Must-see restaurants in Australia

  • Seaview Cafe

    Townsville & Mission Beach

    The place with the giant crab on the roof, the cavernous Seaview is a famous stopover for hungry drivers. Trucker chefs dish up local flavours in the form…

  • Pilgrims

    South Coast NSW

    Aussie post-surf comfort food like pies and sourdough-based brunches come 100% meat-free at Pilgrims, which also has a popular branch at nearby Milton…

  • Sails Kitchen & Bar

    Yorke Peninsula

    The affiliated Seagate Motel next door may have fallen on hard times, but Sails is still going strong. Pub-style bistro fare is the order of the day:…

  • Rainbow Beach Hotel

    Rainbow Beach

    This spruced-up pub brings to mind all things plantation with ceiling fans, palm trees, timber floors and cane furnishings – plus the smell of beer…

  • Tandoori Guru

    Eyre Peninsula & the West Coast

    Terrific-value Indian scoring points with hungry steel-millers, the Guru does a mean butter chicken, and an even better palak paneer (homemade cottage…

  • Phillip Island Winery

    Phillip Island

    The vines here are solely for show – this is a winery that doesn't produce its own tipples, instead functioning as a restaurant and gift shop. It's a good…

  • Adel’s Grove Restaurant

    Gulf Savannah

    On-site bar and restaurant at Adel's Grove, with a big open-air deck. A two-course set-menu dinner and breakfast are included in room rates (though…

  • Mrs Parma's

    Melbourne

    Melburnians have long adopted the humble chicken parmigiana as their own, but Mrs Parma's takes things to a whole new level with 14 types of parma, of the…

  • Blank Canvas

    South Coast NSW

    Right on the water with a pleasant shady terrace, this cafe offers fresh and tasty Aussie classics like BLTs and fish and chips (though, controversially,…

  • bills

    Surry Hills & Darlinghurst

    Part of the lively eating scene along this part of Crown Street, this is the Surry Hills branch of Bill Granger's legendary Darlinghurst eatery. Breakfast…

  • Harry's on the Esplanade

    Phillip Island

    The food at Harry's can be a bit hit and miss, but it's the only restaurant in Cowes to have a licence to purchase seafood directly from the local boats…

  • Peter's Chinese

    Mid-North Coast

    If you're looking for a cheap alternative to the Bay's oversaturation of seafood, pop upstairs to Peter's Chinese for $10 lunches and no-fuss dinners and…

  • Dosa Hut

    Melbourne

    In an Indian eating strip in West Footscray, this place specialises in crispy pancake-like filled dosas, biryanis (baked rice dishes) and a range of Indo…

  • Barmera Hotel

    Murray River

    This gargantuan, peach-coloured pub at the base of Barmera's main street has cold beer, hefty pub meals, vaguely art-deco stylings and an unlikely glade…

  • Villino

    Hobart

    Compact coffee excellence on compact Criterion St, which is a real haven for Hobart's caffeine-addled workers. Villino has been roasting its own beans…

  • Imperial Hotel

    The East Coast

    Locals in the know say Branxholm's monolithic, 114-year-old country pub is the best place for a feed within miles. Expect country-sized plates of steak,…

  • Dicky Beach Surf Club

    Sunshine Coast

    A wide-spanning pub-style menu that covers all the standards, from burgers, fresh fish and steaks, to pasta and (average) pizzas. For the best value, head…

  • Sam's Singapore Restaurant

    Whitsunday Coast

    The decor is old school for a reason: Sam's has built a devoted following slinging Chinese-Malaysian food to the people of Mackay, and there's clearly no…

  • No35

    Melbourne

    The views of the city skyline are superb through this 35th-floor restaurant's floor-to-ceiling windows (there are even memorable views from the toilets!)…

  • Seashells Cafe

    West Coast Australia

    Next to the RAC Cervantes Holiday Park, this sea-blue food shack does good coffee and simple breakfasts and lunches (pancakes, bacon and eggs, lemon…

