Restaurants
The best restaurants in Australia
What’s the secret recipe for crafting an exceptional dining experience? In coming up with Time Out’s list of the best restaurants in Australia we...
Restaurants
The best of Australia's restaurants, bars, cafés and pubs, whether dining in or takeaway
Bars
The best bars in Australia
There’s always time for a tipple when you’re travelling around Australia. Our thirsty country is swimming in stellar watering holes that are loved...
Restaurants
Where to find the best coffee
Not to toot our own horn, but Australia’s coffee scene is unbeatable. In 2025, an Aussie café was voted the best coffee shop in the...
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The best pizzas in Australia
There ain’t no party like a pizza party, and we’ve got plenty of places worth celebrating Down Under. Whether you’re a slave to the...
Restaurants
The best pubs in Australia
Look, it really isn’t a secret that we Aussies love a good pub. Whether you're tearing it up on the local dance floor on a Saturday night or...
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Australia's best food and drink
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The best wineries in Australia
Australia’s charming climates and picturesque landscapes are a recipe for some of the world’s finest wines. You’ll find more than 100 grapes grown across our leading wine regions, which are concentrated in South Australia’s Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale, NSW’s Hunter Valley, Victoria’s Yarra Valley and beyond.
You could spend weeks jumping between cellar doors in each region, sipping fine wines all day long – but that’s probably not entirely sensible. Why not start with our 30 top picks, and take it from there? Whether you opt to journey as part of a group or embark on an impromptu self-guided tour, these are the wineries to uncork.
RECOMMENDED: Plan your winery tour around a meal at one of Australia’s best restaurants.
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The best fish and chips
Fish and chips are such a nostalgic meal for Australians that it’s easy to forget that they didn’t actually originate here. Sure, the Brits often get the credit for the dish (they do love their salt and vinegar), but it turns out that Portugal is the motherland of the ultimate takeaway food. Wherever it was invented, we’re just happy that it touched down in the land Down Under, and at just about every waterside location you can imagine. After all, it isn’t a salty summer by the beach if your hunger wasn’t satiated with some fish and chippies, right?
So whether you're touring Australia's best beaches, or need a pit stop on your great Australian road trip, here are the best fish and chips shops in the land.
RECOMMENDED: These are the best pizzas in Australia.
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The best steaks in Australia
Finding a stellar steak in a country with almost 30 million cattle is no hard task. But claiming your favourite to be the absolute best? That’s sure to stir some serious beef. Whether you’re into rib eye or rump, medium rare or well-done, smothered in peppercorn or chimichurri sauce, and paired with chips or mash – the ways to enjoy a steak are as endless as they are delicious.
Our local expert writers have sliced into the best steaks across every capital city to bring you this list of our favourite steaks in Australia. Now, go get up in their grills.
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The best Italian restaurants
Australians are constantly in a heavenly food coma, courtesy of Italian cuisine. This is thanks to the huge influx of Italian immigrants who arrived on our shores after World War II, bringing not just a suitcase of dreams, but a whole lot of pasta, pizza and parmesan. Whether you’re craving fresh antipasti straight from The Boot, hand-rolled pappardelle with rich ragu, wood-fired sourdough pizza or boozy tiramisu made just like nonna, we’ve scoured out the best Italian restaurants in Australia for every occasion.
Our team of Aussie food writers has independently chosen these spots for their authentic flavours, prime locations, buzzing ambience and signature Italian hospitality. In Sydney, a cheery waterfront spot has been serving classic Italian hits for more than a decade. In Brisbane, live lobster is plucked from tanks and tossed through house-made spaghetti. And in Hobart, a tiny CBD wine bar keeps the vibes flowing with vinyl records all night. In no particular order, here's our pick of the best Italian restaurants in Australia.
RECOMMEND: The best Italian restaurants in...Sydney | Melbourne | Brisbane | Adelaide | Perth | Canberra | Hobart | Darwin
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The best Japanese restaurants
Australians have a slight obsession with Japanese food. From silky bowls of ramen and glossy slithers of sashimi to crispy gyoza and bite-sized sushi rolls, we’d go to great lengths for a taste of Tokyo. Luckily, you don’t need to splurge on a ticket to Tokyo, since we’re blessed with some of the finest Japanese restaurants Down Under.
Steeped in precision and ancient traditions, Japanese cuisine is a meticulous art form in its own right. In Australia, you’ll find highly awarded chefs firing Kobe beef right before your eyes, grandmas pouring fragrant teas and sake in cosy izakayas, and new-wave cooks serving high-end sashimi in exquisite omakases. Whether you’re after no-frills or all of the frills, here are some of the best Japanese restaurants in Australia.
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The best Indian restaurants
Compiling a list of the best Indian restaurants in a city, let alone a country, is no easy task. Every region, city and family have their own specialties, offering a diverse line-up of comforting curries, crunchy pakoras, fluffy naan bread, tangy pickles and cooling lassis.
