Australia’s coastline, with its sun-drenched beaches and shimmering waters, sets the perfect stage for some of the country’s finest waterfront dining. From sleek, contemporary spaces in Sydney’s harbourside precincts to the more relaxed, hidden gems tucked away along remote coasts, these locations offer much more than just a meal. They promise an experience.
Picture yourself sipping a chilled glass of wine, perfectly matched to your summer snack, as the sun sets over the water, beach or lakeside while expertly crafted dishes highlight the very best of local produce—often freshly caught from the surrounding seas. With sweeping, glistening views and an oft laid-back yet refined atmosphere, these waterfront restaurants celebrate Australia’s vibrant culinary culture in the most stunning settings imaginable.
Whether you’re after the elegance of a high-end dining room or the casual charm of an elevated beachside kiosk, there’s no shortage of extraordinary places to sit back and soak up the view.
Welcome to the very best of waterfront dining in Australia.
Best waterfront dining in Sydney and NSW
Bennelong
Bennelong Point
One of Sydney’s premier dining experiences can be found housed within the sweeping sails of the Opera House – welcome to Bennelong. Meticulous menus, thorough staff and a comprehensive wine list are just the tip of the iceberg at this fan-favourite fine diner. A night tucked away in the sleek confines of this gorgeous glasshouse resplendent with glittering harbour views is an evening you won’t forget in a hurry.
Quay
Circular Quay
Iconic is an overused word, but it’s worthy in this context. A seemingly immovable presence in the pantheon of Australia’s great restaurants, Peter Gilmore’s Quay boasts excellent, creative menus and perfect wine pairings backdropped by second-to-none views of Sydney Harbour. It doesn’t get much better than this, truly.
Sean’s
Bondi Beach
Sean’s feels like home, or a home away from home; one where Bondi Beach is so close you almost feel the sand under your toes. It’s aided, no doubt, by the easy-going hospitality that only comes with experience, as well as the charming mismatched furniture, local artwork, fresh-cut flowers, scallop-shell decorations and a menu recited from the chalkboard.
Bathers’ Pavilion
balmoral
The recent recruitment of Sixpenny and Shell House alumnus Aaron Ward has done wonders for the Bathers’ Pavilion. Not that the longstanding long-lunch institution – with its sweet interiors, well-drilled service and trusty 40-page wine list – needed much help, mind you. Now, though, you’re just as likely to lose yourself in the classically minded yet blisteringly current cooking as you are the glittery views over Balmoral Beach.
Beach Byron Bay
Byron Bay
Few dining rooms in Australia are as true to their name as Beach, the foam-white pavilion perched on the dunes of Byron’s Clarkes Beach. Mediterranean-esque stylings pull the focus here (just slightly from the gorgeous view) with relaxed-but-refined plates. There’s plenty for pescatarians, carnivores and vegetarians alike, and a hefty drinks list sure to suit any palate.
Ormeggio at The Spit
Mosman
Chef-owner Alessandro Pavoni and his team continue to deliver at this enduring but refreshingly relevant marina-side diner. Seafood is the fitting star here, which sits well among the moored boats and the coastal-chic surroundings – all stucco walls, curves for days and a gelato bar. Sip and snack to your heart’s content. Walk-ins welcome.
Berowra Waters Inn
Berowra Waters
Accessible only by boat or seaplane, Berowra Waters Inn is as close as you can get to dégustation dining on the water without getting wet. Inside this solid sandstone and corrugated-tin pavilion, chef-owner Brian Geraghty effortlessly combines modern techniques with native flavours. Take a delicate plate of sliced raw kingfish doused in banksia vinegar and daikon, or wagyu seared in its own fat and finished with fermented uni butter. Settle in.
Raes on Wategos
Byron Bay
It would be easy for this Byron mainstay to rely purely on its good looks, but chef Jason Saxby brings genuine substance to the table. With its picture-postcard views, Mediterranean-via-Hollywood Hills façade and impeccably curated interiors, Raes is very much a scene, and a picture book example of what Australian waterfront dining can be. Snack on freshly shucked oysters and briny pastas alongside creative cocktails and chilled wines in a room as beautifully presented as the scenery that surrounds it.
