Posted 19 August 2025 in Announcement
Celebrating the culinary innovators shaping Australia’s dining scene, with Sydney’s Saint Peter awarded Restaurant of the Year.
Australia’s leading luxury food brand, Gourmet Traveller, last night unveiled the winners of the highly anticipated Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Of The Year Awards.
As Australia’s longest-running restaurant awards, with 2025 marking the 45th year, the country’s most esteemed and industry-leading chefs and restaurant personalities came together to celebrate the Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Awards, hosted for the first time in Tasmania at the Henry Jones Art Hotel.
Proudly presented by Lexus with support from Scanpan, Wedgwood, Porkstar, Tourism Tasmania and Petaluma Wines, the awards are a showcase of industry excellence and innovation.
Rodney Dunn, chef-owner of Tasmania’s The Agrarian Kitchen, collaborated with two other celebrated local restaurants – Fico and Omotenashi – to curate the evening’s menu, showcasing a strong sense of Tasmanian provenance.
In attendance were some of the most respected names in Australian hospitality, including, Rodney Dunn and Laura Cuthbert (The Agrarian Kitchen), Chris Lucas (Maison Bâtard), Brent Savage and Nick Hildebrandt (Bentley Group), Peter Gilmore (Quay) and Josh Niland (Saint Peter).
From Are Media were Nicky Briger (General Manager, Luxury), Sally Eagle (Director of Content), Nisar Malik (Head of Sales, Victoria), and newly appointed Gourmet Traveller editor David Meagher.
Representing key partners were Andrew Parrot (National Lexus Sales Manager), Henrik Bodker (GM Sales & Marketing, Scanpan), Steven Orr (Brand Manager, Scanpan), Nadia Bayfield (Director of Marketing and eCommerce, Fiskars Group – Wedgwood), Sarah Kingston Clark (CEO, Tourism Tasmania), Lindene Cleary (CMO, Tourism Tasmania), Vanessa Pinto (Acting CEO, Petaluma Wines), and Katrina Myburgh (Head of Brand and Marketing, Federal Group), underscoring the awards’ prestige and its strong ties to Australia’s culinary and lifestyle sectors.
Are Media General Manager, Luxury, Nicky Briger, said: “Last night’s Gourmet Traveller Restaurant of the Year Awards were a celebration of Tasmania’s exceptional produce and hospitality talent, bringing together three renowned local icons – The Agrarian Kitchen, Fico and Omotenashi – and hosted at the historic Henry Jones Art Hotel.
“The Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Awards recognise the incredible depth and diversity of Australia’s dining landscape and are always a highlight of the hospitality calendar.”
Sydney seafood eatery Saint Peter claimed the top honour, scooping the prestigious Restaurant of the Year accolade.
“With a menu that honours the ocean’s bounty, and a commitment to superb service, Saint Peter is a shining example of what it means to be a world-class restaurant,” Briger said.
Gourmet Traveller also awarded six state winners in the Restaurant of the Year category, reflecting the incredible calibre of dining in Australia this year. Winners included:
Chefs from across the nation cast their votes and overwhelmingly named peer, Nik Hill, chef at Sydney’s Porcine restaurant, as their choice for Gourmet Traveller’s Chef of the Year.
The Readers’ Choice Icon Award was awarded to Berowra Waters Inn in NSW. In an era when many restaurants are becoming faster and leaner, prioritising quick lunch deals, set menus and speedy bang for buck, a visit to Berowra Waters Inn – which first opened in the 1980s under the stewardship of Gay and Tony Bilson – feels like a genuine act of self-care.
Highly regarded Victorian chef, culinary educator, and author known for his expertise in Asian cuisine, Tony Tan, was honoured with this year’s Outstanding Contribution to Hospitality, while Ozge Kalvo, the head chef behind popular Redfern restaurant Olympus Dining in NSW, was announced as this year’s Best New Talent.
The night also recognised the charismatic personalities who make dining out memorable, with Angie Giannakodakis of Brunswick’s Taverna taking home Restaurant Personality of the Year.
Over in South Australia, Mediterranean inspired eatery, Staġuni was awarded both Best Destination Dining and State Winner, while +81 Aizome Bar, a popular Ginza-inspired Japanese dining bar in Brisbane, received Bar of the Year.
Melbourne’s Maison Bâtard was named Best New Restaurant, providing locals with a Parisian chic dining experience, Melbourne-style.
The winners of the Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Awards will be profiled in the September issue, on sale Monday August 25 which will also include the annual Restaurant Guide, featuring Australia’s top 100 restaurants.
