Australia Travel List

2. Dining recommendations

• Bentley Restaurant & Bar

In Gold Coast:

• Stingray at QT Hotel - great for snacks, they had amazing avocado and chips
• Baritalia - amazing italian with a lovely outdoor seating area
• Misono - teppanyaki jap place, food not the greatest we've had but the experience was worth it
• Betty's Burgers - delicious burgers and they have a shroom burger just like Shake Shack
• Max Brenners - best desserts

In Sydney:

• Catalina - catch the ferry from Circular Quay to Rose Bay
• Cafe Sydney – captures the essence of Sydney from its amazing location on the rooftop of Customs House with spectacular harbour views, delicious food, an outdoor terrace, cocktail lounge and a relaxed, contemporary interior.
• Chiswick Woollahra – dinner or lunch is a delight
• Guylian Cafe - perfect place for lunch or snacks, they had amazing avocado toast
• Koi Dessert Bar - hidden gem with delicious desserts
• Mejico - insane Mexican food, we loved it
• Icebergs Dining Room & Bar - Bondi - definitely worth checking out as you get the best views of Bondi Beach and the food is also good
• Quay - it's a Michelin star restaurant I think, super fancy and incredible meal with gorgeous views of the Opera House but also very pricey
• Iceberg Clubs Bistro - has great views and you can either have a fancy (and expensive meal) in the restaurant on the top level or a cheap and great meal at the club on the middle level
• Lankan Filling Station – I love it, they have epic curries and it’s a fun atmosphere
• Mr Wong - Wong does Cantonese-style food in a larger than life way. Seating 240 people over two levels and serving up a selection of up to 80 dishes, it’s a big affair. Yet somehow the restaurant still manages to feel intimate, with nooks for two, dim lighting and moody jazz.
• Sydney Opera House post show dinner at Opera Bar

In Melbourne:

• Claypots Evening Star (for a casual market-lunch) - Seafood bar & grill
• Chin Chin – Asian inspired menu with local art exhibits above a cocktail bar with DJ’s
• Flower Drum - what began as a humble desire to serve good Cantonese food to the people in Australia soon grew to be a reputable restaurant that sent food critics into an excited flurry. Gilbert’s (the owner) high standards for both himself and his staff allowed Cantonese cuisine to penetrate the tough Australian food market, ultimately establishing a Chinese restaurant that would rival the dominant European cuisines
• Hophaus Euro Bar Bistro - Vast hall with cool, art deco-style design flourishes, dishing up German food with a twist. Hophaus is an exciting food and beverage showpiece on Southbank, Melbourne – a cosmopolitan reinvention of the great European Bier Halls.
• High-end, famous: Attica and Brae (the latter in the countryside).
• Tonka – Modern Indian with European influences and a contemporary flair
• Minimashima – Japanese fine dining
• Spice Temple – Authentic Chinese cuisine
• Rockpool – Fire-grilled seafood and meats
• Philippe – Upscale spot representing French cuisine, a raw bar & drinks
• France-Soir – French cuisine offering snails, steak tartare and other classics in a cosy, convivial space with menus scribbled on mirrors
• San Telmo – Argentinian menu focused on chargrills in an eclectic space with high ceilings and hung cow hides
• Koko – Authentic Japanese Teppanyaki cuisine
• Longrain – Spacious rustic chic Southeast Asian cuisine with a cocktail bar, communal tables and share dishes
• Cumulus Inc - Seasonal menu that celebrates the very best in Victorian produce
• Pastuso – Peruvian bar and grill serving pisco-based cocktails
• Hophaus - old meets new—a delightfully familiar, yet excitingly fresh food and beverage experience.
• Gazi Greek - not that many veggie options but whatever they did have was really good, especially the veg Souvlaki
• Nobu – modern take on Japanese cuisine - not as accommodating as the London branches but still one of my favourite meals
• Milk The Cow - yummy cheese fondues. Late night cheese bar offering 180 varieties of artisanal cheese
• Pidapipo Gelato - incredible gelato place with Nutella on tap, expect long queues
• 400 Gradi Pizzeria - best pizzas in Melbourne for sure