Whalebridge
Circular Quay
A gentle marriage of French and Australian fare in the heart of Sydney Harbour can be found in something of an unlikely place at Whalebridge Bistro and Bar. Eye-to-eye with the Harbour Bridge and just steps from the Opera House, this waterside, alfresco restaurant markets itself as the perfect destination for an elevated, pre-theatre experience with unbeatable views.
LuMi
Pyrmont
By fusing Japanese techniques with Italian hospitality, chef Federico Zanellato has created a dining experience that’s unlike anything else in Sydney at LuMi. Set in an ultra-contemporary yet cosy glass “box” on Pyrmont Bay, each course of the zingy, zippy dégustation menu is delivered by composed waitstaff who never miss a beat, with a view befitting the quality of menu, ambience and service.
The best waterfront dining in Melbourne and Victoria
Stokehouse
St Kilda
There’s never been a good reason not to go to Stokehouse. View-deprived Melburnians have been packing the joint for years to perch above the boardwalk and stare thirstily at beach and bay, swarmed and glittering in summer or hazy watercolour grey in winter. Pair that quenching view with a seafood-forward menu, and you’ve got yourself a winner.
Pipis Kiosk
albert park
Pipis Kiosk includes an actual beachside takeaway kiosk in its toolbox, but once inside the name becomes more vibe than literal. Sure, the minimal fit-out – rattan, sandy colours and large windows framing the shorefront view – says beachy and casual, but the exceptional service and impeccable drinks list populated by talented small producers quickly indicate that Pipis doesn’t solely rest on its location.
Lake House
Daylesford
A crown jewel of destination dining in Victoria, Lake House continues to shine as a beacon of how to do it right. Impeccable and affable service, a cellar chock-full of storied labels, and the well-upholstered, light-filled room set the scene. Enjoy tranquil, leafy surrounds and shimmering lake views as you enjoy your colourful, creative and intensely local multi-course, à la carte menu: the venue’s true headliner.
Donovans
St Kilda
Bayside views and comfortable, relaxed interiors make Donovans a favourite of locals and visitors alike. Book a table (or walk in) along the alfresco terrace and enjoy a Mediterranean-leaning menu in the open air.
Hotel Sorrento
Sorrento
This third-generation, brick institution perched above the rocky cliffs of Sorrento on the sweeping Mornington Peninsula could possibly take the Melburnian cake in waterfront dining. Pull up a chair in the Lawn Garden and watch the waves roll in with snacks and bubbles, or for a more formal affair, book into the Dining Room and admire the expansive rooms between sleek interiors. Stay tuned for an upcoming rooftop project in 2025, where the views are sure to stun.
Best waterfront dining in Queensland
Supernormal
Brisbane
Andrew McConnell’s first interstate venue snagged a piece of prime real estate over Brisbane’s pride (AKA the Brown Snake, or the Brisbane River). Supernormal is set just above river and walkway level, with options to sit right against the floor-to-ceiling windows or out on the terrace. And for those particularly partial to a view, pull up a chair at casual attaché Bar Miette, just a flight of stairs above the main dining room.
Stanley
Brisbane
Stanley’s home, a heritage gem at Howard Smith Wharves, spans two humming levels with evocative parquetry and low-lit murals, while out on the deck it’s all about ace city and water views. The new upstairs overhaul saw the addition of Stan’s, an old-school Canto-classic speakeasy bar. It doesn’t have waterfront views, but its moody, intimate interiors are certainly something to see. Back on water level, the deep cellar, as broad as the river alongside, has an answer to every question you throw at it, too. A cracker.
And, just a short stroll down the boardwalk lies split-level izakaya Yoko and its sister restaurant Greca, an elevated Greek taverna. Both excellent options with gorgeous views, too.
Rick Shores
Burleigh Heads
You might wonder if diners ever catch some sea spray through the picture windows at Rick Shores, especially during high tide. Little wonder why the open, airy space is always packed with locals and tourists alike. Sure, location may count for a lot here, but it’s always been backed up by substance: take the Sichuan-style red curry of roasted duck with sweet lychee, or its signature: the Moreton Bay bug roll. Sit, sip and relax.
