Must-see restaurants in Australia & Pacific

  • Jarmers Kitchen

    Jarmer's Kitchen

    Adelaide

    Jarmer's is a mainstay of rapidly redeveloping Bowden, a city-edge suburb once an industrial wasteland, now home to hundreds of hip new townhouses with…

  • Botanic Gardens Restaurant

    Botanic Gardens Restaurant

    Adelaide

    Nested deep within the verdant folds of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens, this white-linen beauty has been wowing critics. Creative fine-dining is why you're…

  • Mestizo

    Mestizo

    Adelaide

    This endearing little plum-coloured eatery in the Glenelg South back blocks is Adelaide's best (only) Peruvian restaurant. The hard-working kitchen turns…

  • Textbook Bakery

    Textbook

    Newtown & the Inner West

    A baker and a patissier have teamed up here to produce delicious bread, pies and pastries, and some absolutely amazingly vivid dessert creations: resist…

  • Paddock Bakery exterior

    Paddock Bakery

    Gold Coast

    An antique wood-fired oven sits in the heart of this beautiful old weatherboard cottage and turns out wonderful bread, croissants and pastries. The semi…

  • Hummus Club, Northbridge.

    Hummus Club

    Perth

    If you can nab a seat on the open-air balcony, consider yourself lucky. Hummus Club has become one of Northbridge's coolest foodie haunts, not least for…

  • Café Troppo

    Adelaide

    Breathing a bit of vigour into Whitmore Sq, corner-cafe Troppo has jaunty exposed timberwork and a sustainable outlook (local ingredients, recycling,…

  • Moo Moo exterior

    Moo Moo the Wine Bar & Grill

    Gold Coast

    Moo Moo’s winning steaks include lots of grain-fed Wagyu, a 400g, 50-day dry-aged rib eye on the bone, and a pasture-grazed local Angus. There’s also…

  • Garden cafe at McGain's food store.

    Poppies

    Great Ocean Road

    Snack among the foliage at this lovely sunlit cafe with a nursery-atrium locale. The menu is largely organic, using produce from the attached food store…

  • Kakulas Bros, Northbridge.

    Kakulas Bros

    Perth

    A local institution since 1929, this fragrant provisions store overflows with sacks and vats of legumes, nuts, dried fruits and olives, plus a deli…

  • Rick Shores exterior

    Rick Shores

    Gold Coast

    This acclaimed modern Asian restaurant offers beachfront dining at its most beachy, with windows that open out to let in the breeze and the sound of the…

  • Entrance to Muse, 69 Canberra Ave, Kingston

    Morks

    Canberra

    Not exactly cheap, but nonetheless one of the best restaurants on the Kingston foreshore, Morks offers a contemporary spin on Thai cuisine, with Chinese…

  • Entrance to Elk & Pea, 21 Lonsdale St, Braddon

    Elk & Pea

    Canberra

    Mexican influences pervade the menu and cocktail list of this cool little anytime place, which includes spicy eggs for brekkie, burgers and wraps for…

  • La Ricetta Italian restaurant in Enmore

    La Ricetta

    Newtown & the Inner West

    With close-packed tables, warm lighting and an authentic feel, this is a convivial venue for Italian in the interesting dining hub of Enmore. It is strong…

  • Little Willy's, Northbridge.

    Little Willys

    Perth

    The name here pertains to the cafe's petite size, and the fact it sits on William St – don't get any funny ideas. Grab a footpath table and tuck into…

  • Stinking Bishops restaurant in Newtown

    Stinking Bishops

    Newtown & the Inner West

    A pungent array of artisanal cheeses is the raison d'être of this popular shop and place to eat. Choose the varieties you want, pick a wine or local craft…

  • Tak Chee House, Northbridge.

    Tak Chee House

    Perth

    With Malaysian students crammed in for a taste of home, Tak Chee is one of the best Asian cheapies along William St. If you don't have a taste for satay,…

  • Kailis Bros, Leederville.

    Kailis Bros

    Perth

    A big fresh-seafood supplier with attached cafe. Go in just for a stickybeak: the staff are always happy to pick up a live yabby or marron (local…

  • The popular sushi bar has a prime spot on Byron's main street

    Kinoko

    Byron Bay

    Choose something from the sushi train or let the Japanese chef slice up a plate of fresh sashimi at Byron's most popular Japanese place. You can also dig…

  • Faheem Fast Food in Enmore

    Faheem Fast Food

    Newtown & the Inner West

    This Enmore Rd stalwart offers a totally no-frills dining atmosphere but very tasty and authentic curry and tandoori options served until late. Its Haleem…

  • Bakery On O'Connell

    Bakery on O'Connell

    Adelaide

    Hunger pangs at 3am? Roll on into the Bakery on O'Connell for pizza slices, cakes, buns, pies, pasties and doughnuts as big as your face. Or perhaps a…

  • Lucky Lupitas, Mexican restaurant.