Time Out Australia has enlisted its team of well-travelled editors and writers to bring you this list of must-try Indian restaurants in every capital city. In Melbourne, a tiny at-home restaurant presents one of Melbourne’s most singular degustations, taking diners on a journey through different regions and seasons. In Sydney, a vibrant late-night eatery serves up colourful curry plates and roti wraps until 2am on the weekends. Meanwhile, a beloved Adelaide institution has been dishing up crowd-favourite butter chicken and beef vindaloo curries for almost 50 years. Wherever you are, your next spice fix awaits.
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The best restaurants in Australia
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The best restaurants in Perth
Hungry in the most isolated city in the world? Not to worry, because the best restaurants in Perth are worth going out of your way to discover. The Western wonder is brimming with award-winning restaurants, bustling bars and charming cafés that breathe life into the city and its two million residents.
It feels a little lazy to say that eating yourself silly is one of the best things to do in Perth, but it would be disingenuous to suggest otherwise. The food here is exquisite and the best restaurants all have their own quirks and charm. So, bring that appetite to the end of the world and get ready for a feed.
Restaurants
The best restaurants in Brisbane
With trendy restaurants and bars popping up all over the city, it’s no wonder Brisbanites and visitors alike can feel a bit overwhelmed when deciding where to eat. That’s where we come in!
Our expert local writers, along with Time Out Australia’s Travel & News Editor Melissa Woodley, have tasted their way through Brisbane’s diverse food scene to bring you this list of must-try restaurants. From a sprawling Japanese izakaya overlooking the river and an old-school pizzeria to a contemporary Chinese eatery with a spicy Sichuan fish broth that will make your eyes water, these are the best restaurants in Brisbane for a culinary adventure in the River City.
Update August 2025: Since our last update in May, we've added three fresh dining destinations already turning heads – Stilts Dining, Queensland's first restaurant on a bridge; The Summit Restaurant, a multi-million dollar venue with million-dollar views; and Layla, a sleek city gem by renowned Melbourne chef Shane Delia.
For more about how we curate our reviews and guides, see our editorial guidelines.
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The best restaurants in Adelaide
Combining seriously stylish design with access to abundant fresh produce from the surrounding wine regions, Adelaide’s restaurant scene has the best of both city and regional dining. Forward thinking mod oz cuisine is informed by food traditions from across the world, which are also visible in everything from Afghan comfort food to Parisian classics and what might be Australia’s first pizza restaurant.
The accompanying wine lists are just as wide-ranging, encompassing powerful Barossa reds, spritzy natural wines and everything in between, all served by knowledgeable staff. And the best bit? Even the extended degustations sit at a price point that will come as a pleasant surprise to East Coast diners.
Thirsty? Kick on at one of the best bars in Adelaide right now.
Restaurants
The best restaurants in Hobart
Potentially due to spiking rent prices on the mainland, chefs have flocked to Hobart in recent years to launch their restaurants. This influx of talent combined with Tasmania’s naturally bountiful fresh produce has led to Hobart becoming quite the destination for food lovers.
From tiny hole-in-the-wall bars with 20 seats to a bustling Tokyo-inspired eatery and a French restaurant that sits at the front of MONA, Hobart’s best restaurants are wildly varied and there’s a plate to suit every palate. Eating out is truly one of the best things to do in Hobart, so here’s our list of the best restaurants to score a reservation (or a walk-in table) at.
RECOMMENDED: Here are the 11 best things to do in Hobart right now.
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The best restaurants in Canberra
With its award-winning restaurants and dishes worth trekking interstate for, Canberra has earned its place on Australia’s gourmet map. The star of the show is the region’s local produce – including truffles, smoked meats and wines – which are fired, flamed, fermented and fried into all sorts of culinary creations.
Whether you’re dining at the Italian spot in Braddon, swinging by Canberra’s trendiest bar or making friends with Canberra’s newest openings, these are the places you want to be seen in town.
RECOMMENDED: Kick on at one of the best bars and breweries in Canberra.
Restaurants
The best restaurants in Darwin
When most people think about visiting Darwin, food likely isn’t the main motivating factor. But with steaming bowls of laksa and uniquely Territorian bites, Larrakia land gives plenty of reasons to linger.
By day, you’ll come across intimate cafés with creative cross-cultural fare and bustling weekend markets serving some of the nation’s best noodle soups. As the sun sets, Darwin’s dining scene heats up with harbour-front restaurants showcasing tropical fruits and upscale pubs featuring local wildlife, like crocodiles and kangaroos. Our Travel and News Editor, Melissa Woodley, along with NT-based contributing writer, Leah McLennan, keep a weather eye on every nook and cranny of the wee but mighty city – and have curated this list of the best restaurants in Darwin right now. Now, all that’s left for you to do is eat up.
