CELEBRATING THE CULINARY STARS REDEFINING THE ART OF DINING
Australia’s leading luxury food brand, Gourmet Traveller, last night unveiled the winners of the 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 The Henry Jones Art Hotel.
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.
Nicky Briger, Head of Luxury, Are Media, comments, “Last night’s Gourmet Traveller Annual Restaurant 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.”
Sydney seafood institution, 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 added.
Gourmet Traveller awarded six State Winners in the Restaurant of the Year category, reflecting the incredible calibre of dining in Australia this year. Winners included:
ACT: Lunetta (Canberra);
QLD: Essa (Brisbane);
SA: Staġuni (Barossa);
TAS: The Agrarian (New Norfolk);
VIC: Marmelo (Melbourne);
WA: Gibney Restaurant (Cottesloe).
Peter Gilmore, Josh Niland, Nick Hidlebrandt, Brent Savage, and Analiese Gregory were among some of the top chefs to attend the event, which are the country’s only national restaurant awards.
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’, as voted by readers, 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.
This year’s Outstanding Contribution to Hospitality award went to Tony Tan, highly regarded
Victorian chef, culinary educator and author known for his expertise in Asian cuisine. Ozge Kalvo, the head chef at popular Redfern restaurant Olympus Dining in NSW was announced as this year’s Best New Talent.
The night also recognised the charismatic people who make dining out such a memorable experience, 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 Ginza-inspired Japanese dining bar in Brisbane, received Bar of the Year.
Maison Bâtard was named Best New Restaurant, providing locals with a Melburnian take on Parisian-chic.
The Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Award winners: RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR:
SAINT PETER, Sydney, NSW
STATE WINNERS:
ACT: LUNETTA (CANBERRA);
QLD: ESSA (BRISBANE);
SA: STAĠUNI (BAROSSA);
TAS: THE AGRARIAN (NEW NORFOLK);
VIC: MARMELO (MELBOURNE);
WA: GIBNEY RESTAURANT (COTTESLOE).
READERS’ CHOICE ICON AWARD
BEROWRA WATERS INN, Berowra Waters, NSW
CHEF OF THE YEAR:
NIK HILL- PORCINE, Sydney, NSW
BEST NEW RESTAURANT:
MAISON BÂTARD, Melbourne, VIC
BEST NEW TALENT:
CHEF – OZGE KALVO, OLYMPUS DINING, Redfern, NSW
BEST DESTINATION DINING:
STAĠUNI, Marananga SA
WINE BAR OF THE YEAR:
AIZOME BAR, Brisbane, QLD
RESTAURANT PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR:
ANGIE GIANNAKODAKIS, TAVERNA, Brunswick, VIC
“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,” comments Briger.
The Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Awards are supported by presenting partner, Lexus, alongside Tourism Tasmania, Scanpan, Wedgwood, Porkstar and Petaluma Wines.The winners 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.
