Celebrating? Check out Australia's best restaurants
If there’s a special occasion coming up and you want to really wow your loved ones this year, we’ve rounded up Australia’s best restaurants for celebrating in style.
Sydney
Momofuko Seiobo (Pyrmont) – executive chef Paul Carmichael hails from Barbados and his unique pairing of Carribean and Australian flavours is a marriage made in heaven. Open for dinner Monday to Saturday and lunch on Saturday, Momofuko Seiobo offers a multi-course tasting menu and asks that you allow at least 2 hours for your meal.
The Bridge Room (Sydney CBD) – this three chef-hatted restaurant sits at number 8 on Australian Gourmet Traveller’s top 100 restaurants and was declared the hottest restaurant in Australia 2016 by the Australian. Executive chef and owner Ross Lusted brings together menus influenced by his travels throughout Asia and Europe and is known for the interplay of vivid flavours and textures that are a feature of his unique cooking style. Definitely one of the best restaurants in Sydney.
Melbourne
Attica (Ripponlea) – Dinner at Attica is a gourmet degustation of 5 or 8 courses, with a separate menu for vegetarians. Head chef Ben Shewry believes that food can have a deeper meaning than just another item to consume – it can be evocative and emotional, appealing to all of the senses.
Ben's formative years in New Zealand play a big part in his dining options, with dishes representing landscapes and experiences that have influenced him throughout his life. If you’re looking for the best restaurant in Melbourne, this could well be it.
Ides (Collingwood) – this small and intimate restaurant seats just 36 people and is run by former Attica sous-chef Peter Gunn. The menu is always six-courses, but the dishes change constantly, and often at the last minute. Gunn likes to be spontaneous and he says it keeps the energy in the kitchen high. This means you never know what you’re going to get on any given night, but you’ll always know the food will be interesting and delicious.
Brisbane
Esquire (Brisbane CBD) – smart, sleek and contemporary décor combine with food that strikes just the right balance between the latest seasonal produce and innovative technique. The menu changes daily, with the seamless flow multi-course set menu reflecting market availability. Possibly Brisbane’s absolute best restaurant.
Urbane (Brisbane CBD) - the brainchild of Argentinian chef Alejandro Cancino and restaurant manager Andrew Buchanan, the prowess of the cuisine at Urbane relies on global influences, innovative techniques, creative ingredient combinations and a deft touch. Offering 5 course and 7 course menus for both omnivores and herbivores, the restaurant is a welcome respite for vegetarians who struggle to find gourmet dining experiences in the city.
Adelaide
Orana (Adelaide CBD) – with a host of awards (The Australian’s 2018 Hottest Chef and Gourmet Traveller Restaurant of the Year to name a few), this two-hatted restaurant honours Australia’s incredibly varied food history. It celebrates the nutritional properties of indigenous ingredients, integrating the freshest ingredients to define a modern gastronomic identity. Trailblazing chef and native food advocate Jock Zonfrillo showcases ingredients such as finger lime, eucalyptus and green ants, redefining Australian cuisine one dish at a time.
Hardy’s Verandah Restaurant (Crafters, SA) - voted Australian Good Food and Travel Guide’s readers’ choice for fine dining in 2018, Hardy’s Verandah restaurant is just a short drive rom Adelaide. It’s a welcoming space where diners can expect amazing views to go along with the equally amazing culinary experience the restaurant has to offer. Combining a menu of products locally sourced or grown on the property, the chefs create visually stunning plates that look as good as they taste. This is definitely up there as one of Adelaide’s best restaurants.
Perth
Friends Restaurant (Perth CBD) – offering great views of the city and the river, Friends is a sophisticated but friendly fine dining restaurant. A massive 95% of Trip Advisor reviewers rate it as excellent or very good, so it’s no surprise that each dish served at Friends is an epic flavour adventure. Modern Australian cuisine blends consummate culinary techniques with the freshest of produce to deliver an exciting, innovative and flavoursome menu at one of Perth’s best restaurants.
C Restaurant (Perth CBD) – situated on the 33rd floor of St Martins Tower, C Restaurant is Perth’s only revolving restaurant and is the perfect setting to celebrate a special occasion. Open 7 days a week for lunch, dinner and high tea, this restaurant offers something for everyone and features separate vegan menus with an innovative list of options. Executive chef Frantisek Ilizi brings an international flavour and extensive experience to the kitchen, where he adapts fresh Australian ingredients to produce innovative European cuisine.
Want to whisk your loved one away for a romantic weekend with the finest cuisine? If you don’t have the cash right now, there’s no need to wait - just check out our flexible mini-loans to find out how quick and easy it is to get your hands on some extra funds. Once a loan is approved, we can usually get a payment into your bank account within 24 hours - so you can start organising that romantic getaway today!