Honoring enchanting locations around the world, the annual Prix Versailles announced its list of the world’s most beautiful restaurants for 2025, which includes 16 restaurants that have recently opened or reopened and have made a lasting impression.
The Prix Versailles, announced annually at UNESCO, is a series of architectural competitions that highlight the best contemporary works around the world.
Jérôme Gouadain, Secretary General of the Prix Versailles informed that the list represents the best recent openings around the world and is a tribute to the architecture and overall restaurant experience. “When we eat, we remember the taste of the dishes, the aroma of a place, the background music of an encounter and perhaps the memory of an object,” he told Forbes. “It’s impossible not to recognize the mission that design has in this context.”
The prizes selected by the Prix Versailles aim to promote smart sustainability, in which culture serves and transcends the concept of the environment. These are the 16 most beautiful restaurants in the world selected by the Prix Versailles:
Gerbou Restaurant in Dubai, UAE
Gerbou (which means “Welcome to our humble abode” in Arabic) is located in the Nad Al Sheba area and is a restaurant that pays homage to the architecture of the United Arab Emirates. Inspired by local culture, the restaurant’s patio is a blend of traditional elements and modern elegance. Kristina Zanic Consultants, in collaboration with Tasmeem Tashkeel, created a unique tribute to the region with herringbone-shaped lighting, camel skin sofas, ghaf tree chairs and more. The design reflects the restaurant’s cuisine, which consists of 70% local produce. At Gerbou, chef Ionel Catau combines traditional flavours with innovative techniques, a combination that is also reflected in the décor.
Smoked Room in Dubai, UAE
A dark corridor with rows of lights leads visitors to the Smoked Room, a new dining space by Michelin-starred chef Dani García. To create a unique atmosphere, Astet Studio chose a palette consisting of black bricks alternating with richer materials, such as metals, mirrors, and brass grilles, to add a touch of elegance and evoke the intense sparks and glow of fire. The main dining area is called Omakase, which in Japanese means “leaving everything to the chef.” Its semicircular layout allows only 14 people per table to enjoy a theatrical experience as they watch their dishes being prepared over an open flame. The dessert area features a spacious bench and walls inspired by Japanese architecture, for a sensory journey enhanced by the smoky stage decor.
Blackswan Restaurant in Beijing, China
Near Beijing International Airport, on the first floor of the Luo Hong Art Museum, this Michelin-starred restaurant was inspired by a Gary Hume painting and transports guests to another world where swans serve as an architectural pretext by Chris Shao Studio. The main dining room opens onto an oriental garden with perfectly pruned trees and a large pond where graceful swans, including a few black ones, float. Every aspect of the decoration alludes to the swan. A central chandelier, by Caroline Sarkozy, heralds the overall design of the space with layers of feathers falling like swans. The style is subtle and elegant, with monochromatic shades that maintain harmony. The refinement of chef Vianney Massot’s French cuisine seems to glide towards guests with lightness and grace.
Ōrtensia Restaurant in Shanghai, China
Zhangyuan is a historic neighborhood near downtown Shanghai that has become a crossroads of fashion and culture. Ōrtensia was founded by a Japanese chef, who was joined by a Chinese pastry chef in 2024. The restaurant serves French and Japanese cuisine in an environment that is a fusion of the three cultures. The shikumen architecture features original wood ceiling and wall panels in a reinterpretation of the classic French style. Here, delicacy and feminine sensibility are combined with Japanese refinement. Between rustic tiles, traditional Chinese lacquerware, handmade wood carvings and a beautiful color palette, Chris Shao Studio’s composition transforms each space into a portal to a graceful, fantastical world.
