Australia's Top 100 Restaurants 2016

If you’re anything like me then you want to tick off as many of the top restaurants in Australia as possible. Personally I want to dine at Australia’s top restaurants to experience their renowned dishes and see whether I actually agree with the expert food critics! Plus, I always love to compare the service and see whether you are greeted with a smile and are well looked after. For me, the service is really important and bad service is unlikely to see me back. As a top rated restaurant, the service should be exceptional.

Australia is home to a fantastic array of cuisines to suit varying budgets. Whether you are after a casual cheap eat or a fine dining experience, there are multitudes of restaurants to choose from and it can often be a dilemma just choosing which restaurant to try next! We really are spoilt for choice!

If you’re struggling to find somewhere good to try then fear not as the Australian Financial Review has recently released their top 100 restaurants in Australia, presented by Qantas. So which restaurant tops the list this year?

This year, the tables have turned and Attica in Melbourne which came second in 2015 rose to number one spot in 2016. Having acquired sole ownership in 2015, Ben Shewry creates thought provoking, emotional and evocative food that appeals to all of the senses. Attica has won numerous awards over the years including more recently Restaurant of The Year 2015 (Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Awards 2015), Best Restaurant in Australasia (San Pellegrino World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2014) and awarded 3 Hats by The Age Good Food Guide 2014.

Attica, VIC Number 1 Restaurant

So with Attica placed at number one, how does this year’s Top 10 compare? Well, 2016 has seen a few changes and a few newcomers to the table. There is always a strong rivalry between NSW and VIC for the top spot, with VIC receiving more highly rated restaurants in 2015. However, this year NSW had an impressive seven restaurants within the top 10 and even TAS made an appearance.

Australia’s Top 10 Restaurants (2015)

  1. Sepia, NSW
  2. Attica, VIC
  3. Quay, NSW
  4. Brae, Birregurra, VIC
  5. Cutler & Co, VIC
  6. Vue de Monde, VIC
  7. Cumulus Inc, VIC
  8. Sixpenny, NSW
  9. Mr Wong, NSW
  10. Tetsuya’s, NSW

Australia’s Top 10 Restaurants (2016)

  1. Attica, VIC
  2. Brae, Birregurra, VIC
  3. Sepia, NSW
  4. Quay, NSW
  5. Ester, NSW
  6. Sixpenny, NSW
  7. Bennelong, NSW
  8. Rockpool est. 1989, NSW
  9. Automata, NSW
  10. Franklin, TAS

I’ve yet to indulge in any of these top 10 fine dining restaurants, and even the top 100 have yet to see me through their doors, but hopefully I may be able to treat myself to at least one of these top Australian restaurants this year. Just looking at the list and menus is making me salivate with hunger! The good news for is that next week I am off to Est. in Sydney for lunch with my boss so I shall let you know how the food fares, and of course if the service lives up to my expectations!

Until then, bon appetit! Don’t forget to let me know how many of these Top 100 Restaurants you’ve tried!

Top 100 Restaurants in Australia

  1. Attica VIC
  2. Brae, Birregurra VIC
  3. Sepia NSW
  4. Quay NSW
  5. Ester NSW
  6. Sixpenny NSW
  7. Bennelong NSW
  8. Rockpool est. 1989 NSW
  9. Automata NSW
  10. Franklin TAS
  11. Mr Wong NSW
  12. Bentley Restaurant & Bar NSW
  13. The Bridge Room NSW
  14. The Town Mouse VIC
  15. Cumulus Inc. VIC
  16. 10 William St NSW
  17. Flower Drum VIC
  18. Cutler & Co VIC
  19. LuMi Bar & Dining NSW
  20. Supernormal VIC
  21. Tipo 00 VIC
  22. Tetsuya's NSW
  23. Minamishima VIC
  24. MoVida, Melbourne VIC
  25. Fratelli Paradiso NSW
  26. Billy Kwong NSW
  27. Biota Dining, Bowral NSW
  28. Cafe Di Stasio VIC
  29. LP's Quality Meats NSW
  30. Momofuku Seiobo NSW
  31. Porteno NSW
  32. Rockpool Bar & Grill, Sydney NSW
  33. ACME NSW
  34. Embla VIC
  35. Vue de Monde VIC
  36. Firedoor NSW
  37. Dinner by Heston Blumenthal VIC
  38. Chin Chin VIC
  39. est. NSW
  40. Marque NSW
  41. The Apollo NSW
  42. Lake House, Daylesford VIC
  43. Oscillate Wildly NSW
  44. Saint Crispin VIC
  45. Guillaume, Sydney NSW
  46. Fleet, Brunswick Heads NSW
  47. Africola SA
  48. Orana SA
  49. Restaurant Amuse WA
  50. Silvereye NSW
  51. Pilu at Freshwater NSW
  52. Moon Park NSW
  53. France-Soir VIC
  54. Lee Ho Fook VIC
  55. Bar Louinhã VIC
  56. Icebergs Dining Room & Bar NSW
  57. Ormeggio at the Spit NSW
  58. Estelle by Scott Pickett VIC
  59. Rockpool Bar & Grill, Melbourne VIC
  60. Golden Century NSW
  61. Spice Temple, Sydney NSW
  62. Sean's Panaroma NSW
  63. Cottage Point Inn NSW
  64. Gerard's Bistro QLD
  65. The European VIC
  66. Monopole NSW
  67. Long Chim Perth WA
  68. ARIA NSW
  69. Provenance, Beechworth VIC
  70. Coda VIC
  71. Lalla Rookh WA
  72. Yellow NSW
  73. Luxembourg VIC
  74. Wasabi Restaurant & Bar, Noosa Heads QLD
  75. Master NSW
  76. 4Fourteen NSW
  77. Clarke's of North Beach WA
  78. Esquire QLD
  79. Muse Restaurant, Pokolbin NSW
  80. Monster Kitchen and Bar ACT
  81. Grossi Florentino Upstairs VIC
  82. Cho Cho San NSW
  83. The Long Apron, Montville QLD
  84. The Press Club VIC
  85. Lucio's NSW
  86. Ethos Eat Drink TAS
  87. Anchovy VIC
  88. Vasse Felix Restaurant, Cowaramup WA
  89. Lume VIC
  90. Tonka VIC
  91. Mister Jennings VIC
  92. Union Dining VIC
  93. Igni, Geelong VIC
  94. Sokyo NSW
  95. Peel St SA
  96. Hentley Farm, Seppeltsfield SA
  97. Lau's Family Kitchen VIC
  98. Fino, Seppeltsfield SA
  99. Epocha VIC
  100. Il Bacaro VIC