Australia's Most Stunning New Venues Have Been Named in the 2022 Eat Drink Design Awards

Australia's hospitality scene continues to kick big goals when it comes to wining and dining; but of course, it's about much more than the food and the drink. Those venues have to look the part, too — and thanks to some talented local designers, stunning bars, eateries and hotels keep popping up on the regular. In fact, the cream of that crop has just been highlighted once again at the 2022 Eat Drink Design Awards.

This year's pick of Australia's most stylish haunts were announced at a ceremony in North Melbourne, identifying a cast of beautiful spaces located right across the country. That said, Victoria reigned supreme among the list of finalists, with the state home to five out of the eight main award-winners.

Music Room by Earl Carter

Melbourne's latest certified stunners include Di Stasio's new Carlton outpost — a slick laneway venue by Hassell, which took out the title of Best Restaurant Design for its "flawless" fusion of the old and the new. Meanwhile, Dion Hall's vision for Music Room, located within HER, won the intimate space the award for Best Bar Design, applauded for its interactivity and considered detailing.

Also in Melbourne, the work of Congrats Agency nabbed Rocco's Bologna Discoteca the title of Best Identity Design, while Baker Bleu Hawksburn (IF Architecture) and Pronto by Via Porta (Studio Esteta) shared the award for Best Retail Design. And, with 68 years under its belt, the legendary Pellegrini's — designed by Smith, Tracey, Lyon and Brock — was inducted into the Eat Drink Design Awards Hall of Fame.

Ace Hotel

Best Cafe Design went to Brisbane Airport newcomer The Common, for its genre-bending Sullivan Skinner fitout; while Sydney's impressive new Ace Hotel — the first southern hemisphere outpost for the brand — was named Best Hotel Design courtesy of Flack Studio's minimalist yet warm interiors. Further afield, CO-AP's Adelaide Festival Pavilion commission The Summerhouse scored the title of Best Installation Design.

The judging panel determining this year's awards was made up of some very familiar names in the hospitality and design space, including chef-restaurateur Shannon Bennett, March Studio Director Rodney Eggleston, Masterchef Australia's Melissa Leong, Fiona Lynch (founder of design studio Fiona Lynch Office) and Artichoke editor Cassie Hansen.

The Common by David Chatfield

2022 EAT DRINK DESIGN AWARD WINNERS:

Best Bar Design: Music Room by Dion Hall (Melbourne, VIC)
Best Restaurant Design: Di Stasio Carlton by Hassell (Carlton, VIC)
Best Cafe Design: The Common by Sullivan Skinner (Brisbane Airport, QLD)
Best Hotel Design: Ace Hotel Sydney by Flack Studio (Sydney, NSW)
Best Installation Design: Adelaide Festival Pavilion — The Summerhouse by CO-AP (Adelaide, SA)
Best Retail Design: Baker Bleu Hawksburn by IF Architecture (Prahran, VIC) and Pronto by Via Porta by Studio Esteta (Kew, VIC)
Best Identity Design: Rocco's Bologna Discoteca by Congrats Agency (Fitzroy, VIC)
Hall of Fame: Pellegrini's Espresso Bar (1954) by Smith, Tracey, Lyon and Brock (Melbourne VIC)

Baker Bleu by Sharyn Cairns

For the full list of winners and commendations at the 2022 Eat Drink Design Awards, head to the Eat Drink Design website.

Top image: Di Stasio Carlton by Peter Bennetts.