The best restaurants in Australia

What is it? A superb yet relaxed fine diner in Melbourne’s west, serving imaginative contemporary Australian food with the wow factor. It won the Best Fine Dining category at Time Out Melbourne's 2025 Food & Drink Awards. 

Why go? Chef and owner Julian Hills describes Navi as his "dream," and you can taste how much heart he’s poured into it – from his clever marriage of native produce and European technique to his well-nurtured relationships with sustainable and ethical farmers. Anticipate a wildly unique culinary adventure that somehow still feels grounded in the earthy dining space. Every morsel is a delight.

What's on offer? Ten-course set menu or Saturday matinee menu (2pm to 5pm)

Time Out tip: There’s a separate cocktail bar area called Navi Lounge where you can sneak in for amaro tasting flights, elevated snacks (Murray cod katsu sanga, anyone?) and one of the best Gin and Tonics in town. No bookings needed here, and it’s a nice way to dip your toe into Navi’s world without committing to a full degustation.

Address: 83b Gamon St, Yarraville, VIC

Expect to pay: Evening set menu for $195

What is it? One of Victoria’s most highly decorated fine dining institutions, set on a sprawling farm in Birregurra (an easy two-hour drive from Melbourne).

Why go? It takes a full day to dine at Brae. A meal here fits a micro holiday into the hours needed to get out to the gently sloping paddocks of Birregurra, dine in rural splendour at an appropriately relaxed pace at Dan Hunter’s famous farmhouse restaurant, and return home. You could make it a genuine mini-break should your budget stretch that far, but it’s hard to think of a more pleasant day trip than one centred around the country’s pre-eminent dining experience. Now, excuse us while we try to score a booking before everyone else does.

What's on offer? Ten-course tasting menu 

Time Out tip: If you’ve got the capacity (or will) to splurge, an overnight stay at one of Brae’s six peaceful suites will allow you to bask in the magic a little longer. You can also join a guided farm tour every Friday at 10.45am.

Address: 4285 Cape Otway Rd, Birregurra, VIC

Expect to pay: Tasting menu for $370

What is it? An almighty fine diner, crowned Time Out Melbourne’s winner of the Best Fine Dining award in 2023.

Why go? Step inside Gimlet and you’re immediately swept into an era of astonishingly impressive 1920s glamour. The handsome, plush curved booths invite you to settle in and share a bottle of Champers with a friend, uniformed staff skate around the floor with ease, and warm light dances off the grand chandeliers overhead. You can, of course, go all out at Gimlet and dine on lobster, caviar service and exxy bottles of wine all night, but even just popping in for a few cocktails and a taste of a few dishes here and there is truly a lovely way to experience the restaurant, which tends to feel welcoming and adaptive no matter how much you’re willing to splurge.

What's on offer? Seasonal four-course menu, à la carte menu or supper menu (Fri & Sat from 10pm)

What is it? Time Out Melbourne's Restaurant of the Year in 2023 may be almost a decade old, but it still stands out as one of the most energising fine dining experiences in Melbourne.

Why go? This farm-to-table restaurant’s kitchen sources all of its ingredients from a nearby 2.5-acre farm in Cardinia, owned and run by friends of the chefs. Over the years, O.MY Restaurant has set up nearly 400 garden beds, an orchard of 50 fruit trees, a berry patch, beehives and many other perennials they use on the menu. Each dish elevates humble produce to new heights, an alchemical feat that looks far outside the box in delivering an experience you'll remember. 

What's on offer? Seasonal four- or seven-course menu, with snacks and sourdough

What is it? The unofficial sultan of James Street, Gerard's serves up a beguiling mash-up of Middle Eastern and modern Australian cuisines, with dishes designed to share.

Why go? Every city should be so lucky as to have a bistro like Gerard's. The menu transports diners straight to the Middle East, split between breads and dips, mezze bites, skewers and share plates, then desserts. You could also easily opt for one of Gerard's set menus, featuring signatures like the fresh barbari bread with a side of baba ganoush, woodfired WA octopus with lamb kabsa sauce, and hero lamb rib with special spices. And it ain’t just whacked on the plate either – Gerard’s artful kitchen staff carefully curate each dish with love, and heaps of verdant and vermillion coloured ingredients too. Think cute little tarts, stacked desserts, silky sauces and beds of yoghurt. 

