Sydney
These ducks are a fair waddle from the water at Bronte Beach, but that doesn't stop queues forming outside the art-covered walls for weekend breakfasts…
Must-see restaurants in Australia
Surry Hills & Darlinghurst
Delicious dosas, piquant Goan curries and the soft seductive tastes of India's south make this sizeable, well-established Darlinghurst restaurant a…
Brisbane
Asian street food gets sexy at sleek, split-level Chu the Phat. Here, broth-bathed dumplings burst with smoked trout, while mung bean pancakes find their…
South Coast NSW
Parents driving the family down the South Coast for the holidays have long bribed the kids by promising a stop at this food truck if they were good along…
Melbourne
Celebrating its 90 years in 2018, Grossi is an Italian institution. Gilded plasterwork, chandeliers and 1930s Florentine Renaissance murals engender a…
Mid-North Coast
The second incarnation of Rick Stein at Mollymook, this beautifully fitted-out restaurant at Bannisters gives a nod to the coastal surrounds in both its…
Great Ocean Road
This tiny cafe at the historic swing bridge (c 1934) has an appealing retro vibe. It's the place for single-origin coffee to go with a brioche filled with…
Fortitude Valley
An unmarked door at the end of an alley ushers you into Hôntô's dramatic universe of charred-timber panels and glittering chandeliers. One of Brisbane's…
Great Ocean Road
Overlooking the Anglesea River is this spruced-up weatherboard that exudes a nostalgic endless-summer beach vibe. It's best known for smoky flame-grilled…
Brisbane
'Little Sister' offers the pizzeria 2.0 experience: chianti bottles are ditched for organic and biodynamic wines, and Napoli posters for Bowie portraits…
Victoria
Even if you're not staying here, you can experience some royal treatment by dining in the sumptuous, light-filled Gallery Bistro, which serves European…
Victoria
The former Mr Carsisi has relaunched itself under this new identity, and though it still has the same tasteful ambience, it's now serving a classy menu of…
Melbourne
This neighbourhood gem serves a produce-driven menu that gives vegetables the attention they deserve, while still offering locally sourced meat dishes. It…
Melbourne
Set in Melbourne's first courthouse, this romantic Italian restaurant has soaring ceilings with rustically peeling walls, powder-blue banquettes and a…
Newtown & the Inner West
There's something very life-affirming about a good Greek restaurant, and this family-run taverna ticks all the boxes. The decor is restrained, with olive…
St Kilda, Elwood & Elsternwick
This hideaway of dark wood, subdued lighting and pencil sketches is a St Kilda institution. The menu is Italian, with dishes that might see signature…
Melbourne
A more recent addition from the team behind Rumi, this restaurant-wine-bar 'of Middle Eastern appearance' is the ultimate pre- and post-show spot, just…
Brisbane
'Happiness never decreases by being shared.' So said the Buddha. The hordes at this casual, cavernous stalwart concur, sharing bowls of flavour-packed,…
Brisbane
The Gallery of Modern Art's luminous, fine-dining restaurant showcases native ingredients in a sophisticated, contemporary menu that might begin with raw…
City Centre & Haymarket
Mega-busy and loud, with close-packed tables, this excellent cafe is high energy. The inviting wood-and-brick decor and seriously good coffee (several…
Melbourne
Join the queue at Gelateria Primavera for gelati scooped from traditional pozzetti (metal tubs fitted into the bench). Next door the sandwich bar serves…
Brisbane
At West End's western edge, this airy, sustainable cafe-restaurant champions local produce and meat-free dining. Almost everything is made in-house,…
Brisbane
Polished, contemporary Chinese in a converted 1920s bank? Count us in. Paste hued and chandelier pimped, Donna Chang peddles superbly nuanced dishes like…
Gold Coast
This collaboration between Michelin-starred chef Mural and Sridhar Penumechu of the Saffron restaurant brings an exciting Indian-Asian fusion to Palazzo…
Fortitude Valley
Dark and sexy, Madame Rouge sets a very Parisian scene with red-velvet curtains, tasselled table lamps and Toulouse-Lautrec prints. The menu – co-designed…
St Kilda, Elwood & Elsternwick
With Nigella Lawson singing Tulum's praise during her Melbourne travels, this contemporary Turkish restaurant uses Australian ingredients and modern…
Snowy Mountains
Enticing brunches, gourmet burgers and respectable vegetarian options make Lott Foodstore the favourite for good grub in Cooma. Recent standouts include…
Noosa
Lunching ladies adore this casually chic, alfresco eatery. It's run by locally renowned chef David Rayner, whose vibrant, beautifully plated creations…
Melbourne
From the man behind Cumulus Inc, Andrew McConnell, comes this creative selection of pan-Asian sharing dishes, from dumplings to raw seafood to slow-cooked…
Melbourne
From the school of Melbourne wine bars with fantastic food comes Embla, a no-reservations spot favoured by the hospitality industry and city workers…
Fortitude Valley
Piñatas are ditched for Tasmanian oak, natural clay and Queensland marble at dimly-lit, next-gen Baja, where smart, Mexican-inspired dishes flaunt top…
Brisbane
Behind French-lattice windows, Catbird Seat runs an intimate, soulful affair, its bentwood chairs, blackboard specials and petite bar paging a somewhat…
Darwin
Ask locals about fine dining in Darwin and they'll usually mention Hanuman. It's sophisticated but not stuffy. Enticing aromas of innovative Indian and…
Northern Beaches
Sit on the large timber deck right by the sand at Pittwater or grab a garden table – either option is alluring at this casual seafood cafe. The food (try…
Brisbane
Sydney's cult-status artisanal gelateria keeps Brisbanites cool with its extensive, rotating repertoire of freshly churned flavours. The emphasis is on…
Melbourne
Surveying the world from the old observation deck of the Rialto tower, Melbourne’s favoured spot for occasion dining has views to match its storied…
Kings Cross & Potts Point
Striking a lovely balance between cosy neighbourhood trattoria and stylish upmarket restaurant, Paradiso offers very fairly priced, super-flavoursome…
Hervey Bay
Dan and Steph, winners of a TV cooking show, do a lip-smacking all-day menu covering breakfast (perhaps house-made sausage with spinach croquette, poached…
Noosa
Down an easy-to-miss path and up some stairs is one of Noosa's best pizzerias, a hip spot with bar seating, louvred windows and marine-themed street art…
Fortitude Valley
In a barrel-vaulted former warehouse off James St, this neighbourhood favourite serves gorgeous coffee (including batch brew), just-baked goods and…
