10 Restaurants Every Interior Designer Should Experience
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From Cape Town to Shanghai, the restaurants recommended by the designers behind the Designeers Destination Guides.
Some restaurants are remembered for their food. Others stay with you because of the spaces they inhabit.
For interior designers, architects and creative travellers, the world's most memorable dining destinations are often those where architecture, atmosphere and craftsmanship come together to create something greater than the meal itself.
As part of the Designeers Destination Guides, we ask leading designers around the world to share the places they return to time and again. The result is a collection of restaurants that reflect the character of their cities while celebrating exceptional hospitality design.
From a sixteenth-century chapel in Ibiza to a contemporary masterpiece in Cape Town, these are ten restaurants every interior designer should experience.
Duryea's | The Hamptons
The Grill | New York
1. Duryea's | The Hamptons
Recommended by BArbra Fordyce
Perched above Fort Pond Bay in Montauk, Duryea's has become one of the Hamptons' defining summer destinations. Originally a historic lobster market, it has evolved into an elegant waterfront restaurant where weathered timber, natural textures and panoramic sea views create a distinctly relaxed coastal atmosphere. It perfectly captures the understated luxury for which the Hamptons has become known.
HAMPTONS Destination Guide | View BlackBook Profile
2. The Grill | New York
Recommended by Tommy Zung
Housed within the iconic Seagram Building, The Grill is one of New York's great architectural dining rooms. Designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Philip Johnson, the interiors remain a masterpiece of modernism, with soaring bronze ceilings, rich travertine and impeccable proportions. Dining here is as much an architectural experience as a culinary one.
Casa Tua | Miami
Meteora | Los Angeles
3. Casa Tua | Miami
Recommended by Samantha Gallacher (Art + Loom)
Hidden behind lush gardens in a Mediterranean villa, Casa Tua has long been one of Miami's most beautiful restaurants. Warm lighting, layered interiors and intimate dining rooms blur the line between private residence and hospitality destination, creating an atmosphere that feels timeless rather than fashionable.
MIAMI Destination Guide | View BlackBook Profile
4. Meteora | Los Angeles
Recommended by Peti Lau
Meteora reimagines fine dining through an immersive interior inspired by the natural world. Earth-toned materials, sculptural forms and atmospheric lighting create a sensory experience that perfectly complements Jordan Kahn's ingredient-led cuisine. It is a reminder that hospitality design can be as memorable as the food itself.
Cheval Blanc by Peter Knogl | Basel
FYN | Cape Town
5. Cheval Blanc by Peter Knogl | Basel
Recommended by Valeria Viollaz
Located within the legendary Les Trois Rois hotel, Cheval Blanc by Peter Knogl pairs one of Europe's finest dining experiences with an elegant Belle Époque interior overlooking the Rhine. Every detail reflects timeless European refinement, making it an essential stop for anyone interested in both gastronomy and design.
Basel Destination Guide | View BlackBook Profile
6. FYN | Cape Town
Recommended by Tristan du Plessis
Few restaurants demonstrate the relationship between interior design and dining as successfully as FYN. Designed by Tristan du Plessis, the space combines sculptural timber detailing, layered materials and dramatic lighting with panoramic views across Cape Town. It remains one of the world's finest examples of contemporary hospitality design.
Clove | Istanbul
Yixi Shanghai 1929 | Shanghai
7. Clove | Istanbul
Recommended by Mehmet Yücebaşoğlu
Clove represents the quieter side of Istanbul's evolving restaurant scene. Elegant interiors, carefully considered lighting, and a restrained material palette create an atmosphere that feels refined without excess, allowing exceptional cuisine and thoughtful design to exist in perfect balance.
Istanbul Destination Guide | View BlackBook Profile
8. Yixi Shanghai 1929 | Shanghai
Recommended by Studio ŪMA
Yixi Shanghai 1929 demonstrates how architecture can elevate the dining experience. Monumental arches, generous proportions and a restrained palette provide a dramatic setting for Guillaume Galliot's contemporary cuisine. The restaurant feels both timeless and unmistakably modern.
Sa Capella | Ibiza
Sogni | Milan
9. Sa Capella | Ibiza
Recommended by Anna Unwin
Set inside a beautifully restored sixteenth-century chapel, Sa Capella is one of Ibiza's most atmospheric restaurants. Historic stone walls, soaring vaulted ceilings and candlelit interiors celebrate the building's remarkable architecture while creating a memorable setting for Mediterranean cuisine.
10. Sogni | Milan
Recommended by Etereo Design
Sogni approaches hospitality as a complete sensory experience. Rich materials, beautifully composed lighting and an immersive atmosphere make it one of Milan's most compelling contemporary dining destinations. It perfectly reflects the city's reputation for sophisticated design.
Continue Your Journey
Every recommendation in this collection comes from one of the designers behind the Designeers Destination Guides - our growing editorial series exploring the cities shaping contemporary design through the eyes of the people who know them best.
Whether you're planning a visit to Milan, Cape Town, Shanghai or the Hamptons, our guides reveal the galleries, hotels, makers, restaurants and cultural spaces that define each destination, while introducing the designers helping shape its creative identity.
Explore all Destination Guides here.