What's on offer? Two share-style set menus or à la carte menu

Time Out tip: Gerard’s Bistro gives big date night energy – it’s sleek, it’s sexy and the food is equally as divine.

Address: 14/15 James Street, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, QLD

Expect to pay: Set menu from $85 to $130

What is it? A multi-award-winning restaurant serving multi-sensory, multi-course menus in an intimate 24-seat dining room.

Why go? Hiding below Brisbane's Metro Arts theatre, Exhibition becomes the unexpected final act of any show. Chef and owner Tim Scott curates seasonally evolving menus that change nightly, taking inspiration from Japanese-style omakase. Expect more than ten detailed courses, featuring the likes of abalone liver parfait served with shokupan (milk bread); shrimp and scampi with secret sauces and fingerlime; and smoke-kissed Wagyu with truffle oil and cured egg yolk.

What's on offer? Multi-course omakase experiences

Time Out tip: Exhibition’s basement locale may be a little difficult to find. But to help you on your merry way – just pull open the big green doors, look to your right for the glowing sign, and follow it downstairs.

Address: Basement 2/109 Edward Street, Brisbane, QLD

Expect to pay: Set menu for $250 

What is it? An iconic pan-Asian fusion restaurant located right by the beach at Burleigh Heads. 

Why go? For ten years, Rick Shores has set the bar high for fine dining on the Gold Coast. The glamorous and contemporary Asian fusion menu draws inspiration from Vietnam and Thailand, featuring their now-famous fried Moreton Bay bug roll with bug mayonnaise and sriracha — arguably the Gold Coast’s most iconic snack. Rick’s cured king salmon sashimi and freshly shucked oysters with Thai vinaigrette go down a treat, while the roasted red duck curry and honey-glazed pork deserve a spot on your table for mains. You’ll need to book a table at Rick’s, but if you’re feeling spontaneous, arrive early and try to nab a table in the bar or on the sunny patio.

What's the deal? Two shared set menus and an à la carte menu

Time Out tip: Order the Moreton Bay bug roll. It's an icon for a reason.

Address: Burleigh Pavilion, 3/43 Goodwin Terrace, Burleigh Heads, QLD

Expect to pay: Set menus from $90 to $135

What is it? House within a heritage building, this moody, multi-space eatery is built entirely around the concept of cooking on an open fire. 

Why go? Pushing the boundaries of what can be accomplished in a kitchen using exclusively the power of woodfire and smoke, Agnes brings precision to this unwieldy and demanding medium. Executive chef Ben Williamson and his talented team use different types of wood – ironbark, apple wood, cherry wood and olive wood – to uniquely interact with each of the dishes, whether it be Wagyu sirloin, pork tomahawk, Murray cod or potato flatbread. Agnes’ brilliance lies in merging food with architecture; those hanging lights transition from necessary beacons into spotlights over the table, forcing you to focus on every flavour, every technique, every crumb. You’ll want something to wash it all down with, and fortunately, the team at Agnes has curated an impressive cellar of over 1,400 bottles from across Europe and Australia. 

What's on offer? Shared set menu or à la carte menu

Time Out tip: Agnes Restaurant states that ‘it’s not fine dining, but not entirely casual’ – do with that information what you will, but we reckon it’s great for a date or a hang with your mates, either way.

Address: 22 Agnes Street, Fortitude Valley, QLD

Expect to pay: Set menu for $100

What is it? A glamorous bar and grill in Broadbeach serving fire-kissed food from one of the city’s only charcoal woodfire grills, alongside seafood towers, caviar trolleys, roving Champagne and immersive cocktails.

Why go? The shiniest new jewel in the Gold Coast crown of restaurants, Kōst impresses in more ways than one. For starters, there’s the extremely attentive staff and incredibly luxurious space, featuring glamorous indoor booths, bar dining, outdoor pavilion stools and a private dining room. That’s not to mention the purpose-built dry-aged cool room and Australia’s first two-metre Mibrasa charcoal grill and oven. Kōst’s rather extensive menu splits share plates between the ocean, land and earth, with heroes like their fire-kissed yellowfin tuna, steak tartare with crisps, and scotch fillet cooked over embers.

