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From disco balls to shark-infested stalls, get ready to cast your vote. Cintas Corporation revealed the top ten finalists for its 16th annual America’s Best Restroom Contest. The public can vote for their favorite restroom now through Oct. 27.
“Most public bathrooms are not considered pleasant places to be, but with their stunning stalls and unique design features, this year’s 10 finalists are tourist attractions in their own right,” said Sean Mulcahey, marketing manager, Cintas. “These finalists realize the impact a clean and memorable restroom has on the customer experience. We can’t wait to see which one America selects as its favorite.”
The best bowls in the 2017 America’s Best Restroom Contest include:
Carmel Beach - Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
The Carmel Beach restrooms are built on a bluff just west of Scenic Road at Santa Lucia Avenue, designed to blend in with the beauty of the surrounding area. A stone veneer and board-form finish on the concrete walls provides a rustic look, and a “green roof” covered in plants to complement the surrounding scenery, while the mahogany doors provide a rich contrast. Located adjacent to a heavily-used pedestrian trail, the usefulness of the restroom facility is equal to its aesthetically pleasing appearance.
Doughnut Plant – New York, NY
The restroom at Doughnut Plant's shop in the historic Chelsea Hotel was inspired by one of the first jobs Doughnut Plant's founder and owner Mark Isreal had when he moved to NYC: a busboy at the legendary Studio 54. Designed to mirror a disco ball, the restroom walls and floor are covered with twinkling metallic tiles. Of course, the restroom also features a shiny disco ball spinning from the ceiling.
Elsa – Brooklyn, NY
At just 16 square feet each, the Elsa bathrooms make the most of their small footprint through the use of rich materiality and play of light. Back-lit slatted mirrors create an arched ceiling that surrounds the guest and amplifies the space on all sides. Custom doors and hardware, contrasting marble floors, a custom marble and glass sink ledge, reclaimed wall tile and pink plaster walls all come together to make the compact restrooms feel playfully expansive.
La Boucherie on 71 – Los Angeles
Encompassed in the Wilshire Grand Center, the design of the La Boucherie on 71 restrooms creates an “authentic” experience for urban dwellers and visitors alike. The Marie Antoinette-themed restrooms feature fully enclosed stalls and gold accents, including modern light fixtures and faucets. The corridor mimics the hallways of Versailles with wallpapered doors and intricately-patterned lounge chairs.
OdySea Aquarium – Scottsdale, Ariz.
At OdySea Aquarium, the adventure is all around you... even in the restrooms! During the early stages of design, OdySea knew that it wanted to create jaw-dropping moments for its guests at every corner. That’s why they opted out of the typical mirror over the sinks and instead installed an enormous acrylic window leading straight into Shark Waters – its largest exhibit. Where else in the world can you stare a 9-foot lemon shark in the eye as you wash your hands?
Off the Waffle – Portland, Ore.
Off The Waffle is a restaurant that is all about surprising and delighting its guests, and its restroom is no exception. The disco bathroom is the brainchild of its co-founder Omer Orian, after realizing that the restroom space in its Portland location could use a little more pizazz. By flipping the light switch to ‘disco’ mode, the bathroom transforms with flashy lights and music - creating a party in the potty every time. The entire setup was designed and installed by Omer, his brother Dave, and his sister Vered.
Palmetto Brewery – Charleston, SC
The restrooms at Palmetto Brewery feature urinals made out of recycled kegs. If you look closely, you will notice the urinals are designed to look like mouths with tongues. One has braces, another has big buck teeth and the other is designed to look like a vampire. The restrooms also feature corrugated metal stalls and industrial sconces. Aside from its beer, the restrooms are one of Palmetto’s main attractions.
Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel – Chicago, IL
Hidden away near the Raised Urban Rooftop Bar, this delightful restroom makes it easy to forget you’re in the heart of downtown Chicago. The ebony tile walls are counterbalanced by a large portrait resembling a bright and beautiful garden that wraps around the main area. Sleek back-lit mirrors rest above black, marble counters with silver under mount sinks. It also features six stalls that are as classy as they are private.
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art – San Francisco
Snohetta, the designers of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art's new 10-story expansion, use the restrooms to activate visitors' senses and inspire them to explore another floor of the nation's largest museum of modern and contemporary art. Each floor features a different, eye-popping color in all of the mens, womens and all-gender restrooms. From brilliant green, deep purple, shocking pink, aquatic teal and even SFMOMA's signature shade of warm red, the restrooms are works of art unto themselves. Insider tip: look for the green flash after exiting the red restroom on the second floor - a classic example of afterimage using complementary colors.
Sinema Restaurant + Bar – Nashville, Tenn.
Sinema Restaurant + Bar is housed in the historic Melrose Theater, which opened in 1942 and has a storied history of delighting movie-goers and creating long lasting memories. With features like Hollywood makeup lights, patterned terrazzo floors, Carerra marble countertops and starlight wall sconces, the ladies’ lounge at Sinema is a recreation of the glamourous days. It’s a frequent ‘must’ destination for guests, who primp and pose before taking a #SinemaSelfie.
The ten finalists were selected based on cleanliness, visual appeal, innovation, functionality and unique design elements. The restroom that receives the most votes will be awarded $2,500 in facility services or restroom cleaning from Cintas to help maintain their award-winning restroom.