Must-see restaurants in Australia

  • Balcony Bar

    Byron Bay

    The eponymous architectural feature here wraps around the building and gives you tremendous views of the passing Byron parade (and the ever-busy traffic…

  • Captain Moonlite

    Great Ocean Road

    At the time of research Anglesea's finest restaurant was in the process of relocating to a new address, but in the meantime they've just launched Fish by…

  • Bistro Lola

    Victoria

    A contributing factor to the buzz about the reopened Theatre Royal, Bistro Lola features a menu of classy Italian mains rarely seen in this neck of the…

  • Karijini Eco Retreat Restaurant

    Karijini National Park

    The restaurant at Karijini Eco Retreat has fantastic food, with the chefs offering high-quality dishes that are often accented by bush-tucker ingredients …

  • Vaquero Dining

    Brisbane

    Hidden behind its own boutique butchery, Vaquero Dining has three obsessions: local produce, pickling and charcoal cooking. Expect beautifully executed…

  • Sounds of Silence

    Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park

    Waiters serve champagne and canapés on a desert dune with stunning sunset views of Uluru and Kata Tjuta. Then it's a buffet dinner (with emu, croc and roo…

  • Tahbilk Café

    Victoria

    With a passionate chef at its helm, Tahbilk Café harnesses seasonal, organic and biodynamic produce from local suppliers for slow-roasted lamb, baked…

  • Carl's

    Brisbane

    Carl's is the intimate, continental-spirited bistro-wine bar you wish you had on your street. A handful of tables share the space with the open kitchen,…

  • Cootharabar

    Sunshine Coast

    This polished, modern bistro-microbrewery is your best option for a quality feed in the area. Stake a table on the outdoor patio (overlooking the lake and…

  • Signature

    Brisbane

    Elegant dining thrives in this hatted, deco-inspired dining room, complete with flawlessly attentive staff, a 1000-glass-bauble ceiling installation and…

  • Bunyip Hotel

    Victoria

    After a successful stint as head chef at the lauded Movida Sydney, local-boy-made-good James Campbell has returned to his home town of Cavendish to open…

  • Pilgrim Coffee

    Hobart

    With exposed bricks, timber beams and distressed walls, L-shaped Pilgrim is Hobart's hippest cafe. Expect wraps, panini and interesting mains (try the…

  • Balfour Kitchen

    Brisbane

    Should you nosh in the dining room, on the verandah or among the frangipani in the courtyard? This polished cafe-restaurant creates a very Queensland…

  • Spirit House

    Sunshine Coast

    One of Queensland's top dining destinations (book well ahead for weekends), Spirit House evokes the deep jungles of Southeast Asia with its moody tropical…

  • NOA

    Cairns

    Edge Hill, Cairns' hippest suburb, has plenty going for it: the botanic gardens, Centenary Lakes, a sprinkling of boutiques and coffee joints, and this…

  • Rose & Crown

    West Coast Australia

    WA's oldest still-operating pub (1841) has a rambling beer garden and quirky heritage corners to explore inside. Have a beer in the enticingly dim cellar…

  • St Elmo

    Byron Bay

    Perch on a stool at this moody modern tapas restaurant, where bar staff can whip up inventive cocktails or pour you a glass of wine from the largely…

  • Fish D'vine

    Airlie Beach

    Picture yourself in a vast dining area, where bartenders are shaking dark and stormy cocktails at the centrepiece bar, stocked with an absurd 560-plus…

  • Sweet Meadow

    Victoria

    There's absolutely no trade-off for flavour in Sweet Meadow's great vegan and plant-based menu. Overflowing with seasonal fruit, quite possibly Australia…

  • Sum Yung Guys

    Sunshine Coast

    Flavours explode and thrill at this fun and popular place, co-owned by 2016 Masterchef Australia runner-up Matt Sinclair. He's usually in the kitchen,…

  • Goldmines Hotel

    Victoria

    A remnant of the lucrative Victoria Hills goldfields, this grand heritage hotel (1857) just west of central Bendigo has been taken over by the folk from…

  • Marta

    Sydney

    Set back from a showroom on its own sunny square – or should that be piazza? – this seductive spot focuses on traditional recipes from Rome and its region…

  • Source Dining

    Victoria

    One of central Victoria's best restaurants, this fine place has a menu that changes with the seasons and dish descriptions that read like a culinary short…

  • River Deck

    Southern NSW & The Murray

    Right beside the Murray, the River Deck is a fine place for a leisurely brunch or lunch. Vegetarian options include jackfruit breakfast tacos, and…

  • Porteño

    Surry Hills & Darlinghurst

    This upbeat and deservedly acclaimed Argentine restaurant is a great place to eat. The 'animal of the day' is slow-roasted for eight hours before the…

  • Merricks General Wine Store

    Victoria

    Dating back to the 1920s, this place is the heart of the district, frequented by locals and visitors alike. Its La Marzocco espresso machine is used to…

  • Wildflower

    Perth

    Filling a glass pavilion atop the restored State Buildings, Wildflower offers fine-dining menus inspired by the six seasons of the Indigenous Noongar…

  • 1889 Enoteca

    Brisbane

    Italian purists rightfully adore this moody, sophisticated bistro and wine shop, where pasta is not served with a spoon and a Roman-centric menu delivers…

  • Etsu Izakaya

    Gold Coast

    Transport yourself to Tokyo at this mysterious and moody yet fun and vibrant space reminiscent of a Japanese izakaya. Prop up the bar or nab a seat under…

  • Tonic

    New South Wales

    Classy Tonic is highly lauded for its sophisticated contemporary food that celebrates the region. Perhaps you'll start with Mandagery Creek venison,…

  • Town Restaurant & Cafe

    Byron Bay & Northern NSW

    Upstairs (Uptown, if you will) is one of northern NSW's perennially excellent restaurants, serving a seven-course degustation menu carefully and…

  • Anbinik Restaurant

    Kakadu National Park

    Easily Jabiru's best place for a meal, this outpost of Thailand in Kakadu has lovely outdoor tables (that can lack shade at lunchtime) and expertly…

  • Three Blue Ducks

    Brisbane

    Sydney’s cult-status, produce-driven eatery has checked into Brisbane’s W hotel, complete with river views. Here, morning coconut chia pudding might come…

  • Boo's Place Café & Provedore

    Victoria

    This fabulous spot has the town's best coffee. Cuisine follows a paddock-to-plate ethos, and there are local veggies and oranges for sale. For breakfast…

  • The Chapel

    Tasmania

    This hipsterish cafe is housed in a handsome decommissioned chapel and the quality of the food certainly matches the surrounds. The best cafe in Burnie …

  • Mrs Jones

    Tasmania

    Head upstairs at the surf lifesaving club at Bluff Beach for fine food with an equally fine beach view. The ambitious menu cherry-picks highlights from…

  • Summer Kitchen Bakery

    The Southeast

    Head to the side courtyard of this tucked-away treasure, on a street corner in Ranelagh a few kilometres out of Huonville, for a wide-ranging selection of…

  • Silos Restaurant

    South Coast NSW

    The former grain silos that give the winery its name overlook this loveable restaurant, which has an inviting verandah space and dining room with dreamy…

  • Gauge

    Brisbane

    In a crisp, sparse space punctuated by black-spun aluminium lamps and a smashing wine list, clean, contemporary dishes burst with Australian confidence…

  • Rinaldo's Casa Cucina

    Victoria

    With a riverside location, Rinaldo's serves up Northern Italian flavours including seasonal specials making the most of local produce. Try lighter meals…

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