Dezeen's top 10 bar and restaurant interiors of 2021
Next up in our review of 2021 is a roundup of Dezeen's top 10 bar and restaurant interiors this year from across the globe, including a sushi eatery in a converted post office and a cavernous pizzeria.
Istetyka, Ukraine, by Yakusha Design
This Kyiv restaurant by local studio Yakusha Design was crowned restaurant and bar interior of the year at the Dezeen Awards 2021 for its mixture of rough and smooth surfaces.
Diners are served a menu of healthy fast food at undulating bench seating and round tables displaying chubby textured clay vases crafted by local artisans.
Find out more about Istetyka ›
50% Cloud Artists Lounge, China, by Cheng Chung Design
The cavernous walls of a brick art installation form the interior of 50% Cloud Artists Lounge, a hybrid restaurant and exhibition space in Mile City, China.
Hong Kong office Cheng Chung Design commissioned local artist Luo Xu to create the brick structure, which was made without steel reinforcements or nails and is intended to act as a neutral backdrop for art and curved furniture within the space.
Find out more about 50% Cloud Artists Lounge ›
Veneno, Mexico, by Monteon Arquitectos Asociados
Monteon Arquitectos Asociados designed the Dezeen Awards-shortlisted Veneno with a photograph of an archaeological site in mind.
Located in Guadalajara, the restaurant features a relief ceiling depicting ancient ruins, with the theme echoed in its sand-coloured plaster walls and light-hued timber furniture.
Italian firm Studio Wok drew upon the rocky caves of Sardinia to design the interior of pizzeria Myrto in the town of Porto Cervo.
Cave-like pink plaster walls are interrupted only by arched window openings, custom furniture pieces and burgundy-coloured lights designed by Michael Anastassiades for lighting brand Flos.
Elgin Cafe, India, by Studio Renesa
A lively green granite interior was added to Elgin Cafe in Punjab in order to evoke the feeling of al fresco dining, according to New Delhi architecture office Studio Renesa.
Defined by granite sourced locally from Udaipur, the restaurant features various other elements that give the feeling of being outdoors, including wicker chairs, lush potted plants and a panelled green ceiling.
Find out more about Elgin Cafe ›
Design firm Child Studio inserted dark cherry wood panelling and a blue coffered ceiling into a former 1960s London post office to create Maido, a sushi restaurant intended to honour its location's heritage.
"We were fascinated by the unique story of this building and aimed to capture the nostalgic atmosphere of 1960s London, paying tribute to the modernist public spaces of the era," explained the studio's founders Alexy Kos and Che Huang.
Mimi Kakushi, UAE, by Pirajean Lees
Motifs that nod to Japan's 1920s jazz era take centre stage in Mimi Kakushi, an ornately-designed restaurant in Dubai by British practice Pirajean Lees.
Decadent elements were added to the space, which is a converted nightclub, including bespoke stained glass windows, traditional Japanese joinery and luxurious beaded curtains that cast dramatic shadows on the dining tables.
Find out more about Mimi Kakushi ›
The Budapest Cafe, Australia, by Biasol
The Budapest Cafe in Melbourne by local studio Biasol takes cues from the geometric symmetry and nostalgic colour palette known to the feature films of director Wes Anderson.
Walls are embellished with quirky steps to nowhere, while rust-coloured banquettes and retro chairs were inserted to be reminiscent of scenes found in Anderson's 2014 movie The Grand Budapest Hotel.
Find out more about The Budapest Cafe ›
SOMA, UK, by Max Radford and Cake Architecture
Designer Max Radford and the studio Cake Architecture borrowed rich colours from Indian artworks to create this intimate basement cocktail bar in London's Soho.
Darkly-hued curtains wrap concealed booths and reference the theatres of the nearby West End, in an attempt to add a sense of mystery to what the design team called "a contemporary interpretation of the Soho subterranean speakeasy, inspired by the spirit of India and beyond."
Mo de Movimiento, Spain, by Lucas Muñoz
Nominated at this year's Dezeen Awards in the sustainable interior category, Spanish restaurant Mo De Movimiento was assembled almost entirely out of upcycled junk and site construction waste at the former theatre and recording studio.
Rubble weighing 1,700 kilograms produced from the renovation was transformed into thick tiles that make up continuous bench seating, while other furniture was created from wooden structures found on the site.
Find out more about Mo de Movimiento ›