The restaurant boom of the last 20 years has led to an increase in both the volume and diversity of restaurants in the world's major cities. Consumer expectations have risen dramatically--restaurants have become so much more than simply a place to eat.

As living space in the city shrinks and city dwellers have less private room to call their own, they are increasingly choosing to dine out in public spaces. These arenas are where the modern urbanite performs his or her identity--where we eat and drink defines, to an extent, our social selves. Modern technology and communications have made us more mobile than ever, leading to an unprecedented awareness of other cultures. This is reflected in the rich diversity of food and design on display in today's restaurant. In the twenty-first century, eating out is as much about entertainment as nourishment.

Now restaurants can look like anything from a bedroom to the Arabian-style Nomads in Amsterdam or the futuristic Pod in Philadelphia. As long as there's somewhere to rest a plate, when it comes to inspiration, the world is the restaurant designer's oyster. This volume celebrates the most inspiration and beautiful restaurant spaces from around the world--places built to seduce diners and fire the imagination. After a brief introduction tracing the history of restaurant design, the book is divided into 5 categories: Global, Retro-Pop, Modern Classics, High Concept, and New Baroque.