Lobster Club (Palma de Mallorca, Spain)
More than just a restaurant, the Lobster Club is a contemporary marine club on the southwest coast of Mallorca that synthesizes the Mediterranean lifestyle. Designed and created by Juan Picornell, founder and owner of Grupo Cappuccino, the space captures the spirit of the sea in a natural style. Combining multiple distinct dining zones around a central bar, the resulting fluidity is the culmination of Barcelona-based designer Sandra Tarruella’s work. The panoramic terrace creates visual continuity between indoor and outdoor spaces, while the club’s signature pool radiates colour and joy, as if responding to the musical charm of the space. Inside, materials such as iroko wood, polished steel and polished handmade tiles exude the feeling of a summer day at the beach.
Bouchon Carême (Helsinki, Finland)
Bouchon Carême is a Finnish version of the bouchon, a traditional Lyon restaurant, with a bar and warm, quaint decor designed by Studio Fyra. It is located in the heart of Helsinki, in a building dating back to 1900. And like a classic bouchon, the charm of the restaurant lies in its authenticity and its style that fits in perfectly with the city. Original features, such as exposed brick walls and cast iron columns, have been preserved and incorporated into a layout that balances openness and privacy. Large round windows overlooking the street flood the space with natural light and provide a strong visual connection to the urban landscape. The warm, natural tones, combined with the rich, sturdy wooden furniture, create a friendly atmosphere that fits perfectly with chef Hans Välimäki’s cuisine, which revolves around simple meat and vegetable dishes, inviting you to discover timeless, renewed local flavours.
Ladurée Rue Royale in Paris, France
Welcome to the boudoir of Marie Antoinette! Since 1862, the original Ladurée tearoom has stood the test of time. It reopened in July 2024 with a renovated décor directly linked to history. The carved stone façade is utterly Parisian, but once visitors enter the shop, which has been restored to its original layout, they are transported back in time through centuries and revolutions. Beyond the completely restored Belle Epoque ceilings, the Maison invited decorator Cordelia de Castellane to create a completely new interior full of subtlety. Each salon, from the Chantilly to the Napoléon, stands out for its decoration that showcases elegance and taste in every sense of the word.
Ducasse Baccarat in Paris, France
Before it became Maison Baccarat, the former residence of the muse of modern art Marie-Laure de Noailles was the setting for luxurious receptions where high society socialised with the artists and intellectuals of the day, from the 1920s to the 1950s. Now renovated with respect to its heritage, it houses an Alain Ducasse restaurant on the first floor. The meeting of these two illustrious names of French excellence brings the art of crystallization into dialogue with fine gastronomy. Interior architect Aliénor Béchu achieved a delicate synthesis of raw materials with the precious Baccarat crystal. Contemporary artworks, furniture that pays tribute to the best French artisans and the play of light and shadow that make the experience unique, highlight this gastronomic destination located near the Arc de Triomphe.
Julie’s (London, UK)
Founded in 1969 by renowned interior designer Julie Hodges, Julie’s restaurant, located in the Notting Hill district, with its distinctive, decadent style enhanced by understated bourgeois charm, has been an instant success among actors, fashion icons, artists and members of royal families. For its latest refresh, the exploration of the Julie myth inspired a series of motifs and illustrations, creating a tapestry that represents the site’s links to the history, arts and culture of West London. Designer Rosanna Bossom and new owner Tara MacBain have combined a sophisticated touch with 1970s extravagance in what was once a gentlemen’s club and is now open to all, with a terrace that emphasises its unwavering commitment to the neighbourhood.
Shell Restaurant in Nusa Penida, Indonesia
A key part of the Intaaya complex, perched atop the cliffs overlooking Diamond Beach, this shell is an example of biomimicry – a design approach where plants and animals inspire the architecture. There is no decoration, as there is nothing superfluous in the forms that nature creates. The innovative bamboo structures with large openings and walls of compressed earth are both intricate and interesting, supporting a cavernous shell that is an irresistible invitation to all pearl fishermen. Passive design strategies, including solar radiation and airflow analyses, were the obvious solution in this case. Not to mention the choice of bamboo as the main building material: its rapid growth, renewability and ability to sequester carbon give it many positive qualities. In addition, recycled wood from old houses in Java (joglos) was reused for furniture and carpentry. For this space, Pablo Luna Studio devised a new kind of harmony that combines ingenuity with deep roots.