What's on offer? Signature share-style set menu or à la carte menu

Time Out tip: Head to Kōst between 3pm to 5pm daily for a taster of their Mini Kōst menu, featuring $11 cocktails and signature bar snacks.

Address: Shop 135S/3 Oracle Bvd, Broadbeach, QLD

Expect to pay: Set menu for $155

What is it? Just 500 metres from Australia Zoo at the award-winning Crocodile Hunter Lodge, this all-day restaurant is one of the Sunshine Coast’s top hidden gems.

Why go? While Warrior celebrates local and native ingredients, the menu isn’t strictly Australian. Dishes, like slow-braised beef rendang, pay homage to meals Steve Irwin loved cooking, while others feature ingredients grown onsite, including chilli harvested in Australia Zoo’s Elephantasia and honey sourced from backyard bee hives. Menu highlights include fresh local sourdough with native salted butter, Queensland tiger prawns with native pepperberry aioli, and a 200-gram eye fillet with red gum-smoked salt and warrigal greens. As for drinks, Warrior offers all-Australian beers, wines and spirits, including those from local breweries on the Sunshine Coast. The house cocktails are a playful nod to Australia Zoo’s resident crocodiles rescued by Steve. Take the Bosco, a twist on the Espresso Martini with toasted marshmallow syrup and maple-smoked wood, served under a smoky dome and garnished with charred marshmallows.

What's on offer? À la carte all-day menus or afternoon snacks (3pm-5pm)

Time Out tip: You can even stay the night at The Crocodile Hunter Lodge – the luxe wilderness retreat housing the restaurant, along with rustic cabins, an infinity pool and plenty of native animals.

Address: The Crocodile Hunter Lodge, 88 Irwin Rd, Beerwah, QLD

Expect to pay: More than $80 for two courses

What is it? Perched sky-high on the rooftop of the five-star COMO The Treasury hotel, this terrace-like restaurant is proudly the highest-ranked restaurant in Perth.

Why go? Wildflower offers something unlike anything we've seen before – innovative fare headed by the Indigenous culinary calendar, meaning ingredients are harvested and foraged according to the Noongar six seasons. As the narrative unfolds over a four-, six- or eight-course degustation, you can take in sweeping views across the Swan River and St George's Cathedral. Expect to come across dishes like Albany pork with coastal rosemary, sweet potato gnocchi with salbush in dashi, and duck with Davidson plum, heirloom carrots and coffee – both peculiar and inspiring, if you ask us.

What's on offer? Four-, six- or eight-course tasting menu; two-course lunch menu or bar menu

Time Out tip: A newish outdoor terrace boasts the most spectacular city skyline views – if you score an alfresco seat, arrive in time for sunset.

Address: COMO The Treasury, Level 4/1 Cathedral Avenue, Perth, WA

Expect to pay: Tasting menu from $140 to $230

What is it? A seaside bar with an old-world flair in South Fremantle, boasting sustainable seafood and an ever-changing wine list.

Why go? Hook, line and sinker, Madalenas is easily one of the best restaurant-bars in Western Australia. The sun-filled boteco sources the freshest sustainably caught seafood from local suppliers at Fins Seafood and pairs it with seasonal goodness from their thriving kitchen garden. Madalenas' ever-changing menu sees the likes of Fremantle octopus with tamarind, chipotle and duck fat, as well as Abrolhos Islands red throat emperor with chamomile butter, and barbecued Albany sardines with parsley and capers – simple yet effective. Wind down on the weekend with a chardonnay off Madalenas' white marble bar or head upstairs for cocktails and fantastic sunsets over the Indian Ocean horizon.

What's on offer? Six-course sharing menu or à la carte menu

Time Out tip: Reservations are recommended if you’re after a bite to eat, but if you’re following your nose for an evening tipple, the upstairs bar is walk-ins only.

Address: 406 South Terrace, South Fremantle, WA

Expect to pay: Six-course menu for $90

What is it? A classic seaside brasserie and grill, boasting incredible views over Cottesloe Beach and the Indian Ocean.