Bistro C
Noosa
Long lunch rolls into dinner at Bistro C. Seaside vistas set a relaxed tone, while the menu casts local seafood as its star with Coffin Bay oysters, seared scallops and spanner crab spaghetti lining the menu. And holiday mode switches on with the cocktail menu, where coconut chilli Margaritas and limoncello Spritzes cool off the Sunshine Coast heat.
Fosh
Hamilton
Any seafood that graces your table at Fosh comes with a strict guarantee: it’s all line caught and served within 24 hours of catch. Snack on house-made brioche and bottarga or a delicate fish finger sandwich on the outdoor terrace, resplendent with views of the Brisbane River and surrounding cityscape. For diners of leisure, kick back and relax riverside with Fosh’s Sunset Sunday special menu, and soak up the gentle ambience.
The best waterfront dining in South Australia
Star of Greece
Willunga
The Star of Greece has been a staple in South Australia’s Fleurieu Peninsula for over 20 years, sharing its name with a local 1800s shipwreck. Featuring creatively modern, Mediterranean-influenced dishes (with seafood as the core of the menu), the food here makes out like the restaurant’s surrounds: light, simple and fresh. The focus here is intensely local, showcasing what the abundant region has to offer, in a fine-and-friendly dining approach where guests tastebuds are taken on a “little adventure”, with a stunning view to boot.
Pearl
Aldinga Beach
Set right along the sandy shore of tranquil Aldinga Beach, meet Pearl. This fresh, seafood-forward restaurant owned by dedicated locals is one to remember. With eco-friendly business ethics, a tight and creative menu, and a spectacular view across the beach, Pearl deals a chic-yet-comfortable setting. With an option to eat in at the restaurant or take away from the kiosk, guests are able to customise their experience, and even dine with the sand between their toes. A pearl, indeed.
The best waterfront dining in and near Perth
Gibney
Cottesloe
“Big” might be Gibney’s stock-in-trade, but the operation proves big can also be beautiful. Set just across from the fringes of popular Cottesloe Beach, this seafood-forward diner ticks all the boxes. Sit inside with views of the open, fiery kitchen and catch beef and fish seared on the grill side-by-side, or opt for al fresco elegance in a comfortable yet chic seaside booth.
Millbrook Winery
Jarrahdale
While vineyards, forests and a man-made lake are the estate’s most visible assets, it’s the kitchen garden that exerts the strongest influence on the plate at Millbrook (though a seat at the lake’s lapping edge does sweeten the deal). Although a Mother Nature-forward menu and kitchen philosophy call most of the shots, it’s the obliging service, value-packed estate wines and other human touches that make lunch at this destination cellar door restaurant (still) so essential.
Indigo Oscar
Cottesloe Beach
The azure hues of one of Perth’s most famous beaches are best admired from this absolute beachfront restaurant. Here you can lap up the Indian Ocean with a side of just shucked oysters, grilled corn tostadas and crab arepas, joined by a crisp glass of Margaret River rose.
The best waterfront restaurants in Tasmania
Restaurant Maria
Hobart
Sun-drenched flavours on the water’s edge get a Tasmanian twist at Restaurant Maria in Hobart. The food here spans the Med from Spain to Lebanon, but there are distinctive Tasmanian influences throughout thanks to local produce and native ingredients, plus a quintessential Tassie view of deceptively cold, clear water just a window pane away. Every dish here is a tribute to time-honoured traditions and tastes matched with impeccable local produce and outstanding service to create an experience that is greater than the sum of its parts.
Stillwater
Launceston
Even on a low-season Monday night, there isn’t a spare seat in the house at Stillwater. Unfailingly upbeat and attentive service may be one reason; the enduring warmth of the restored mill – framed by stone walls, timber beams and Tamar River views – another. Come for a quick sip and snack or settle in for the long haul with a meticulous set menu, the choice is yours.