Update August 2025: Since our last update in April, we've added two beloved local institutions and a standout newcomer. Cathy's Place still reigns supreme for the best chilli mud crab in town, Lazy Susan's serves up punchy Asian flavours and fresh-faced Junoon shines a spotlight on the NT's finest produce.
For more about how we curate our reviews and guides, see our editorial guidelines.
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Australia’s best places to drink
Bars
The best bars in Brisbane
Brisbane may be renowned for its sprawling pubs and beer gardens, where you can settle in for a laid-back session and soak up the year-round sunshine – but these days there’s a whole lot more to the river city’s booze scene than meets the eye.
If you’re looking for a trendy spot with cleverly crafted cocktails, then Maker is well worth a suss. Or perhaps a dive bar where you can drink with your dog is way more up your alley, namely The Scratch Bar. How about an oasis like Sunsets Rooftop to take the edge off? Whatever it may be, sip away knowing that our local food writer, Morag Kobez, has selected these Brisbane bars for a reason, in collusion with Time Out Australia's Travel & News Editor, Melissa Woodley. Cheers to that!
For more about how we curate our reviews and guides, see our editorial guidelines.
🌮 The best places to eat in Brisbane🍷 Australia's greatest bars for a tipple🌳 All the best things to do in Brisbane
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The best bars in Perth
Perth more than proves its prowess when it comes to world-class bars. Here, neighbourhood wine joints and rustic beer houses are so much more than their humble exteriors suggest. Hiding behind doors are extensive and thoughtful drinks lists, gourmet tapas and aperitivo bites, and creative collaborations.
This guide to Peth's best bars represents our picks of the coolest spots to grab a cocktail or a wine, whether that's in Foxtrot Unicorn's 1800s bank vault, within Sneaky Tony's secretive speakeasy walls, or perhaps curbside at Madalena's seaside watering hole. Whichever you choose, know that you're in safe hands thanks to Perth local and Time Out contributing writer, Dale Anninos-Carter, who has given these brilliant bars her seal of approval. Where to first?
For more about how we curate our reviews and guides, see our editorial guidelines.
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The best bars in Adelaide
Forget the ‘City of Churches’ tag – Adelaide has just as many pubs, not to mention bars of all persuasions, which have ridden a boom in recent years following a tweak to licencing laws that now allow small bars to serve booze without food.
From city-fringe craft beer nooks to gin and whisky dens taking design cues from across the planet, there’s a bar here to suit every mood and tipple of choice. Adelaide is also a UNESCO ‘City of Music’, so expect to hear some live jazz, an acoustic troubadour or at least a DJ spinning rock classics while you quench your thirst. Oh, and don’t forget the wine. Given that South Australia is the nation’s wine-producing heartland, you can expect nothing but top bottles here.
The best bars in Adelaide – the ‘City of Booze Bunkers’ – are waiting for you.
Want to stay sober? These are the best things to do in Adelaide.
Bars
The best bars in Canberra
Our Bush Capital might not always top the charts for fun, but you’ll be pleasantly surprised to discover that it’s home to some of the coolest bars in the country. The good stuff is also fermented right here in the region – from craft beers to cool-climate shiraz and Australia’s only locally produced bourbon – making Canberra the perfect base for a day of winery hopping and cellar door shopping.
But, within the city itself there are buzzing wine bars, proudly Australian breweries and even hidden basement whisky bars. Whether you're seeking a quiet, cosy drink or a party atmosphere, this city delivers. Drink your way through our guide to the best drinking holes in Canberra.
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The best bars in Hobart
Tasmania’s capital city isn’t exactly heaving with activity after dark like its bustling mainland counterparts. But if you know where to look, Hobart’s bar and pub scene is lively, with plenty of drinking holes for the curious and thirsty.
From dive bars to underground cocktail joints, the upscale to the casual, no matter what kind of establishment you’re looking to pull up a stool at, you’ll find it in Hobart. It helps that the local booze, like the food, is world-renowned – the beer, the wine, the whisky, the gin. Whatever your poison, it all adds up to a good time.
So whether you are a dirty gin martini person or partial to a tinnie (or three), cheers to our list of the best bars in Hobart.
After a bite? These are the best restaurants to book in Hobart.
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The best bars in Darwin
When you think about places to grab a drink in Darwin, you likely think ‘outback pub’ – but the Top End of Australia is full of surprises. Whether you’re after a laid-back establishment like One Mile Brewing Co that serves local beer on tap, a courtyard cocktail hotspot by the name of Poco Bar, or a gin distillery in a graffiti-covered laneway called Charlie’s of Darwin, you’ll find it in the tropical capital city of Darwin.
One thing is for certain: it’s always nice weather for a drink, and no one knows that more than our local expert writer, Kate Dinning, who has given these Darwin bars the seal of approval in collaboration with Time Out Australia's Travel & News Editor, Melissa Woodley. Turn your clocks to island time and get ready to waste away again in Maragritaville (that's Darwin in our books).
For more about how we curate our reviews and guides, see our editorial guidelines.
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