Tagged Articles

new + notable: Sugar Champagne Bar, Sarasota, Fla.

With interiors by Blok Design Group, the 1,000-square-foot elevated champagne bar features velvet banquettes, marble surfaces, lacquered finishes and patterned wall coverings that create tactile richness and depth.

Rosa Mexicano Moves into New York’s Empire Hotel

After serving as a fixture for New York theater-goers for four decades, Rosa Mexicano has a new home. The Mexican restaurant, which first opened in 1984, has relocated to the mezzanine level of the iconic Empire Hotel, just steps from its original Lincoln Center location.

Jumieka Brings Bold Design to New York in Tribute to Chef’s Roots

Vibrant New York restaurant celebrates its chef’s home country with bold, colorful design.

2025 Award Winners

rd+d exists to share projects, examples and stories that educate and inspire. When the rd+d awards were launched nine years ago, our team wanted to highlight the projects that made readers proud and impressed our judges. This year’s winners did both! Read on to find out how.

A World View: Bon Bouquet Café, Paris

Designed by Between the Walls, a firm based in Ukraine, Bon Bouquet Café sought to push the boundaries of traditional Parisian cafe aesthetics.

KFC Debuts Saucy New Concept

A new chicken tender concept Saucy has opened in Orlando, Fla.

Whimsy Abounds at Swingers Las Vegas

A whimsical and unexpected eatertainment space opens in Las Vegas.

Ugly Bagel Opens First Brick-and-Mortar Location Inside The Arcade Nashville

Ugly Bagel has opened its first brick-and-mortar location inside the newly renovated historic landmark, The Arcade Nashville.

new + notable: Blue Collar, Miami

Recently reopened after a renovation, Blue Collar is chef/owner Danny Serfer’s love letter to mid-century modern design.

Italian Travel at the Fontainebleau Hotel Miami Beach

Mirabella restaurant in the Fontainebleau Hotel Miami Beach has a strong sense of place but in this case it’s not Miami Beach but coastal southern Italy, especially Positano, the designers hoped to evoke.

Eclectic, Vibrant and Downright Warholian

Boba Tea Shop Doubles Down on Sleek Design

Bold tiles, neon signs and vibrant hues were used to craft Bobaroma’s new location.

Sustainable Farm and Distillery Offers Luxe Guest Experience

Klocke Estate, a 160-acre sustainable farm, brandy distillery, and restaurant nestled in the heart of the Hudson Valley has opened.

Family-Owned Cantina Gets a Bold Refresh

A family-owned legacy brand breathes new life into its 20-year-old restaurant. The result is a welcoming, down-to-earth cantina that imparts a sense of community and family tradition.

Project Profile: Salted Melon Market & Eatery

 A distinct new brand leverages its owner's gourmet retail experience while leaning into foodservice with an eye toward a younger demographic.

Arizona Taqueria Doubles as an Art Installation

Exuding Mexican charm, the new restaurant doubles as an art installation displaying artwork, sculptures and more.

Form + Function: Sushi Bars

Sushi restaurants are deviating from the script. Designers are adding flair, modernity, color, and the unexpected.

New Dessert Bar Aims for Playful Ambiance and Social Media Moments

Mango Bliss Dessert Bar’s playful design features vibrant colors and a neon sign that reads, “bliss in every bite.”

Puerto Rican Rum Bar Lands in Chicago

Marina's Bistro and Rum Bar is bringing the vibrant flavors (and colors) of Puerto Rico to Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood.

Modern Coastal, with a Warm Southern Accent

Conversion of a 3,360-square-foot space into Joyce, whose menu showcases modern takes on Southern-style seafood, was quick.

Art-Filled Cocktail and Oyster Bar Opens in Denver

Warm, textural and welcoming, Traveling Mercies is a new, intimate oyster bar whose design was inspired by the hole-in-the-wall spots chef Caroline Glover seeks out while traveling.

Bar Design, Done Right

Bars are often the centerpiece of restaurants and serve as a draw to patrons. Savvy designers are highlighting bars, where appropriate, while also making them functional and effective.

Café Mars: A Fresh Take on Italian

Take your mind’s eye to the quintessential Italian restaurant, and what do you see?

Fun and Mischief Abound in this Hotel Restaurant

Masti, a Hindi word that loosely translates to “fun and mischief,’” is a new restaurant that offers Indian-inspired global cuisine to guests of The Dubai Edition Hotel, located in Dubai. 

Back to the Future

Nostalgia is a strong emotional driver for American consumers who often see previous decades through rose-tinted glasses.

Come on, Barbie, Let’s go to the Pop-Up Party

Mattel and Bucket Listers are partnering to produce a pop-up Barbie-themed restaurant in Chicago and New York City.

Flashy and Fun: This 36-Seat Speakeasy Packs a Punch

Below the lucky cat neon sign in a popular Vietnamese restaurant, patrons find a 36-seat speakeasy with a refined and eclectic vibe.

A Vegan Restaurant Designed to Feel Restorative Inside and Out

Wildseed is a health-focused, vegan restaurant that was designed to feel restorative inside and out. The resulting restaurants offer a lively and energetic take on biophilic design.

Raising Cane’s Teams with Post Malone to Design Utah Restaurant

Fast-casual chain Raising Cane’s opened a Post Malone-themed restaurant in Midvale, Utah. In fact, the musician, who happens to be a big fan of the brand, played a central role in designing the restaurant.

Project Profile: Summerbird

This fast-casual concept aims to build a chain on summer nostalgia and an elevated dining experience.