Brussels is once again making its mark on the international scene. This time, it’s not for its food, but for its design! Three of the capital’s emblematic venues have just been shortlisted for the Restaurant & Bar Design Awards 2025, alongside two other Belgian addresses. And the surprise comes from a name we didn’t expect to see on the list at all…
When Brussels goes big
This year, the Belgian capital can pride itself on representing European creativity. The prestigious Corinthia Grand Hotel Astoria has included two of its addresses in the shortlist for the Restaurant & Bar Design Awards 2025: the Palais Royal, designed by MA2and / G.A Group, and the refined Petit Bon Bon, designed by studio WeWantMore. Two spaces where architecture blends with history to create settings worthy of the finest international palaces.
The unexpected guest: a McDonald’s in the heart of Brussels
But it’s the third address in Brussels that really stands out: the McDonald’s on the Bourse. Designed by WeWantMore, the same design studio that came up with Petit Bon Bon, it proves that even a world-famous fast-food chain can reinvent itself and win over a jury of architecture and interior design experts. A bold choice that challenges our preconceived ideas about the world of fast-food chains.
Beyond Brussels, Belgium shines
The selection doesn’t stop at the capital. In Flanders, two other establishments complete the picture: Maison Colette in Antwerp and Cult in Bruges. Two very different concepts, but the same attention to detail, which testify to Belgium’s creative dynamism on the global culinary and architectural scene. Expected result: a grand ceremony in Dubai on October 27, 2025.
You can view all selected restaurants and bars here!