SHORTLIST REVEALED: 2023 EAT DRINK DESIGN AWARDS

Signature dishes, perfectly pitched drinks and impeccable service are an integral part of the eating and drinking experience, but a venue’s interior is an equally important ingredient. Design provokes an emotional response in us, whether it be a feeling of nostalgia, of delight, or a satisfying sense that we’re in the know. Good design is good for business – it attracts patrons (and keeps them coming back) and creates an efficient working environment for staff.

The annual Eat Drink Design Awards supports innovation and excellence in the design of hospitality premises of all scales and types, retail environments for the sale of food and beverages and visual identities for both. From high-end restaurants and bars to offbeat hole-in-the-wall cafes and pop-ups, the awards are a unique forum for architects, designers and their clients to present their best new projects. It is the only awards program in Australasia dedicated to this specialist area.

Eat Drink Design Awards jury chair, Amy Woodroffe, explained “the 2023 shortlist demonstrated the willingness of venue owners to trust their design firms and execute ambitious visions. Given current economic and construction challenges, these projects represent acts of defiance and optimism that will positively impact the industry, the guests and ultimately the economy as people are inspired to invest in great experiences.”

Woodroffe explains: “The jury also praised a high level of attention to detail, craft and functionality this year, where equal value was placed on aesthetics and ease of service. You can feel when the team behind a venue built it joyfully and carefully. You note the design details that’ll evoke a smile, a sense of comfort or of wonder. It’s those spaces that will delight customers for years to come.

Recognising excellence and innovation in the design of restaurants, bars, cafés, hotels and retail spaces across the country, the shortlisted projects represent the best hospitality venues from Australia’s sharpest and most innovative design minds.

2023 Eat Drink Design Awards shortlist by category:

Best Bar Design >>> Best Bar Design | Eat Drink Design Awards (eat-drink-design.com)

Best Restaurant Design >>> Best Restaurant Design | Eat Drink Design Awards (eat-drink-design.com)

Best Cafe Design >>> Best Café Design | Eat Drink Design Awards (eat-drink-design.com)

Best Retail Design >>> Best Retail Design | Eat Drink Design Awards (eat-drink-design.com)

Best Hotel Design >>> Best Hotel Design | Eat Drink Design Awards (eat-drink-design.com)

Best Identity Design >>> Best Identity Design | Eat Drink Design Awards (eat-drink-design.com)

The winners in each category will be announced on 29 November, 2023.