Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Awards 2026: Winners

Bistro Livi is a practical Murwillumbah pick for a planned dinner, date night, or small celebration when staying central matters. Because cuisine, price, chef, and awards details are not listed, book it for the setting and convenience rather than a specific signature order or trophy credential.

Tread Lightly is worth booking if the table wants sustainability-led Modern Australian cooking in an intimate underground room rather than a predictable regional dinner. The value is strongest for curious diners who will share broadly across vegetable-led plates, seafood, offcuts, cocktails, and local wine; skip it for children, outdoor seating, or a safer mainstream menu.

Yiaga works for a relaxed Melbourne meal where setting and ease matter more than a heavily prescribed dining format. Its Fitzroy Gardens address gives it a calmer visual frame than many central tables, and 2026 Condé Nast Hot List Restaurants recognition adds a current trust signal. Book it for a flexible, quality-led occasion; confirm menu and pricing first if specifics matter.

Zareh is worth choosing for an intimate Collingwood dinner when fire-led Armenian-Lebanese cooking and a warm open-kitchen room matter more than formality. The $$ pricing, small scale, casual dress code, and easy booking profile make it useful for dates and close catch-ups, but it is weaker for large groups, children, outdoor dining, or a first experience via takeout.

Esmay is worth booking for a quieter Adelaide dinner built around seasonal Modern Australian cooking, heritage-room atmosphere, and a chef-led point of view. It suits couples, small celebrations, and food-focused travellers more than casual drop-ins or large groups. The $$$ spend makes sense if produce, restraint, and intimacy matter more than maximal choice.

A small, fire-led Modern Australian degustation inside the Kin Kin Hotel, The Woodshed is worth booking if you want a quiet, chef-driven dinner built around local produce and an open kitchen. At $185 per person, it suits couples and special occasions more than groups or casual drop-ins.

Scholé is a good Hobart pick for a date or small celebration built around Japanese-influenced food and wine rather than a formal tasting-menu meal. Booking is easy, the evening hours suit a drink-and-dinner plan, and the strongest fit is a compact group that values atmosphere over a highly structured restaurant experience.