Why go? If the sweeping oceanic views haven’t already sold you, the food and finesse at Gibney surely will. This sophisticated brasserie ticks all the boxes, with plush banquette seating and a glam bar all softened by a coastal colour palette. With a menu that reads as a who’s who of Australia’s most premium producers, you can’t go wrong. Start with fresh seafood and snacks, before moving on to premium mains, including a grilled O’Connor 3+ sirloin, Western Rock Lobster spaghetti and Fremantle swordfish cooked in cider beurre blanc – don’t forget to mop up the to-die-for sauce with a buttered slice of sourdough. Since its inception, Gibney has proven to be one of the best restaurants in Perth for both lunch and dinner services, seven days a week.

What's on offer? À la carte menu

Time Out tip: For ultimate comfort, book a booth for your group and sit back, relax, and let Gibney do the hard yakka, with a side of the Fremantle Doctor, of course.

Address: 40 Marine Parade, Cottesloe, WA

Expect to pay: More than $100 per head

What is it? A quaint bar and bistro in Mount Lawley that transports you to a bygone era of ‘Gay Paree’, combined with the present-day charm of New York haunts.

Why go? This intimate three-tiered restaurant takes things up a notch with its European fare, along with its thoughtful wine list to match any dish that takes your fancy. By no means is Le Rebelle a burger bar; however, we’d go there for Le Burger alone. It bleeds two types of French cheese in all their glossy glory, a punchy tomato relish, and features a melt-in-the-mouth wagyu patty that seeps with its grilled juices – rebellious by nature, and indeed one of the best burgers in Perth. Other classic mains include glazed whole duck with bearnaise sauce, a fillet steak with smoked soy oyster mushrooms and XO, plus poisson du jour (fish of the day). The house baguette is a non-negotiable too, and the same goes for a glass of red.

What's on offer? Shared set menu or à la carte menu

Time Out tip: Big on cheese? Oh, sorry, we meant ‘fromage’. Well, Le Rebelle is the place to be with the separate fromage menu of local and international choices.

Address: 676 Beaufort Street, Mount Lawley, WA

Expect to pay: Share menu for $96

What is it? A sleek, modern Greek-inspired bar and grill in the heart of Adelaide city, serving up classic dishes yia yia herself would approve of, alongside Greek beers, wines and ouzo.

Why go? Housed in a charming heritage building on Currie Street, Omada is the latest addition to Adelaide restaurateur Simon Kardachi’s empire (which includes neighbouring Fugazzi, Osteria Oggi and Shōbōsho). The minimalistic dining room offers a calm oasis in the CBD, featuring charming arched windows, soaring ceilings, gentle cream tables and thatched straw accents. Omada (“oh-mah-tha”) translates to ‘group’ in Greek, embodying the venue’s ethos of gathering around generous share plates. At the far end, an open kitchen invites diners to watch the chefs turn the ordinary into the extraordinary. We recommend starting with mezedes (small plates), including a sesame-coated kolouri (bread ring) with a side of smoked melitzano (eggplant and capsicum dip), crispy hand-rolled spankopita, and an artful moussaka terrine crowned with glossy béchamel sauce. Then, share seasonal seafood and meat dishes, like Greek-style pasta bolognese and line-caught fish carved tableside. Ending on a bite of baklava or kataifi is always a good idea.

What's the deal? Three 'Feed Me' menus ('The Land', 'The Sea' or 'The Gathering') or à la carte menu

Time Out tip: Omada is also a perfect spot for a casual drink. Settle into a stool at the bar and enjoy Greek beer or wine, or house-made ouzo. Yamas!

Address: 46 Currie St, Adelaide, SA

Expect to pay: Set menus from $95 to $126

What is it? Set across five picturesque hectares in the Adelaide Hills, Ondeen is a destination diner where acclaimed chef Kane Pollard curates an ever-changing seasonal menu in harmony with the land.

Why go? Ondeen is a love letter to farm-to-table dining, marrying locally-sourced ingredients with botanicals foraged from the property’s very own garden. The super sustainable restaurant is housed in a former 1850s homestead, located just three minutes from Hahndorf and 25 minutes from Adelaide CBD. Culinary director Kane Pollard and head chef Julian Peek source 95 per cent of ingredients from South Australia, serving them fresh or briefly kissed by charcoal. Expect housemade focaccia served with whipped butter and pickled farm veggies, kangaroo tartare, lamb cooked over fire, barbecued market fish, and hearth-baked pies topped with fresh herbs and flowers from the garden.