  • Backyard Bread

    Murray River

    A rusty, iron-clad shopfront on the Waikerie side of Barmera, Backyard Bread is a deli/cafe baking 'bread bites': mouth-sized bits of flavour-packed bread…

  • Source Foods

    Perth

    An unassuming corner cafe committed to sustainable practices, Source Food has excellent breakfast options that include a massive spring-onion and feta…

  • Mooloolah River Fisheries

    Sunshine Coast

    Head in early to this busy fish-market-cum-shop to stock up on fresh seafood, from local sand crabs to crayfish and Moreton Bay bugs. The casual in-house…

  • Abla's

    Melbourne

    The kitchen here is steered by Abla Amad, who arrived in Australia in 1954 and has since inspired a generation of local Lebanese chefs. The flavour-packed…

  • Demitri's Feast

    Melbourne

    This down-to-earth meze bar might be tiny, but it's filled with big Greek flavours. Think cauliflower 'popcorn' and slow roasts, best shared and washed…

  • Baked at Beachport

    Limestone Coast

    This cheery ocean-blue bakery on the main street is the place for rolls, pies, scrolls, cakes, slices, buns and biscuits. Sourdough pizzas Friday evenings…

  • Three Monkeys

    Brisbane

    A chilled out, bohemian teahouse steeped in pseudo-Moroccan decor and ambience. Low lighting, rustic wood furnishings, tiny nooks and a courtyard make a…

  • Stalactites

    Melbourne

    What's not to love about a 24-hour 'souva' joint? Especially when it's been doling out late-night lamb souvlakis in Melbourne for nearly 40 years. Located…

  • Gilson

    Melbourne

    Gilson straddles the line between cafe and restaurant but misses the mark with snobby service. It's not a problem if you're just here to sip coffee and…

  • South of Johnston

    Fitzroy, Collingwood & Abbotsford

    In a neighbourhood crammed with cafes, South of Johnston may not be trailblazing, but it stands out from the pack for its charming space in a warehouse…

  • Eva's Cafe

    Darwin

    Brought to Darwin by ship in 1897, this lovely old Methodist church building provides an atmospheric respite in Darwin's botanic gardens. The large…

  • Roma Bar

    Darwin

    Roma is a local institution and the most reliable place for quality coffee in Darwin. It's a meeting place for lefties, literati and travellers. Well away…

  • Marina Hotel

    Eyre Peninsula & the West Coast

    This rather Mediterranean-looking pub bistro at the entrance to Port Lincoln's marina (check out the tuna fleet while you're in the 'hood) is a top spot…

  • Wangi Falls Cafe

    Litchfield National Park

    This busy cafe at Wangi Falls is one of few places in the park for a light meal. There are hot rolls, OK burgers and other bites to eat as well as a small…

  • Pure Wholefoods

    Manly

    This whole-food minimart has a great little street cafe serving mainly organic vegetarian goodies, including flavoursome flans, salads, nori rolls, cakes,…

  • Laughing Owl

    Melbourne Region

    A self-proclaimed cafe with a conscience, this friendly place on Belgrave's main shopping strip offers a 100% vegetarian menu that includes plenty of…

  • Banjos

    New South Wales

    For a real slice of Aussie culture, try this bistro at the sprawling West Tamworth League Club. It's noisy, you have to provide ID for a temporary…

  • Yellow Bernard

    Hobart

    With a global selection of interesting blends, Yellow Bernard (great name!) takes its coffee very seriously. If you're in a hippie mood, its chai – made…

  • Brass Bell

    Capricorn Coast & the Southern Reef Islands

    This unassuming restaurant within the Harbour Sails motel is a surprising setting for some of Gladstone's best food. The prix-fixe menu includes entrees…

  • Royal Exchange Hotel

    Broken Hill

    For an upmarket dining experience, the Royal Exchange Hotel does gourmet takes on Australian staples such as 'Beef & Reef' topped with prawns. Consider…