"The owner emphasised it should look pretty amazing but still keep the character of being Sir James Wattie's house.
"Now it is also one of the leading boutique hotels in the country."
As a result of the successful renovation and the hotel's success, the Japanese owner was considering future investments "which will benefit Hawke's Bay".
Art Deco Masonic Hotel director Neil Barber said the Best Bar Award for the Emporium Eatery & Bar was the result of a "mystery-shopped" visit by judges.
"We certainly know they enjoyed themselves," he said.
"There were a lot of awards won by Wellington people so it was kind of nice when Gisborne got a turn and then Hawke's Bay managed to pull off a couple as well." Mr Barber said.
"It sort of broke the Wellington steam train."We are especially pleased for food and beverage manager Shaye Bird and his team. He has been with us since the outset and helped us create it.
"It is nice to get recognition for your people and their efforts, rather than just physical things like the building.
"You can't be a Best Bar without a good team of people."
Coming up four years old, Emporium was "a unique bar and, as Napier has discovered, it is a good, honest and reliable bar".
The Art Deco Masonic Hotel is no stranger to winning Hospitality New Zealand Awards. Last year it won the Supreme Award for the accommodation part of the business. In 2014 Art it won the same award Mangapapa received this year.
This year the Supreme Winner was Northland's Waipoua Lodge, a century-old homestead.
