Welcome to the Gourmet Traveller 2022 Restaurant Guide, celebrating the most exciting and exceptional dining experiences to be found across Australia in the year ahead. From new openings to established favourites, each of the restaurants featured in this guide can be relied upon to deliver both innovation and excellence. Together, they represent the diversity of fine-dining in Australia, presenting either something wholly original, or the very best of its kind. Service, atmosphere and ambience are critical.
This year’s guide returns with a few changes. We have chosen not to rank the guide this year. Instead, you can be assured that every restaurant featured is gold standard and will deliver an exceptional experience, worthy of both your time and money.
We’ve also compiled separate lists for each state. Smaller states and territories, such as Tasmania, have shorter lists, while larger states, such as Victoria and New South Wales, have longer lists. In each, our editors have singled out an individual state winner.
Want the GT 2022 Restaurant Guide in print? Find it in our November issue, on sale now. Better yet, become a subscriber and receive a bonus copy of Stephanie Alexander’s latest cookbook, Home.
Want to see our top restaurants, sorted by state? See:
THE YEAR IN RESTAURANTS
The challenge and change of the past 18 months has been seismic and a new landscape is continuing to emerge.
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Yet amidst this turmoil has been a current of resilience, strength and creativity. New restaurants and bars have continued to open. Side-hustles and lockdown pivots have become permanent, viable businesses. At the same time, customers have become more aware of the pressure and pain points facing restaurants, embracing small changes that make a big difference to a restaurant’s bottom line. The result? Spend per head is up. Credit card details to secure bookings are standard. Two-hour time limits on tables are acceptable. And the era of walk-ins only is firmly behind us.
As Australia opens up in the coming weeks and months, there will be more challenges to come, in particular around staffing shortages and capacity. But as we’ve already witnessed, solutions will be found.
As diners, we can offer support by booking ahead and remaining patient. Be kind. And celebrate the small things. Because treating yourself to a meal out, or glass of something special, is the best way to support the industry right now.
Editor: Joanna Hunkin
Deputy Editor: Karlie Verkerk
Sub-editor: Grace MacKenzie
State & territory editors: Michael Harden (Vic & Tas), Karlie Verkerk (NSW & ACT), Fiona Donnelly (Qld), Tory Shepherd (SA) and Max Veenhuyzen (WA)
Reviewers: Alix Davis, Amy Diggins, Larissa Dubecki, Tristan Lutze, Jordan Kretchmer, Katie Spain.
All of the restaurants reviewed were visited anonymously over the past 12 months with reviewers paying their own way. Due to Sydney’s extended lockdown, no new restaurants were reviewed after June 2021.
THE TOP 80 RESTAURANTS IN AUSTRALIA, A-Z
a’Mare, NSW
Africola, SA
Anchovy, Vic
Attica, Vic
Aubergine, ACT
Aurora, SA
Balthazar, WA
Bar Lourinhã, Vic
Biànca, Qld
Brae, Vic
Bread in Common, WA
Cafe Paci, NSW
Chaco Bar, NSW
Di Stasio Città, Vic
Dier Makr, Tas
Elska, Qld: Qld Restaurant of the Year
Embla, Vic
Essa, Qld
Fico, Tas: Tas Restaurant of the Year
Fico is GT‘s 2022 Tasmanian Restaurant of the Year.
(Photo: Oskar Rossi)Firedoor, NSW
Fleet, NSW
Fleur, WA
Flower Drum, Vic
Gerard’s Bistro, Qld
Gimlet, Vic: WINNER Best New Restaurant
GOMA Restaurant, Qld
Grazing, NSW
Grossi Florentino, Vic
Hentley Farm, SA
Ho Jiak Town Hall, NSW
Igni, Vic
Kazuki’s, Vic
Labart, Qld
Lake House, Vic
[Le Rebelle]https://www.gourmettraveller.com.au/dining-out/restaurant-guide/le-rebelle-19444|target=”_blank”), WA
Lee Ho Fook, Vic
The bar area at Melbourne’s Gimlet, winner of GT‘s 2022 Best New Restaurant.
(Photo: Sharyn Cairns)The best way to experience the top restaurants on Australia’s dining scene is with a Gourmet Traveller Gift Card. With this culinary card in hand, you can feel confident that every place you visit should be a winning affair. The finer points? It’s valid for three years and can be swiped for all food and beverages – no limitations. Give the gift of premium dining and the chance to explore the crème de la crème of Australia’s cafes, wine bars and restaurants. Visit Gourmet Traveller Gift Card for a list of participating partners.
Lulu La Delizia, WA
LuMi, NSW
Magill Estate, SA
Millbrook, WA: WA Restaurant of the Year
Minamishima, Vic
Mr Wong, NSW
Nomad, NSW
O.My, Vic
Osteria Oggi, SA
Otto Brisbane, Qld
Peel St, SA
Pilot, ACT: ACT Restaurant of the Year
Porcine, NSW
Propeller, WA
Provenance, Vic
Quay, NSW
Raes, NSW
Raku, ACT
Millbrook in Jarrahdale, GT‘s 2022 Western Australian Restaurant of the Year.
Restaurant Hubert, NSW
Saint Peter, NSW: NSW Restaurant of the Year
Same Same, Qld
Sáng by Mabasa, NSW
Shōbōsho, SA
Si Paradiso, WA
Sixpenny, NSW
SK Steak & Oyster, Qld
Stillwater, Tas
Sunda, Vic
Tedesca Osteria, Vic: Restaurant of the Year and Vic Restaurant of the Year
Templo, Tas
The Gidley, NSW
Tulum, Vic
Una Más, NSW
Underbar, Vic
Van Bone, Tas
Vasse Felix, WA
Wildflower, WA
XO, ACT
Brought to you by Gourmet Traveller Gift Card.
Shōboshō in Adelaide, South Australia.
