The 2020 Eat Drink Design Awards shortlist has been announced, revealing the most exceptionally designed hospitality venues across Australia and New Zealand.
Award categories for 2020 include Best Café Design, Best Restaurant Design, Best Bar Design, Best Hotel Design, Best Installation Design, Best Retail Design, and Best Identity Design.
The Best Café Design shortlist includes:
| The Garden Room – Maytree Studios | Brisbane City, Queensland |
| Will and Co. – Alexander and Co. | Bondi Beach, New South Wales |
| City Hill Coffee – Greater Group | Canberra, Australian Capital Territory |
| Cafe Mckenzie – Brewer Architects | Randwick, New South Wales |
| Sensory Lab Cafe (David Jones, Sydney) – Studio 11:11 (pictured) | Sydney, New South Wales |
| Dopa by Devon – Tom Mark Henry | Haymarket, New South Wales |
| Only Specialty Coffee, South Brisbane – Ma_JR | Brisbane, Queensland |
| Part Time Lover – Sans-Arc Studio | Adelaide, South Australia |
| Mr Frankie – Harrison Interiors | Frankston South, Victoria |
| Laurent Kew – Golden | Kew, Victoria |
| The Beach House, Geelong – Studio Esteta | Geelong, Victoria |
| Carter Lovett – Megan Hounslow | Elsternwick, Victoria |
| Billie Buoy – Biasol Studio | Essendon, Victoria |
| Cafe La Fayette – Hassel | Melbourne, Victoria |
| Meet Fresh – Wall Architects | Glen Waverley, Victoria |
| BondStore – Proto-Tipo | Southbank, Victoria |
| There Cafe – Ewert Leaf | Footscray, Victoria |
| Nine Yards – Golden | South Melbourne, Victoria |
| Axil Coffee Melbourne Central – St Style | Melbourne, Victoria |
| Levi – Levi | Murrumbeena, Victoria |
This year’s Awards come at a critical time for the hospitality industry. Like many sectors suffering under lockdowns and economic downturn, our beloved cafés, restaurants, bars, clubs, and hotels are under extreme duress. The award organisers say it has never been more important to recognise the spaces that bring value and joy to everyday life.
The annual Eat Drink Design Awards recognise excellence and innovation in the design of restaurants, bars, cafés, hotels, nightclubs, temporary venues and retail spaces across Australia and New Zealand.
The awards highlight that an exceptional venue isn’t only defined by what is served on a plate; a truly exceptional venue incorporates innovative and thoughtful design that heightens the overall hospitality experience of patrons.
Eat Drink Design Awards jury chair and Editor of Artichoke, Cassie Hansen, explains that one of the notable design stories that prevailed in this year’s shortlist was the sense of comfort and nostalgia permeating venue designs.
“Perhaps it is no coincidence that in a time of such upheaval, we have seen designers create spaces that provide familiarity in their appearance and comfort in their feel. Many designers appeared to be in search of an air of nostalgia for the interiors they create, with numerous venues showcasing a modern take on traditional spaces. This year’s designers have one foot in the past whilst firmly looking towards the future,” Cassie says.
In recognition of the longevity and cultural significance that a venue can hold, one long standing venue will also be inducted into the Eat Drink Design Awards Hall of Fame. Past winners include the Cumulus Inc by Pascale Gomes-McNab, Cookie by Phillip Schemnitz Architect, Jimmy Watson’s Wine Bar by Robin Boyd and Frederick Romberg, Cafe Di Stasio by Allan Powell Architects, Fratelli Paradiso by Mike Murphy with later additions by Mike Hanna and Don Cameron, and Icebergs by Lazzarini Pickering.
The Eat Drink Design Awards are chosen by a jury of industry leaders from the hospitality and design sectors. This year’s members are Frank Camorra, restaurateur, Movida; Gemima Cody, restaurant critic and food writer, Good Food; Iva Foschia, founder, IF Architecture; Jonathan Richards, co-founder, Richards Stanisich; and Cassie Hansen, editor, Artichoke.
Winners of the Eat Drink Design Awards will be announced on 18 November.
For more information, visit eat-drink-design.com