It’s that time of year again, when the excellent Restaurant & Bar Design Awards are getting ready to announce their 2025 shortlist, having scrolled through myriad entries from around the world.

Before they do, they publish the complete list of more than 800 entries for all to see and we at GS Magazine have great fun choosing our own favourites.

Of the 19 categories, we have selected six: Luxury, Lighting, Colour, Hotel, Fast Casual and Alfresco & Biophilic Design.

From these, we’ve chosen just one entry per category, based on nothing more than a visual preference.

And, for added fun, we’ve selected one project from all the categories as our overall favourite.

We now wait patiently to see whether our choices make it to the shortlist stage, and on to the winners’ podium.

Why not check out the entries Entries – Restaurant & Bar Design Awards and see if you agree with us.

Regardless, there are some amazing projects to delight and inspire.

Category: LUXURY

Our Choice: Gourmet Pavilion, Wynn Palace, Macao, China

Designer: David Collins Studio with lighting by Lighting Design International,

Photography: Edmon Leong

Category: LIGHTING

Our Choice: The Puhui, Shanghai, China

Lighting Design: PRO Lighting

Photography: Topla Vision

Category: COLOUR

Our Choice: Nando’s, Northampton, UK

Designer: Harrison

Photography: Jonathan Banks Photography

Category: FAST CASUAL

Our Choice: Matsuri, Paris, France

Design: Jessica Mille Architecte

Photography: Ludovic Balay

Category: ALFRESCO & BIOPHILIC DESIGN

Our Choice: Elgin Café, Amritsar, India

Designer: Renesa

Photography: Avesh Gaur

Overall Favourite

Ace Centurian, Osaka, Japan

Category: Club/Night Venue

Designer: Fantastic

Congratulations to all involved, and may the best designs win!