What’s on offer? Seasonal shared menu, 'Indulgent Dining Experience' or express lunch

Time Out tip: Bookend your feast with a visit to the adjacent wine room, featuring four small-batch, cool-climate wines from Artis, Jericho, Silver Lining and Turon.

Address: 15 Onkaparinga Valley Rd, Verdun, SA 

Expect to pay: Set menu from $99 to $135

What is it? No gas. No electricity. Only fire. That's what to expect at this high-end, modern Australian restaurant where the chefs are on full display.

Why go? At Adelaide’s first open-flame restaurant, main character energy comes from a 3.5-tonne wood-burning oven that sizzles everything from local figs and sourdough crumpets to black Angus strip steak, bone marrow and Southern Rock lobster. Michelin-trained chef Jake Kellie heads this sleek barbecue restaurant, which is housed inside a heritage-listed sandstone building. You can dine à la carte from Arkhé’s seasonally-driven menu, or try for a seat at the exclusive chef’s table, located in the heart of the restaurant. Sip on enticing cocktails with the likes of a Wattleseed Negroni and Watermelon Fizz, which sit atop Arkhé’s extensive drinks list.

What's on offer? Chef's select menu or à la carte menu

Time Out tip: We quite like the seating at the very back of the restaurant, which backs onto a leafy courtyard – it’s like you’re outside, but you’re inside all at the same time. There’s something rather calming about it.

Address: 127 The Parade, Norwood, SA

Expect to pay: Chef's select menu for $150

What is it? Housed in a colourful, heritage-listed East End building, this Adelaide institution serves bold African-inspired cuisine bursting with smoke, spice and flavour.

Why go? African cuisine isn’t super common in Australia’s dining scene, but award-winning South African-born chef Duncan Welgemoed’s Africola is nothing short of legendary. It’s one of those restaurants that makes you consider booking a flight to Adelaide just for dinner. The super buzzy restaurant serves South African-style barbecue with the addition of North African flavours and ingredients, like pickled vegetables, hummus and flatbreads. The meat comes from animals bred and raised exclusively for the restaurant, which is then rubbed in aromatic spices and grilled or smoked in a woodfire oven. Good times are guaranteed!

What's on offer? Feed me menu or à la carte menu

Time Out tip: Try to nab bar seats so you can watch the open kitchen in action. 

Address: 4 East Tce, Adelaide, SA

Expect to pay: Feed me menu for $85 

What is it? An intimate, fine dining degustation room that just happens to be plant-based and doesn’t make you feel like you’re missing out in the slightest.

Why go? This compact 28-seat restaurant doesn’t try to replace meat dishes with vegan alternatives. Instead, each course is designed from the ground up to reflect the season. The result is a sophisticated dining experience that never fails to delight vegans and omnivores alike with its next-level inventive fare. Flavour combinations you would least expect somehow work in ways unexplainable – take, for example, the coffee dip with Jerusalem artichoke chips, and the porcini-port jelly with spent sourdough. Not only is Allegra Dining Room one of the best vegan restaurants in Adelaide, but in Australia too. We’d go as far as saying that this wee, but mighty eatery has helped shape the country’s plant-based culinary scene.

What's on offer? Multi-course set menu

Time Out tip: Go on an empty stomach – the courses start coming and they simply don’t stop coming. It’s a pretty cute spot for a date night or special occasion too.

Address: 1/125 Gilles St, Adelaide, SA

Expect to pay: Set menu for $150 

What is it? An Afghan comfort food diner that the New York Times raves about.

Why go? Since 2009, the Ayubi family has been introducing diners to fragrant, flavour-packed Afghan staples in Adelaide’s inner west. Despite revealing their secrets in a popular cookbook, no home cook can replicate their legendary jewelled rice or banjaan borani (strips of eggplant simmered in tomato sauce and a potpourri of spices until they’re so soft they fall apart). If you’re not feeling too adventurous within your taste bud journey, opt for the familiarity of fried dumplings, although Parwana’s are called ‘ashak’ and stuffed with chives and smothered in a rich, lamb mince sauce and dolloped with garlic yoghurt. As far as alcoholic beverages go, it’s BYO only (the owners use the proceeds to feed the homeless), but the atmosphere is convivial and the colourful interior is packed every night of the week. 

