Bad meals are the stuff of myth in Australia. Fresh produce upholds the culinary reputation, while celebrated chefs dish up ingenious courses. From fine dining and chic bars to winery tours and bustling food markets, delicious native and global fares abound. Indian restaurants are aplenty and offer comforting meals for those missing home.
Posh Nosh
Chef Hat is Australia’s answer to Michelin Star, and there is no dearth of takers. Expect a variety of top-notch restaurants that are pushing the boundaries of innovation in food.
Critically-acclaimed chef Peter Gilmore’s scintillating menu is worth seeking reservation at Sydney’s Quay. The restaurant's décor, service, and extensive wine list are as memorable as the sweeping views overlooking the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge. Bennelong, its sister joint, is equally enticing.
Neil Perry’s Rockpool Bar & Grill, complete with green-marbled interiors, is perhaps Sydney’s most ostentatious offering. Dig into perfectly cooked wood fire-grilled meats and seafood.
Almost every best-food list is incomplete without a mention of Vue De Monde, a noble institution synonymous with Melbourne’s dining scene since 2000. For over two decades, the chef's (seasonal) menu has been showcasing the beauty of native Australian ingredients in a modern take on classical fine dining.
Ranked 20th in the World's Best Restaurants, Ben Shewry’s Attica features unique ingredients, eclectic tunes, and a vibrant graffiti-style ambience. Indulge in a melange of textural tour de force: honey ants, emu liver bagels, and saltwater croc ribs frequent the menu alongside rare native ingredients such as bunya nuts, murnong, and marron.
Big Esso, supposedly the country’s first indigenous bar, serves traditional Torres Strait Islander dishes like kangaroo-tail bourguignon and purple yams.
MasterChef Mania
When not whipping up a storm in the MasterChef kitchen, most contestants and judges are busy plating up mouth-watering fares at restaurants across the country. Take Andy Allen, for instance. The current judge’s culinary co-venture thrives at the multi-chain Three Blue Ducks in Rosebery and Byron Bay in the state of New South Wales, as well as in Melbourne and Brisbane.
Dessert king Reynold Poer’s confectioneries that seem straight out of an art gallery take centre stage at KOI Dessert Bar in Sydney’s Chippendale and Ryde. Their matcha rose cheesecake is a must-try!
Poh Ling Yeow’s Jamface, a savoury and sweet treats stall, buzzes at Adelaide Showground Farmers Market on Sundays. Sample Coq au Vin pies, mille-feuilles, lamingtons, tarts, cookies, and homemade goodies such as sauces, pickles, jam, and fresh coffee.
Laura Sharrad’s NIDO Bar and Callum Hann’s Eleven in Adelaide are famous for Italian and modern Australian fares respectively. Ella by Minoli is an ode to Minoli De Silva’s Sri Lankan heritage and brings South Asian flavours to Darwin.
Smell, Swirl, Sip
South Australia's Barossa stands as the uncontested champion among the country's 65 wine regions. Leave Adelaide an hour behind for rolling hills and vineyards offering remarkable winery experiences. At Jacob's Creek Visitor Centre, join a Food and Wine Matching Master Class to learn from experts on pairing hot and cold foods with the perfect wines.
Embrace your inner winemaker at Penfolds and blend your own Grenache, Shiraz, and Mataro to take home your unique creation. Seppeltsfield, a renowned winery, has a unique and remarkable tradition. Seppeltsfield releases a vintage wine every year that is 100 years old. Sample a tawny port from your birth year at the Centennial Cellar. Explore the craft studio and relish local delicacies such as barramundi and ocean trout ceviche at FINO restaurant, housed in the original 1900s bottling hall.
Hunter Valley, just a three-hour drive from Sydney, is another highly popular destination. Enjoy magnificent views of the Brokenback Ranges at Audrey Wilkinson which offers behind-the-scenes winery tours, museum visits, and scenic picnics.
Tulloch Wines provides immersive cellar door experiences, including Wine Tasting with handmade chocolates, Mystery Wine Tasting with local cheese, and a Junior Tasting Experience for kids. Teens can indulge in Kombucha Tasting paired with local cheeses.
Hunter Valley Resort—a four-generation family-owned establishment—offers grape stomping, barrel rolling, pizza making, and wine tasting. Horse riding, wine theatre, and on-site accommodation add to the allure. For a scenic experience, consider exploring the wineries via picturesque helicopter tours.
Have plenty of time to explore? Then do not miss out on Victoria’s Yarra Valley, Western Australia’s Margaret River, and Tasmania’s Tamar Valley.
Bar Crawl
You haven’t truly sampled a taste of Australia until you’ve explored its bars. Come dusk, check out Sydney’s Lobo Plantation with its 150 types of artisan rum or the laid-back Shady Pines Saloon, featuring unique decor like stuffed buffalo heads and cowhide rugs. For more options, consider Monopole and 10 William Street.
In Melbourne, try Eau de Vie or the hidden gem Jungle Boy, accessed through the Boston Sub sandwich shop on Chapel Street. Embla and Bar Liberty are also notable for their selection of orange and natural wines.
In Brisbane, don't miss La Lune Wine Co, one of the city's finest. Lastly, in Adelaide, Apoteca Bar steals the show with its extensive wine list. Come for drinks and stay for postcard views of the city at Hennessy Rooftop Bar, atop the Mayfair Hotel, and 2KW Bar and Restaurant inside a historic building.
Market Musings
In the mood for some laid-back yet sought-after food markets frequented by locals, chefs, and tourists? Head to these places for the local experience. Did you know Sydney Seafood Market is the second largest in the world? Walk past rows of stalls selling fresh catches and pescatarian delights like sushi, seafood platters, and fish and chips, best eaten right by the harbour, where the markets are located.
There’s something for everyone at Melbourne’s Queen Victoria Market. Expect vegan food trucks, donut and sake festivals, vibrant art installations, and guided food tours.
Adelaide Central Market on Gouger Street is the ultimate destination for meals and murals. Start your day at SiSea (stall 76) for a Mediterranean tapas-style breakfast featuring locally-sourced seafood. Explore the bustling labyrinth of over 80 stalls, offering everything from fresh produce, meat, seafood, and cheeses, to tempting baked goods.
Indulge in Australia's diverse culinary landscape, where flavours harmonise and cultures collide, leaving taste buds captivated and hungry for more. Embark on a gastronomic adventure through the land Down Under, where food tells a story as rich and vibrant as the country itself!
In association with Tourism Australia