It's no secret that Melbourne is home to some world-class drinking and dining experiences – Caretaker's Cottage was just ranked the 19th best bar in the world, in 2024 Vue de Monde landed fifth on La Liste's exclusive guide, and Lonely Planet just declared the city's culinary scene a must-do experience in its Best in Travel guide for 2026. Hungry yet?
And now, a revered, high-end Melbourne restaurant has been recognised by the Tatler Best Awards, which have expanded across the Asia-Pacific region for the very first time. The Tatler Best Awards (now in its second edition) celebrate the top destinations to dine, drink and stay while travelling – and none other than Flower Drum earned a spot on the inaugural Asia-Pacific top 100.
Flower Drum may be almost five decades old (yes, really), but this classy Cantonese joint located in Chinatown remains a beacon of elegant fine dining. Named after the traditional 'Flower Drum' dance, this certified culinary institution is best know for its impeccable service (the restaurant’s banquets is itself a carefully choreographed dance, which some of its waiters have been perfecting for 20-plus years) and dishes that offer diners a rare taste of various prized Cantonese specialities. And is it the best Peking duck in Melbourne? It’s definitely the most meticulously presented.meli
The other Aussie restaurants to make the list include Tasmania's sustainable dining powerhouse, The Agrarian Kitchen; and two Sydney spots: Ester (best known for its fire-charged produce, bold flavours and lo-fi wines) and Saint Peter, Josh Niland's scale-to-tail seafood restaurant. You bet we're adding those to our must-eat lists.
Wondering how Tatler creates its annual lists? Winners are chosen through a rigorous selection process involving more than 700 discerning panellists across the Asia-Pacific, including seasoned critics, international journalists and well-travelled members of the community.
You can check out the full list of winners here.
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