World's most beautiful new restaurants

By Tim McKeough | Architectural Digest – 12 hours ago

(Photo: Eric Laignel)

Dining out is rarely just about the food. The scene, the socializing, and the sense of a special event are equally important. When done right, a restaurant’s design enhances all of these elements. A simple meal seems that much more appetizing when paired with appealing furniture, luxurious finishes, and alluring lighting.

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For architects and interior designers, restaurant commissions can be invitations for experimentation. When tasked with creating such statement spaces, a little extra drama or a few theatrical flourishes, which could be too overpowering for a residential dining room, are almost always welcome.

The 10 restaurants in our slideshow top our list of recent openings that go beyond the ordinary.

Astor Grill

(Photo: Eric Laignel)
Doha, Qatar

Visitors to the Astor Grill at the St. Regis Doha are sure to be amazed. Although the restaurant’s name—a tribute to the hotel chain’s founder, John Jacob Astor IV—conjures images of old New York, the interiors, designed by Rockwell Group Europe, are anything but. At the entrance, a 16-foot-tall curved sculptural installation inspired by the work of British artist Tony Cragg wraps across one wall with a spun-bronze profile that has a cutout niche for a banquette.

In the main dining area hangs a striking ceiling installation made from a surprisingly humble material—short strips of pine. By layering hundreds of pieces tightly together, the installation has a rich textural effect that is much more than the sum of its parts. The wood adds warmth, but liberal applications of red—from the leather-clad seating to the lacquered walls—really set the room on fire.