Unley Road bar and eatery Dolly wins Best Bar Design at the 2023 Eat Drink Design Awards
A suburban Adelaide bar has been named the country’s best designed — and it’s conveniently on the same road as another nation-beating pub lauded already this week.
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Suburban Adelaide bar and eatery Dolly has outpointed interstate counterparts to win Best Bar Design at the national 2023 Eat Drink Design Awards.
The Unley Road venue, opened by Sam Worrall-Thompson in January, was recognised for its innovative, bold design, which according to judges created a “distinctive and timeless ambiance”.
Jury Chair Amy Woodroffe said Dolly, which was designed by Genesin Studio, stood out for its “generous design that has been expertly crafted”, featuring velvet upholstery, timber panels, walnut joinery, a concrete bar, brick flooring and rendered walls.
“The Best Bar Design category always calls for immersive spaces, and Dolly overachieves with a space that pleases all the senses to give its patrons tactility, eye-candy and comfort,” she said.
The awards recognise excellence and innovation in the design of venues including restaurants, bars, hotels and nightclubs across Australia.
The prize is the fifth time that South Australia has secured the category at the awards since 2012, following wins by Clever Little Tailor (2014), Pink Moon Saloon (2016, Malt & Juniper (2018) and Leigh Street Wine Room (2020).
Ryan Genesin, from Genesin Studio, said his design brief was to create a “unique and timeless” wine bar for the residents of Unley.
“The combination of the existing cold-shell and design brief gave us a futurist approach to the project, creating something immersive and unseen,” he said.
“While we have a great understanding of hospitality design and workflow, every project is different and we made sure we could squeeze out as much as we can from the venue’s potential and patronage.”
Four of the seven major award winners came from Sydney, including joint winners for Best Restaurant Design, Beau and Dough, and Kiln, both in Surrey Hills.
Adelaide’s popular city restaurant, Fugazzi Private Dining Room & Bar by studio gram, was commended by judges.
S’wich Bondi on Bondi Beach was named Best Cafe Design, while Capella Sydney secured Best Hotel Design.
Dolly’s win comes a month after judges at the international Restaurant & Bar Design Awards named Luma, at the Playford Hotel, as Best Overall Bar at its 2023 ceremony in London.
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