    Lucky Lupitas

    Adelaide

    Nifty plywood panelling, stacks of hot-sauce boxes by the door and unbelievably good spicy King George whiting tacos, beef brisket nachos and braised lamb…

  • Fleetwood Macchiato

    Fleetwood Macchiato

    Newtown & the Inner West

    Top points for the name, but Fleetwood Macchiato backs it up with excellent coffee, delicious cooked breakfasts and heart-winning fusion flavour…

  • A private leafy path leads to the restaurant

    Italian Byron Bay

    Byron Bay

    Adjoining the Beach Hotel, this atmospheric Italian place has Med-resort vibes and turns out a reliable menu of authentic dishes to an appreciative…

  • Amalfi Pizzeria Ristorante

    Amalfi Pizzeria Ristorante

    Adelaide

    This classic old joint has been around since the days when Adelaide phone numbers only had seven digits. Authentic pizza and pasta with bentwood chairs,…

  • Ampersand Cafe.

    Ampersand Cafe & Bookstore

    Sydney

    Which are better, the books or the cooks? Either way, you’re guaranteed to find a good read (heaps of new and second-hand books over three floors) and a…

  • Boucla frontage, Subiaco.

    Boucla

    Perth

    A locals' secret, this Greek- and Levantine-infused haven is pleasingly isolated from the thick of the Rokeby Rd action. Baklava and cakes tempt you from…

  • Siam Square Thai exterior

    Siam Square Thai

    Brisbane

    Straight-up Thai classics in a prominent corner location in New Farm. Watch the eclectic local parade of gay guys, shuffling winos and the odd Italian…

  • Zucca

    Zucca

    Adelaide

    Multicoloured tables, marina views, super service and a contemporary menu of meze plates − you'd struggle to find anything this appealing on Santorini…

  • Vue exterior

    Vue

    Brisbane

    Equal parts cafe, bistro and burger joint, Vue covers a lot of bases well. Start the day on a tropical note with mango and coconut chia pudding, live a…

  • Ruby Red Flamingo

    Ruby Red Flamingo

    Adelaide

    Fancy Italian on a North Adelaide side street, seated either in old-cottage confines, or out by the babbling fountain (a very Tuscan scene). The calamari…

  • Blue Breeze Inn, Ponsonby.

    Blue Breeze Inn

    Ponsonby & Karangahape Rd

    Regional Chinese flavours combine with a funky retro Pacific ambience at this so-hip-it-hurts eatery. The waitstaff are sassy, the rum cocktails are…

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    Top Shop

    Byron Bay

    High up on the hill east of town, Top Shop has long been the choice of local surfers. Today it's a casually upmarket version of the old-school takeaway,…

  • Good Life

    Good Life

    Adelaide

    Climb the stairs above the Jetty Rd tram-scape for fabulous organic pizzas with bountiful SA ingredients. The vibe is a tad hippie – a refreshing change…

  • Cardamom Pod exterior

    Cardamom Pod

    Gold Coast

    Vegetarians and vegans rejoice! This meat-free place has a counter full of salads and warmer-tray curries, vegan lasagne and cheesy bakes. Finish off with…

  • Typical Maori Pounamu with Native Flora Background

    Rotorua Night Market

    Rotorua

    Tutanekai St is closed off on Thursday nights as Rotorua lays out a world of food. Buskers, coffee vans and clothing and jewellery makers are dotted among…

  • Exterior of Maids Pantry (General Store) in Anglesea.

    Surfcoast Hub Cafe

    Great Ocean Road

    Across from the Anglesea River, this bright, rustic cafe doubles as a provedore and general store, stocking a good range of local produce. It has a wide…

  • With plenty of greenery and rustic finishes, Folk has a relaxed, holiday vibe

    Folk

    Byron Bay

    This delightful wooden-cottage cafe sits beside a busy caravan park but is a world unto itself, with a pretty garden setting and even prettier plating up…

  • Front of the Fairhaven Surf Livesaving Club overlooking Fairhaven Beach.

    Fairhaven Surf Life Saving Club

    Great Ocean Road

    The slickly renovated surf club runs a bar and bistro from January to Easter from its commanding dune location overlooking Fairhaven Beach; it's a…

  • Sosta

    Sosta

    Adelaide

    Beef, lamb, pork, veal, goat, chicken, fish…vegetarians run for the hills! Sosta's aged 1kg T-bone steaks are legendary. With crisp white tablecloths and…

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