Eat Drink Design Awards reveals Australia’s best café design

Eat Drink Design Awards

Industry Beans Brisbane by Platform by DesignOffice in Queensland has won Best Café Design in the 2021 Eat Drink Design Awards.

A Newstead café just north of Brisbane’s James Street, Industry Beans has completely transformed an old brick warehouse space into the quintessential Queensland daytime eatery.

“The treatment serves Industry Beans Brisbane’s multilayered offering. This is a place as appropriate for long brunches as it is meetings or informal work sessions, while an eye-catching retail zone in the centre of the venue naturally draws in takeaway customers,” reads the jury citation.

Commendations were given to Valentinas by How High in New South Wales, Bloom-Sans by Arc Studio in South Australia, Midi by Sans-Arc, Prior Thornbury by Ritz & Ghougassian and Ona Coffee by Breathe Architecture in Victoria.

Cassie Hansen, editor of Artichoke and Eat Drink Design Award jury chair, says that the Awards analyse the influences and shifting design narratives in the always evolving, and competitive hospitality industry.

“Finally, Brisbane’s rise as a formidable food destination was reflected in this year’s awards,” says Cassie.

“The Queensland capital’s booming restaurant, bar, and café scene was underrepresented, with just four entries across the entire awards, but two won their respective categories and a third was shortlisted.”

The Eat Drink Design Awards, which recognise excellence and innovation in the design of restaurants, bars, cafés, hotels, temporary venues and retail spaces, come after an immensely challenging two years for the industry.

Restrictions have meant added strain or even mandated closures for our beloved venues, and now more than ever, it feels important to celebrate the spaces where we come together as a community.

In addition to the category awards, each year one landmark venue is honoured with induction into the Hall of Fame.

The 2021 entry into the Eat Drink Design Awards Hall of Fame is Bill’s Darlinghurst, a café which the jury citation says is the Darlinghurst icon that has arguably acted as the blueprint for modern cafés the world over.

To see the full list of awards, click here.

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