It’s no secret that Aussies are passionate about a good pub. Whether it’s a cold pint or a hearty Sunday roast, we’ve got more than our fair share of watering holes. And while we have our favourites, we love getting recommendations straight from those in the hospo industry on which pubs across Australia have the best food and drinks.
Recently, more than 700 hospo stars from around the country gathered at Brisbane’s shiny new Star Grand Hotel for the 2024 Australian Hotel Association National Awards for Excellence. The night saw winners crowned in a range of categories, from Chef of the Year to Best Family Dining, Best Entertainment Venue and Hotel of the Year. Full disclosure: it was just around lunchtime when I started writing this article, so naturally, my eyes were drawn to the best food and drink category winners.
For entrees, let’s dive into the Best Restaurants category. Four winners were recognised throughout the night: Audrey’s at The Continental Sorrento in Victoria claimed the Best Metropolitan Restaurant title, Tasmania’s Furneaux Restaurant took home the Best Regional Restaurant award, Aloft Perth earned the top spot for Best Mid-Range to Superior Restaurant, and Tunki at Lakes Resort Hotel in South Australia was crowned Best Deluxe Restaurant.
Craving a more casual feed? Victoria’s Royal Hotel Drouin earned the title of Australia’s best regional bistro for its elevated pub grub, featuring classics like chicken schnitty, battered fish and chips, bangers and mash, and fried chicken burgers, alongside a cheeky HSP Parma. Yep, that’s exactly what you’re picturing: a golden chicken schnitty and grilled lamb yiros, topped with melty cheese, aoili and barbecue bourbon sauce, all served with chips and veg, of course. Meanwhile, The Duke of Dural in NSW was crowned the best metropolitan bistro in 2024, impressing with its premium pub menu where dry-aged steaks and local seafood are cooked in a live-fire Josper oven.
If you’re after a good feed for the whole fam, the Best Family Dining category has you covered. Lakeside Village Tavern in New South Wales took out the win with its $13 kids’ menu, wild jungle playground, epic party packages and a weekday ‘kids eat free’ dinner offer. Who else misses the glory days when you could score free gelato just for being under 12?
Tasmania’s classiest cocktail and spirit bar, Mary Mary, took home the title of Australia’s Best Hotel Bar in 2024. Hidden down a little alley in Hobart’s Salamanca Place, its short but serious cocktail menu is inspired by time and place, reimagining classics with local fruits and Indigenous botanicals. We’ll take one of the True Locals with apple brandy, pommeau, house vermouth and apple juice, please.
The AHA also crowned Australia’s best hotels across four categories: the NT’s Dundee Beach Tavern won Best Remote Hotel, SA’s McLaren Vale Hotel was named Best Regional Hotel, Arkaba Hotel claimed the title of Best Metropolitan Hotel, and Hobart’s luxe The Tasman triumphed in the Overall Accommodation Division.
Here’s a snapshot of the best hotels for food and drinks in Australia for 2024:
- Best Restaurant – Metropolitan: Audrey’s, The Continental Sorrento, VIC
- Best Restaurant – Regional: Furneaux Restaurant, TAS
- Best Restaurant – Accomm Mid-Range to Superior: Aloft Perth, WA
- Best Restaurant – Accomm Deluxe: Tunki, Lakes Resort Hotel, SA
- Best Bistro – Regional: Royal Hotel Drouin, VIC
- Best Bistro – Metropolitan: The Duke of Dural, NSW
- Best Family Dining: Lakeside Village Tavern, NSW
- Best Hotel Bar – Accommodation Division: Mary Mary, The Tasman, TAS
And here are the best hotels in Australia for 2024:
- Overall Hotel of the Year – Remote: Dundee Beach Tavern, NT
- Overall Hotel of the Year – Regional: McLaren Vale Hotel, SA
- Overall Hotel of the Year – Metropolitan: Arkaba Hotel, SA
- Overall Hotel of the Year – Accommodation Divison: The Tasman, TAS