ADVERTISEMENTPrix Versailles, a prestigious global architecture award, has revealed its annual list of the world’s most beautiful restaurants – and this year’s picks are a feast for the eyes as much as the palate
So, who made the cut?
Top spot goes to Dubai’s Gerbou, a sleek restaurant where traditional Emirati craftsmanship and cuisine meets modern design. With camel leather sofas, ghaf wood chairs, and fish-scale lighting echoing the coast, the space has been described as feeling both intimate and contemporary. Chef Ionel Catau’s menu, featuring 70% locally sourced ingredients, reinterprets ancestral flavours with innovative flair – making Gerbou a feast for all the senses.
Second place goes to Smoked Room in Dubai – a Michelin-star space with a sophisticated, moody aura. Black bricks have been used alongside mirrors and brass mesh, and its intimate semi-circular layout allows only 14 people at a time to enjoy the restaurant’s Omakase experience.
The top European entry is Lobster Club in Majorca, Spain – a contemporary sea club embodying the Mediterranean lifestyle. Designed by Sandra Tarruella and created by Juan Picornell of Grupo Cappuccino, the space features fluid dining zones around a central bar and a gorgeous panoramic terrace that blurs indoor and outdoor boundaries.
In 6th place is Bouchon Carême in central Helsinki, a Finnish reinterpretation of the traditional Lyonnaise bouchon. Housed in a historic 1900 building, the restaurant preserves original features like exposed brick and cast-iron columns, while Studio Fyra’s warm, natural décor creates a cozy atmosphere. Large rounded windows connect diners to the city, complementing Chef Hans Välimäki’s menu of simple, timeless local dishes.
Two Parisian gems claim the 7th and 8th spots on the list.
In 7th place, Ladurée Rue Royale invites guests to step back into 1862 with its recent reopening, boasting a beautifully restored Belle Époque interior by Cordelia de Castellane. Walking through its salons – named Chantilly and Napoléon – is like entering Marie Antoinette’s era, where delicate details and timeless elegance create a truly enchanting atmosphere.
Right behind it at 8th place, Ducasse Baccarat transforms the former home of art muse Marie-Laure de Noailles. Interior architect Aliénor Béchu masterfully blends raw materials with shimmering crystal accents, while contemporary art and artisan furniture bathe the space in a play of light and shadow.
An entry from the UK also makes the top 16 list with Julie’s in London’s Notting Hill, established in 1969 by interior designer Julie Hodges. The spot quickly became a favourite of actors, fashion icons, and royalty. Once a private gentlemen’s club, the space is now open to all, featuring an alfresco terrace that celebrates its deep ties to West London’s history and culture.
Full list of the world’s most beautiful museums, according to Prix Versailles:
- Gerbou, Dubai, UAE
- Smoked Room, Dubai, UAE
- Blackswan, Beijing, China
- Ōrtensia, Shanghai, China
- Lobster Club, Palma de Majorca, Spain
- Bouchon Carême, Helsinki, Finland
- Ladurée Rue Royale, Paris, France
- Ducasse Baccarat, Paris, France
- Julie’s, London, UK
- Shell, Nusa Penida, Indonesia
- Coro, Orvieto, Italy
- Seven Island, Busan, Republic of Korea
- Kimyoa, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Another Smith, Tha Sai Luat, Thailand
- Beefbar, New York, USA
- Japón, Miami Beach, USA