What's on offer?: Banquet menu or à la carte menu

Time Out tip: If you’re on a mission to savour bits and pieces from across Parwana’s menu, it’s worth looking into the banquet menu for $60 per person.

Address: 124B Henley Beach Rd, Torrensville, SA

Expect to pay: Banquet menu for $60

What is it? A gorgeous 25-year-old fine diner overlooking the still waters of Launceston's kanamaluka / River Tamar.

Why go? First built in the 1830s as a flour mill and water supplier, this historical building at the mouth of Cataract Gorge has gone on to become Launceston's premier destination for fine dining and boutique accommodation. With a strong focus on sustainable local produce like Cape Grim beef, abalone and wallaby, it’s a firm local favourite as well as a national award winner. The hyper-seasonal menu evolves to hero the region's freshest local produce, and the wine list is considered one of the best in the state, featuring many gems from the cool climate Tamar Valley. 

What's on offer? Two- or three-course menu, or à la carte menu

Time Out tip: The earlier you book, the better the view – seats with water views are given to those who book first.

Address: 2 Bridge Rd, Launceston, TAS

Expect to pay: Two courses from $99 or three courses for $130

What is it? An intimate ten-seater wine bar and restaurant serving a short, seasonal menu of Japanese-inspired à la carte snacks with a strong focus on local seafood. 

Why go? Set inside a heritage confectionery shop – no larger than your average sauna – this cosy Liverpool Street diner is the latest venture from acclaimed chef Luke Burgess (ex-Garagistes). Scholé takes its name from the Greek word for leisure, which is fitting for a space that encourages creativity and conversation, all centred around a communal ten-seater table. The share-style menu sways with the seasons, featuring biodynamic and local produce in elegant snacks like steamed wild angasi oysters from St Helens with fresh wasabi oil and hemp seed froknäcke (cracker) topped with salt-cured pike and pink radish. Larger plates are seafood-centric, where you could enjoy anything from smoked eel and raw scallops to albacore tuna and grilled swordfish. Complete the experience with a natural wine, considered cocktail or pour of premium Japanese sake.

What's on offer? À la carte menu

Time Out tip: On Tuesday nights, Scholé transforms into a buzzy tachinomi – a casual Japanese-style standing bar serving a tight selection of snacks and drinks. It’s walk-in only, so rock up early to secure a spot.

Address: 227 Liverpool St, Hobart, TAS

Expect to pay: Minimum spend of $100 per person

What is it? A set menu of newly harvested, provincial produce located in a former asylum.

Why go? ‘Farm-to-table’ is a buzzword tossed around kitchens across the country, but it’s a genuine way of life at The Agrarian Kitchen. Set in an old mental asylum, this hybrid restaurant, cooking school, kitchen garden and kiosk is the crown jewel of Tasmania's quaint New Norfolk neighbourhood. Plenty of the ingredients for the set menu’s dishes are grown on the kitchen’s onsite farm, while the rest are sourced from nearby growers, farmers and fishermen. Everything The Agrarian Kitchen uses is fresh (we’re talking just-picked herbs and fish straight out of the river), and the kitchen team does its own cheese-making, pickling, smoking, fermenting, whole-animal butchery and bread-making. 

What's on offer? Eight-course set menu (plus a casual kiosk out front serving pastries, salads and cakes)

Time Out tip: The exclusive Agrarian Kitchen experience is only available at lunch from Friday to Sunday. We highly recommend reserving your spot so your cravings don’t go unfulfilled.

Address: 11a The Avenue, New Norfolk, TAS

Expect to pay: Set menu for $220

What is it? MONA’s most avant-garde restaurant, suspended over the River Derwent.

Why go? “Look but don’t touch,” said no one ever at Faro Bar + Restaurant. Here, you’re encouraged to touch, play and even eat the artful creations, as opposed to the rest of the famed locale’s Museum of Old and New Art (MONA). When we said that Faro is suspended over the River Derwent too, we meant it. The chic A-frame dining room boasts floor-to-ceiling glass walls that invite the outside in, with expansive views across Hobart’s waterlined hillsides. Yet, Faro’s decorated plates, topped with the utmost detail, manage to steal the show. Wild-caught and feral meats are a feature on Faro’s menu, but given that the guy who owns MONA is vegetarian, you’ll find plenty of ingenious plant-forward options too, along with fun twists on classic cocktails and local drops from on-site winery, Morilla.

