The winners of the Eat Drink Design Awards supported by the DIA have been named for 2022, representing the most exceptional and visually remarkable hospitality venues in the continent.

The Award winners are the forefront of design in the realm of restaurants, bars, cafes, clubs, hotels, retail and temporary hospitality structures and offer surprising insights into the dining and cultural habits in Australia and New Zealand.

Melbourne has the strongest presence in the awards this year, a testament to its enduring status as the arguable Australian hospitality nexus. The seamless blend of modern Australian art and Italian architectural features saw the lavish Di Stasio Carlton by Hassell take out the title of Best Restaurant Design.

Best Bar Design was won by the truly unique Music Room by Dion Hall in the Melbourne CBD; the interior of which immerses the public inside a luxe, music speaker. Best Retail Design was won by two stunning stores south of the Yarra River: Baker Bleu Hawksburn by IF Architecture and Pronto by Via Porta by Studio Esteta - noted for their sleek utility and sense of heritage and engagement with the neighbourhood, respectively.

Rounding out the Victorian winners is new Italian Gertude St eatery, Rocco's Bologna Discoteca which took out Best Identity Design for its sense of fun and nostalgia permeating the graphic design elements within the venue, designed by Congrats Agency.

Further north, the much celebrated and already iconic Sydney destination, Ace Hotel Sydney by Flack Studio took out the title of Best Hotel Design - noted for its seamless integration of its hospitality spaces into the lobby and, in turn, the venue into the neighborhood. Perhaps unusually given its location, Best Cafe Design was won by Brisbane’s Airport’s airside-viewing dining space, The Common by Sullivan Skinner. A testament to the strength of its extraordinary “taste of Queensland” experience and unexpected location.

Rounding out the award winners is the sleek and elegant Adelaide Festival Pavilion - The Summerhouse by CO-AP, in The City of Churches, which took home the title of Best Installation Design.

In a testament to its enduring and iconic status, Melbourne’s beloved 68-year-old venue Pellegrini’s Espresso Bar (1954) by Smith, Tracey, Lyon and Brock was inducted into the Eat Drink Design Awards Hall of Fame in 2022. This is a well-overdue accolade to the adored espresso bar which has endured the decades and continues to delight. A true beacon of hope, warmth and longevity in the Melbourne CBD.

The Eat Drink Design Awards jury explained the strength of the entries in this year’s Awards along with the major themes that emerged from the winners.

“Considering what the hospitality and design industries have gone through over the past two-plus years, it was surprising and incredible that in 2022, the Eat Drink Design Awards received their highest number of entries ever – a sure sign of the resilience and tenacity of these industries that we love,” said the Eat Drink Design Awards jurors.

The Award Eat Drink Design Awards winners are:

● Best Restaurant Design - Di Stasio Carlton by Hassell (Carlton, VIC)
● Best Café Design - The Common by Sullivan Skinner (Brisbane Airport, QLD)
● Best Bar Design - Music Room by Dion Hall (Melbourne, VIC)
● 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 (co-winner) - Baker Bleu Hawksburn by IF Architecture (Prahran, VIC)
● Best Retail Design (co-winner) - Pronto by Via Porta by Studio Esteta (Kew, VIC)
● Best Identity Design - Rocco's Bologna Discoteca by Congrats Agency (Fitzroy, VIC)

In addition, one landmark venue is honoured with induction into the Hall of Fame. The accolade recognises enduring excellence in the design of a hospitality venue of more than 10 years standing. In 2022 Pellegrini’s Espresso Bar (1954) by Smith, Tracey, Lyon and Brock was named the latest addition to this venerated list of iconic Australian dining destinations. Pellegrini’s joins hospitality icons such as Bills Darlinghurst, Cafe Di Stasio, Cumulus Inc, Cookie and Icebergs.

The full gallery of the winners can be viewed here