Categories

There are five categories for each of the five regions of the world—Americas, Asia, Australia & Pacific, Europe, Middle East & Africa—and fourteen global categories that are not region specific.

Regional categories

• Cafe—a space that predominately serves coffee, tea etc.
• Hotel—a food and beverage space within a hotel.
• In Another Space—hospitality spaces in anything, from ships to airports, museums to burger vans and trains to cinemas.
• Standalone—a food and beverage space that's not part of a chain.
• Surface Interiors—how surfaces such as walls, ceilings and floors come together in creating a food and beverage space.

Global categories

• Alfresco & Biophilic Design—designs should have a strong emphasis on nature and a clear connection to it. Past entries have included living walls, grand foliage table displays and even trees incorporated into the design.
• Ceiling—the project will be judged with an emphasis on the design of the ceiling.
• Club/Night Venue—this rewards designs for establishments that provide evening entertainment and that are usually open into the early morning.
• Colour—judges will look specifically at how colour has been used within the space.
• Fast Casual—this means any scheme that doesn’t offer full table service.
• Heritage Building—this category is specifically for restaurants/bars in historical buildings and environments.
• Lighting—judges will look specifically at how decorative and architectural lighting has been used within a scheme.
• Luxury—food and beverage spaces that have an emphasis on luxury.
• Multiple—restaurants or bars with the same name that are part of a group or chain.
• Murals & Graffiti—this category evaluates the artistic impact of any murals or graffiti that have been incorporated into a design.
• Small Space—designs that are focused on making the best use of a small space.
• Sustainability—this category is about interiors that have been designed with sustainability in mind. This could include the use of recyclable products and materials harnessing renewable energy sources, efforts to minimise the carbon footprint and other environmental improvements.
• Visual Identity—celebrating the design of logos, websites, menus, stationery, signage, uniforms, coasters, placemats and any other visual material.
• Co-Working—everything from office canteens, break rooms and cafeterias.

For each category there will be a shortlist of projects and one winner. An award is given to both the winning designer and the winning Restaurant or Bar operator.

Overall winners

All entries are automatically considered for the 'Best Restaurant or Bar' awards for their region, as well as for the ultimate global awards of Best Overall Restaurant and Best Overall Bar (at no additional cost).

• Best Americas Restaurant or Bar
• Best Asia Restaurant or Bar
• Best Australia & Pacific Restaurant or Bar
• Best Europe Restaurant or Bar
• Best Middle East & Africa Restaurant or Bar
• Best Overall Restaurant
• Best Overall Bar

These awards will be presented at an innovative and exciting ceremony, attended by the world's top designers and operators at EPIK Dubai (UAE) on the 27th October 2025.

All shortlisted will be invited to attend the awards ceremony where the winners will be announced and receive their trophies (one for the designer and one for the operator).