Gourmet Traveller Reveals the Winners of the Annual Restaurant Awards 

Posted 18 August 2026 in Press Release

Australia’s leading luxury food brand, Gourmet Traveller, last night unveiled the winners of the anticipated Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Of The Year Awards.

Recognising excellence across 10 categories including: Restaurant of the Year, Chef of the Year, Best New Restaurant, Best New Talent, Best Destination Dining, Bar of the Year, Restaurant Personality of the Year, Enduring Excellence and Outstanding Contribution to Hospitality, alongside the annual Restaurant of the Year State Winner. The evening marked a major milestone for Gourmet Traveller, celebrating 60 years of the brand in Australia.

L-R_Wayne Gabriel, General Manager Lexus_Nicky Briger, GM Luxury Are Media_Anna Quinn, Director of Sales Are Media_Ingrid Vio, Senior Regional Sales Manager Lexus_GOURMET TRAVELLER.jpg.png

L-R_Wayne Gabriel, General Manager Lexus_Nicky Briger, GM Luxury Are Media_Anna Quinn, Director of Sales Are Media_Ingrid Vio, Senior Regional Sales Manager Lexus

David Meagher, Editor of Gourmet Traveller, says the awards continue to showcase the people and the places shaping Australian dining. “For 60 years, Gourmet Traveller has celebrated the people and places that define Australia’s dining culture. This year’s winners reflect the extraordinary depth of talent across the country – from emerging voices reshaping Australian dining to enduring institutions that continue to set the benchmark for hospitality. It’s a privilege to recognise those who continue to inspire and elevate our industry.”

The Gourmet Traveller Restaurant of the Year is proudly presented by Lexus Australia, with support from Scanpan, Wedgwood, Porkstar, S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy, 1800 Tequila, Yalumba, and Maison Pompadour.

The 2026 Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Award winners:

RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR: ZAREH, Collingwood, VIC

RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR STATE WINNERS:

  • VIC: ZAREH (COLLINGWOOD);

  • NSW: BISTRO LIVI (MURWILLUMBAH);

  • QLD: THE WOODSHED (KIN KIN);

  • SA: ESMAY (HACKNEY);

  • TAS: SCHOLÉ (HOBART);

  • WA: DE’SENDENT (MARGARET RIVER).

CHEF OF THE YEAR: CHRISTIAN RYAN – ALØFT RESTAURANT & RESTAURANT MARIA, TAS

BEST NEW RESTAURANT: YIAGA, Melbourne, VIC

BEST NEW TALENT: SAAVNI KRISHNAN & ADITYA SURESH – SAADI, Melbourne, VIC

BEST DESTINATION DINING: THE WOODSHED, Kin Kin, QLD

BAR OF THE YEAR:TREAD LIGHTLY, Willunga, SA

RESTAURANT PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR: “BIG” SAM YOUNG – S’MORE & YOUNG’S PALACE, NSW

ENDURING EXCELLENCE:BEPPI’S, Sydney, NSW

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO HOSPITALITY:STEPHANIE ALEXANDER

About Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Awards

Established in 1980, the Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Awards are the country’s most prestigious and longest-running national restaurant awards The winners will feature in the September issue and online at gourmettraveller.com.au. The awards are determined by a panel of independent reviewers, who arrive unannounced and pay their own way. Each restaurant is judged on its overall dining experience, including its food and drink offering, ambience, service and setting.

For more information, please contact: Luke Robinson – 0417548688 | luke@storydisco.com.au

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