The Copenhagen eatery Llama Restaurant & Bar has won a renowned International Design Award for ‘interior design of the year’ in the ‘conceptual’ category.

The South American cuisine restaurant, which opened in April last year just around the corner from Kongens Nytorv on Lille Kongensgade, won the award ahead of a strong field that included Restaurant Katana in Dubai and Adidas’s headquarters in China.

“It’s not every day we see international design awards being handed out to Danish restaurants, so naturally we are pleased to receive such a prize – and practically on our birthday,” Jonas Hartz, Llama’s creative adviser, told AOK.dk.

“It’s always been our plan to develop the concept and confirms we are doing something right. We can also see that translated into the popularity Llama has acquired over the past year. And, at the end of the day, that’s what matters: happy guests.”

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Palette for your palate
Upon descending the steps into Llama – which is part of the affordable chain of Cofoco restaurants and sits 180 guests – patrons are greeted by vast numbers of colourful Mexican tiles that persist throughout the restaurant’s floors and walls.

Along with Hartz, the restaurant’s concept was developed by Torben Klitbo, August Lund and Christian Lytje from Cofoco, BIG tegnestue and Kilo Design architects. World-renowned architect Bjarke Ingels was attached as an adviser.

It’s not the first time a Danish restaurant have received props for its design. In January, Restaurant Höst in Copenhagen was named the world’s most beautiful restaurant by the US travel stalwart Travel Leisure.