What's on offer? À la carte or chef's menu lunch (Fri-Mon 12pm-4pm), or five- or seven-course dinnner (Fri-Sat) 

Time Out tip: Make your visit to Faro even more memorable by catching the 25-minute ferry from Hobart’s Brooke Street Pier directly to MONA’s doorstop. The River Derwent’s flora-laden banks will butter you up just nicely for an equally fantastic feast.

What is it? A sleek waterfront restaurant, serving up one of the most exceptional degustation menus in Australia.

What is it? On the very top of Red Hill, this elevated Italian fine diner offers one of the best views over the capital.

Why go? When it comes to Canberra’s best restaurant views, Lunetta takes the cake – or the torta, considering it’s Italian. After a dramatic three-year hiatus, this spaceship-like dome atop Red Hill Lookout has been reborn, with a young superstar chef, Tristan Rebbettes (ex-Mona Farm, Saint Peter, Café Paci), leading the charge. In true Italian style, you must start with spuntini – may we recommend the gnocco fritto with honey and pecorino? Then make way for woodfired flatbreads with antipasti, including a selection of cheeses, salumi and cured fish. For secondi, share baked vodka pasta, a rich duck ragu mafaldine or a whole market fish with puttanesca sauce. Celebrating a special occasion? Go big with the one-kilogram bistecca alla fiorentina. A lovely little crème caramel al bergamotto will finish your night off nicely. 

What's on offer? À la carte menu or shared set menu

Time Out tip: Swing by Lunette during aperitivo hour from 3pm to 5pm for $18 cocktails and snacks starting at $7. 

Address: 60 Red Hill Dr, Red Hill, ACT

Expect to pay: Set menu for $120

What is it? A stylish yet small neighbourhood diner serving up a stand-out seven-course degustation with wine pairings. 

Why go? Nostalgic flavours and playful desserts take flight at this small suburban restaurant in Ainslie. Pilot’s four-, nine- and 12-course set menus are quintessentially Australian, and on any given day, you may be served IPA beer pretzels, Hawaiian pizza scrolls or brandy butterscotch Wagon Wheels. The experimental non-alcoholic drinks pairing is just as impressive as the boozed-up version, with a focus given to small, sustainable Aussie producers, which we love to see. Speckled handmade bowls elevate the earthy medleys that are cradled within, where nasturtium leaves and verdant broths are to be expected. Soft light penetrates the 24-seat dining room through off-white fabric curtains if you’re escaping the direct sunlight; otherwise, Pilot’s petite outdoor area, cornered by miniature olive trees, is a divine backdrop for snacking in the rays. 

What's on offer? Four-course lunch menu, nine-course evening degustation or 11-course extended menu

Time Out tip: On Thursdays, Pilot welcomes BYO. Just choose how much you’d like to contribute, and 100 per cent of the proceeds go towards the monthly-rotating charity.

Address: 1 Wakefield Gardens, Ainslie, ACT

Expect to pay: Tasting menu from $160 to $205, or lunch menu for $120 

What is it? The cooler and colourful younger sibling of Canberra’s award-winning restaurant, Pilot.

Why go? Shimmy on down to Such and Such for a fun, fresh and flavoursome feast that you’ll be raving to friends about for the rest of the year. You could mistake the bright and bold dining room for an art gallery, where the walls pop with artworks, ceramics and sculptures by local artists. Once you’ve had a good old-fashioned peruse around the intriguing dining room, make your way across the terrazzo floor to a cool, cushioned booth or timber tabletop where you’ll be equally as enticed by the fare. The super seasonal menu features contemporary takes on nostalgic snacks and share plates – think Berkshire pork belly in taco spice with wombok, as well as potato stuffed agnolotti with buttermilk and chives. Don’t take things too seriously and add on a glass (or three) of lo-fi, organic wines from both local makers and faraway places.

What's on offer? Express lunch menu, two set menus or à la carte menu

Time Out tip: If you’re after a quick in-and-out lunch, it’s hard to go past the $55 one-hour menu, which will get you two snacks and a salad (to share) as well as a main dish, plus dessert if there’s room post-savouries (there always is).

