelling, atmosphere, and emotional connection.”

Take Bar Julius in Redfern or Brooksy in Sydney—these aren’t just bars, they’re experiences. Same goes for restaurants like Lunetta in Canberra or Central in Brisbane. They understand that in 2025, people want more than good food and drink. They want to feel something.

The Standard X Melbourne by Hecker Guthrie. Photography: Shannon McGrath.

Hecker Guthrie's Triumphant Return at The StandardX Melbourne.

Bringing a new level of cool to Fitzroy's already impressive scene, The StandardX debut is anything but standard.

Melbourne Place Hotel (now Hyde Melbourne Place) by Kennedy Nolan. Photography: Anson Smart.

Melbourne by Melbourne: Kennedy Nolan's Homage to Local Design Culture at Melbourne Place.

Melbourne Place represents a rare achievement: a new hotel brand and building developed simultaneously, each informing the other. Kennedy Nolan crafted a complete design that questions orthodoxies while celebrating Melbourne's unique design culture.

The Eve Hotel Sydney by SJB. Photography: Anson Smart.

The Eve Hotel Sydney: A Biophilic Breath in Wunderlich Lane's Final Chapter.

Rooted in a philosophy of longevity, The Eve balances enduring architectural design with contemporary accents. It's a celebration of Sydney's creative spirit...

What This All Means

This shortlist isn’t just a list of seriously impressive venues (though they are that too). It’s a snapshot of an industry that’s finally figured out what it wants to be. Australian hospitality design is confident, unapologetic, and increasingly sophisticated. In fact, from where I sit, I would argue Australian hospitality interiors are some of the best anywhere in the world.

Stay tuned for the winners, which will be announced across six categories on 29 October.

Gelato Messina Cronulla by Sans Arc Studio. Photography: Jack Fenby.

Lovabowl Camberwell by Modl Office. Photography: Shannon McGrath.

Glo Gelato by Bergman & Co. Photography: Tom Blachford.

Suupaa by If Architecture. Photography: Sharyn Cairns.

Baker Bleu Cremorne by If Architecture. Photography: Sharyn Cairns.

Vics Meat Chadstone by Designoffice and Platform. Photography: Dianna Snape.

Gelato Messina Newtown by Sans Arc Studio. Photography: Jack Fenby.

[Images courtesy of Eat Drink Design Awards.]