The Prix Versailles, an international architecture and design award, has announced its selection of the World's Most Beautiful Restaurants for 2026, highlighting sixteen venues where interior design rivals the culinary experience. Five of these are located across Europe, from a hidden cocktail bar in Vienna to a modern Alpine retreat in Gstaad.
Jérôme Gouadain, Secretary General of the Prix Versailles, noted that the chosen establishments demonstrate how décor can harmonize with both environment and menu, whether housed in historic buildings or contemporary spaces. The awards celebrate the intersection of architecture, hospitality, and gastronomy.
The European Laureates
Le Fou, Vienna, Austria — Tucked inside the boutique hotel The Leo Grand, Le Fou channels Parisian nightlife through interconnected rooms designed by founder Alexander Schrack and interior designer Theresa Obermoser. Silk walls, velvet furnishings, natural stone, and aged metal finishes create a luxurious yet understated atmosphere. Rust and terracotta tones give way to gold accents with leopard-print details, and as evening falls, low lighting transforms the space into one of Vienna's most stylish cocktail destinations.
Monti, Gstaad, Switzerland — Located within The Alpina Gstaad Hotel, Monti reimagines Alpine design without resorting to chalet clichés. Architect Jakob Sprenger and creative director Antonia Crespí used reclaimed 200-year-old timber from local farmhouses for walls and ceilings, complemented by local elm furniture, woven bronze dividers, and mohair banquettes. A terrace overlooks the surrounding glaciers, and chef Martin Göschel prepares select dishes tableside, fostering a communal dining experience.
Finlandia Bistro, Helsinki, Finland — Inside the iconic Finlandia Hall, a landmark of Finnish modernism completed in 1971, design studio Fyra has balanced preservation with renewal. Original furnishings by architect Alvar Aalto sit alongside bespoke contemporary pieces, creating a warm, lived-in atmosphere that respects the building's heritage while serving as a natural extension of its cultural life.
Carbone, London, United Kingdom — The first European outpost of the New York institution occupies the former American Embassy in Mayfair. Designer Ken Fulk channels 1950s supper clubs with velvet banquettes, polished woodwork, intricate mosaics, and contemporary artworks by Lola Montes and Ai Weiwei. A hand-painted mural lines the grand staircase, leading to a bar, lounge, main dining room, and an opulent private dining space.
Marlow, Monaco — In Monaco's new Mareterra district, artist and architect Hugo Toro designed Marlow as the imagined home of a fictional British character, drawing on the long history of English visitors to the Côte d'Azur. Wood-panelled walls, vintage-inspired furnishings, and a central bar evoke an elegant private club, while chef Sébastien Blin reinterprets British classics with Mediterranean influences.
These five venues join a global list that spans from Tokyo to São Paulo, underscoring Europe's continued influence in design-forward dining. For travelers seeking more than just a meal, they offer destinations in their own right—places where architecture and atmosphere are as memorable as the food.