Coro Restaurant in Orvieto, Italy
Coro was born in the historic centre of Orvieto, inside a deadened 16th century church, in which architect Giuliano Andrea dell’Uva worked with precision and restraint to restore voice and verticality to a suspended space rich in memories. With its toffo walls, altar traces, natural light and contemporary artworks, everything is arranged to achieve a balance between the sacred and the everyday. In this place, the service, atmosphere and attention to rhythm reflect a down-to-earth, sincere ritual. Founded by chef Ronald Bukri and restaurant manager Francesco Perali, Coro aims to prove that a space can be inhabited with a conscience and transformed into something meaningful. Without noise, it immerses visitors in Umbria’s cultural and culinary traditions – all in a city with multiple underground tunnels.
Seven Island Restaurant in Busan, Korea
Seven Island is located on Gadeokdo Island, off the coast of Busan, and is a cafe consisting of seven connected buildings arranged in different locations to overlook the seven islands surrounding it. This radical design allows for a variety of landscapes to be captured in a unique set of spaces, all with ocean views. While the dark first floor represents the part of the island below the surface of the water, the second floor is lighter and more open, as if the island is floating on the sea. This contrast between shadow and light, as well as between indoor and outdoor space, is reflected in the choice of furniture that matches each other. The contemporary, understated design by Korean company mttb contributes to the experience of immersion in the ancient nature of the place.
Kimyona Restaurant in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Located in the heart of Riyadh, this bar is called Kimyona and was designed by Azaz Architects, which drew its inspiration from analogue black and white photography. The entrance is a gallery with bright lights and neutral tones, a transitional space where visitors leave the bright light of the outside world behind. There, they will find a hidden door that opens into an impressive dining room that looks like a photographer’s dark room, with dim lighting, soft lighting and some red highlights. In the half-light, the combination of natural stone, recycled Chinese ceramic tiles, opaque glass bricks and steel – including the metal sheet ceiling – creates a unique interplay of warmth, coolness and neutrality.
Another Smith Restaurant in Tha Sai Luat, Thailand
The name “Another Smith” comes from the surname of the owner, Smithikorn, a family that has been successful in Thai Chinese cuisine. The bamboo architecture of this second establishment features a patio surrounded by rooms and galleries reminiscent of traditional Chinese homes. This collaboration between Thor Kaichon (for the structure) and TasteSpace (for the design) has yielded an unusually successful result. The restaurant is divided into three main spaces: dining room, café and jewellery shop, with the kitchen in the centre. Each space is separate but connected to the others and enjoys a bright and airy atmosphere.
Beefbar restaurant in New York
Beefbar, originally launched in Monte Carlo, made its first appearance in the Big Apple. The new space, designed by Monaco-based Humbert & Poyet, is a reflection of New York: a melting pot of influences that are both original and unsettling. In the trendy Tribeca district, this building, with Art Deco touches, features high ceilings with tall arched windows. The interior is decorated with a variety of fabrics and materials. The founder, Riccardo Giraudi, and Tribeca Hospitality Group have taken this concept to a new, elegant and dignified space.
Japón Restaurant in Miami Beach, Florida
Japón is an exciting journey through time, where traditional Japanese art is combined with modern elements. Designed by chefs Vijayudu Veena and Iván Monzón, this project contains all the extravagance and playfulness of the city and its many influences. The crane – a Japanese symbol of elegance, luck and natural beauty – is at the heart of the design narrative created by Saladino Design Studios. Its image welcomes visitors at the entrance and continues in a variety of materials, from mosaics to textiles. Spacious doors lead to a private dining room, where original woodblock prints and vintage paintings unfold beneath a handcrafted gold leaf ceiling. The bar features marble ribs and custom-designed crane-themed wallpaper.
