The Oscars of restaurant design are back—and New York has shown up dressed to kill. The annual Restaurant & Bar Design Awards , which spotlight the most jaw-dropping dining spaces around the globe, just revealed its 2025 shortlist and a handful of NYC spots made the cut. If you needed an excuse to eat somewhere pretty enough to make your Instagram followers jealous, consider this it.

Brass , designed by Islyn Studio, is a love letter to glam nostalgia. With gleaming metallic surfaces, rich textures and a mood that feels part supper club, part glossy fever dream, it’s no surprise it’s up for multiple categories, including Standalone and Heritage Building. Translation: historic but make it chic.

La Tête d’Or , Daniel Boulud’s latest Midtown showpiece, is another strong contende

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