Address: 220 London Cct, Canberra, ACT

Expect to pay: Set menu from $80 to $110 or lunch menu for $55

What is it? A bite-sized Parisian-style restaurant focused on nose-to-tail cooking and natural wines.

Why go? This loosely French diner is easily one of the best places for small plates and good wine in Australia's capital. Onzieme revolves around a super seasonal menu written up on its grid window daily. Foraged ingredients and local produce are cooked over fire and coals, whether it be mutton skewers, kingfish head or duck. The grill only elevates vegetables in their earthy glory, with sugar snap peas, zucchini, and beetroot on regular rotation. Toasted nuts and seeds are the backup singers that add that essential touch of pizzazz. Meat-heavy dishes will have you coughing up a little more mullah, but if you’re going out, you may as well live large, right? 

What's on offer? Set menu or à la carte menu

Time Out tip: Dine in French style with a minimal intervention glass of wine, before backing it up with round two at Onzieme’s tiny underground bar, 11e Cave.

Address: 5/39 Kennedy Street, Kingston, ACT

Expect to pay: Prix fixe menu for $95

What is it? Where you go in Canberra for beautiful, restrained Japanese food with a focus on seafood. 

Why go? Named after a Japanese style of pottery, Raku blurs the lines between art and sustenance. The menu is extensive, showcasing seafood in all its rainbow glory. You can have it raw in the kingfish served with truffle yuzu, cold in a spanner crab sushi roll, or hot as king prawns doused in XO butter. Masters of the blades, the chefs expertly slice up fresh snapper, tuna belly and scallops into sashimi or nigiri; add crunch with popcorn shrimp on the tempura menu; and grill high-grade Wagyu on a robata charcoal grill. The carefully adorned plates are a spectacle in themselves, never mind the super sleek, monochrome fit-out to boot. 

What's on offer: Two tasting menus, weekday express lunch or à la carte menu

Time Out tip: Gluten-free, gang, rejoice. There’s a five-page menu dedicated to you, featuring treats like chargrilled cauliflower with miso-butter mayonnaise and soft shell crab tempura.

Address: 148 Bunda Street, Canberra, ACT

Expect to pay: Tasting menu from $120 to $170 or express lunch for $60 

What is it? A cosy Sri Lankan eatery by a MasterChef alumnus. 

Why go? Nothing can beat a great curry, and few chefs can outdo Minoli De Silva’s jaggery lamb with spiced tomato salsa. The former MasterChef contestant has set up a city centre establishment that marries creativity with reverence for traditional Sri Lankan ingredients. Fill the table with spice-cured kangaroo tartare, spiced lamb ribs that are slow-cooked for 18 hours, and twice-cooked eggplant moju (a kind of relish-y curry). The plates are pretty and the product placement is thoughtful, accompanied by verdant sauces that dance around the dish, with a symphony that concludes in your mouth. The choice is only made harder by the wafting (and sensational) aromas that linger around the contemporary dining room. Top it all off with a zingy cocktail from Ella’s extensive list, where ingredients like kaffir limes, cardamom and pandan steal the spotlight. The Kiwi Bay not only leaves you refreshed, but it changes colour too.

What's the deal? Feed me menu or à la carte menu

What is it? A stalwart South East Asian diner by renowned chef Jimmy Shu, with outposts in Darwin and Alice Springs.

Why go? The NT's South East Asian gastronomy scene goes hard – is it a proximity thing? Maybe! And at chef Shu’s Hanuman, the elegant restaurant has been taking hangry eaters on a culinary journey through India, Malaysia and Thailand since way back when in 1992. Standout dishes include nonya satay chicken, local soft shell crabs, beef vindaloo curry and the legendary hot Hanuman oysters. They also provide an entire dietary menu which entails a plethora of options for your dairy-free, gluten-free, nut-free and vegan buddies.

What's on offer? Banquet menus or à la carte menu 

Time Out tip: If you’re heading in with a group of six or more, Hanuman's Darwin outpost offers a tick-the-box 'Build Your Own' banquet menu from $77 per person.

Address: 93 Mitchell Street, Darwin & 82 Barrett Dr, Alice Springs, NT

Expect to pay: Banquet menu from $77 to $90