The Prix Versailles has once again celebrated the finest in architectural and cultural design with the release of its 2025 list of the world’s most beautiful restaurants. Announced on 16 June, the ranking highlights recently opened dining establishments that serve as social gathering spots, foodie magnets, and destinations in their own right.
Jérôme Gouadain, Secretary General of the Prix Versailles, describes the importance of architecture in restaurants as part of the “lived experience” and a “paradoxical, almost maternal, role” which brings guests into a “warm embrace, enveloping them with its shapes and forms” while at the same time “completely effacing itself to put the focus on the feast.”
Sixteen design approaches around the globe are highlighted in the list, all “marked by that humility, each one existing to feed its guests’ bodies and souls,” Gouadain said in a press release. In December, three of these projects will receive the further distinction of a World Title – Prix Versailles, Interior or Exterior. Leading the pack for now, Dubai matches Paris, with three restaurants on the longlist.
The 2025 laureates are a varied selection, representing a wide range of cultures and design philosophies.
1. Gerbou
In Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Gerbou is a tribute to Emirati architecture, blending traditional elements with sophisticated modernity. The restaurant’s design reflects its cuisine, which is made from 70% locally sourced ingredients.
2. Smoked Room
In Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Smoked Room offers a unique dining experience with its dark passage and semicircular layout, allowing guests to watch their dishes being prepared over an open flame.
3. Blackswan
in Beijing, China, Blackswan is inspired by a Gary Hume painting and features a central chandelier with swan-like layers of cascading feathers.
4. Ōrtensia
In Shanghai, China, Ōrtensia serves French and Japanese cuisine surrounded by a décor that marries three cultures.
5. Lobster Club
In Palma de Mallorca, Spain, Lobster Club epitomises the Mediterranean lifestyle with its effortless chic and a panoramic terrace.
6. Bouchon Carême
In Helsinki, Finland, Bouchon Carême is a Finnish take on the traditional Lyonnaise restaurant, with a warm, picturesque décor.
7. Ladurée Rue Royale
In Paris, France, Ladurée transports visitors back in time with its restored Belle Epoque ceilings and elegant interior.
8. Ducasse Baccarat
In Paris, France, Ducasse Baccarat combines the art of crystal glass-making with haute cuisine in a space that honours French excellence.
9. Julie’s
in London, United Kingdom, Julie’s puts a sophisticated touch on 1970s exuberance in a space that celebrates the history, arts, and culture of West London.
10. Shell
In Nusa Penida, Indonesia, Shell shows off of biomimicry, with innovative bamboo structures and rammed-earth walls.
11. Coro
In Orvieto, Italy, Coro is located in a deconsecrated 16th-century church and aims to immerse guests in the cultural and culinary traditions of Umbria.
12. Seven Island
In Busan, Republic of Korea, Seven Island offers a variety of landscapes in a novel series of spaces with ocean views.
13. Kimyona
In Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Kimyona is a speakeasy inspired by analogue black and white photography, with a unique play of warmth, coolness, and neutrality.
14. Another Smith
In Tha Sai Luat, Thailand, Another Smith again features bamboo architecture and a design that reflects the secret fish-based recipes for which the Smith family is famous.
15. Beefbar
In New York, United States, Beefbar combines a melting pot of influences in a space that reflects the history and industrial heritage of Manhattan.
16. Japón
In Miami Beach, United States, Japón brings together traditional Japanese craft and modernity, reflecting the diversity and breadth of Japanese cuisine.
The next Prix Versailles World Selections for 2025 will be announced on 23 June for Campuses, on 30 June for Airports, on 1 September for Emporiums, on 3 November for Passenger Stations, and on 10 November for Sports.
