49 Bars And Restaurants That Are Putting Other Places To Shame With Their Brilliant Ideas

Eventbrite conducted their survey in 2015, but the trend of people seeking some new thrills in their dining experience still tracks. Back then, 75% of respondents said they wanted a unique dining experience. 76% said they would like an unexpected, memorable location, and 84% wanted a surprising menu or theme.

Forbes describes three of the most popular trends for restaurant design in 2024: cultural crossovers, the rise of mixology, and the concept of an urban oasis. Gone are the days of simply Mexican, Indian, or Korean food. People want fusion cuisine, and they want the same thing to happen to their dining environment. Ometeo is one example, as it mixes Texan and Mexican influences in its design and its menu.

However, some architects caution restaurant designers to be mindful when going for the cultural crossover aesthetic. "It's crucial for designers to approach these designs with cultural sensitivity, steering clear of stereotypes," Griz Dwight, founding principal of GrizForm Design Architects, told the publication.

Functional Creative Design studio writes that designers should take global inspiration and not be afraid of different colors, textures, and patterns. "Whether it's Moroccan tiles, Japanese minimalism, or Indian textiles, infuse your restaurant with the richness of global design influences. The result? A visually stunning space that celebrates the beauty of diversity."

Unique cocktails and beverages are another popular trend that diners are craving. The Glendale Panda Inn, for example, offers alcoholic drinks infused with teas and fresh herbs. Mixologists also get creative with garnishes and hand-carved ice spheres to the point where serving cocktails becomes a work of art. But the mixology trend is about more than just the drinks. It's also about the unique bar displays and dynamic lighting, allowing mixologists to make cocktail alchemy an immersive experience.

Restaurateurs also try to enhance their customers' dining experience with the urban oasis concept. Most restaurants and bars do this by designing their interior with greenery indoors. Wanting to escape the hustle and bustle of the big city, more and more diners are looking for their dining environment to be calming and relaxing. Rooftop dining falls into this category too, and they're combining the escape from the city turmoil with sustainability.

Locally sourced ingredients continue to be popular amongst diners, as they're looking to make their dining habits ethical and sustainable. The sentiment also seeps into restaurant architecture and interior design as well. More and more restaurants follow this trend by choosing reclaimed wood, recycled metal, and energy-efficient lighting in their design.

Apparently, people also like it when a restaurant is not actually a restaurant. Hence the rise of multi-functional dining spaces. By day, it can function as a cozy cafe or a restaurant. And by night, it's a unique cocktail bar. According to Acme, spaces like this were all the rage in 2023 in commercial bar design, and they continue to be so in 2024. "This flexibility allows for a broader range of customers and events, maximising the use of space," they claim.

Did you know that there's a revolution going on in the restaurant industry? A small plate revolution! Apparently, another popular trend is to say goodbye to the entree, main, and dessert and embrace sharing with your friend group. This is not a new concept in Middle Eastern restaurants, where dining is a very communal experience, but one that has been gaining more popularity since the pandemic.

Interestingly, it's also an issue many foodies can't seem to agree on. It turns out the small plates trend has as many fans as it has haters. Some critics claim that "small plates are over," while others explain how individualistic Westerners could learn a thing or two from this way of dining. Still, some insist that the trend is over and people miss big portions.

As you see in many of the entries here, gallery walls have become a popular trend in restaurant and bar design. Whether they're made from fake IDs from real customers or photos of every dog that has passed through a Starbucks driveway, many restaurants are choosing them to liven up the interior. "They create a good mood, influence the traffic flow, and give more opportunities for local artists to present their work," Raj Architects writes.

So, Pandas, what are the most interesting restaurants and bars you have ever visited? Was it the design, the utensils, or the sustainable solutions that impressed you the most? Or maybe the Pokémon card that came with the bill? Let us know in the comments, and don't forget to upvote your favorite restaurant and bar design concepts in this list!

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