Just like the current cost of living, dining out in Australia is getting more and more expensive. So, when you’re splurging on a special occasion meal, you want to make every dollar count. With so many fabulous and fancy restaurants across the country, picking where to go can feel a little overwhelming. Do you go with a long-standing institution that's been wowing diners for more than 20 years, try a trendy new spot from an up-and-coming chef, or take a recommendation from those in the know?
If you go for option three, your dinner dilemma could be easily solved by the Restaurant and Catering (R&CA) Hostplus Awards for Excellence. These prestigious nationwide awards recognise the top hospitality businesses across various categories in both metropolitan and regional areas. One of the highlights of the ceremony is the Best Premium Restaurant category, which in 2024, showcased an array of hidden gems across the country.
One standout is Cape Restaurant on the Mornington Peninsula, which took out the win for Best Premium Restaurant in 2024. Hidden within the walls of RACV Cape Schanck Resort, this fine-dining gem only opens for dinner from Wednesday to Saturday nights. It's an all-round sensory experience, with an open kitchen giving diners front-row seats to theatrical cooking and plating and a fit-out that features floor-to-ceiling windows with sweeping views of Bass Strait, native gardens and the club's golf course. Cape’s three- or five-course menus tip their hats to European traditions and classic French techniques, while also championing the high-quality ingredients of the Peninsula and its surrounds. Sounds pretty spesh to us!
The silver medal was awarded to executive chef Peter Gilmore’s world-famous Quay Restaurant, which has been the crown jewel of Sydney’s harbour dining scene since 2001. Each and every plate here is a work of art, served with unrivalled professionalism on custom-made crockery and showcasing a cornucopia of produce grown exclusively for the restaurant. While Quay is far from a hidden gem, it’s certainly deserving of a splurge.
Les Bistronomes Restaurant in Canberra claimed third place in the Best Premium Dining category and also won the Best European Restaurant award. This hidden gem in Campbell, led by Parisian-born chef Clément Chauvin, reimagines old-time French classics through a modern lens – and holds a candle to some of Sydney and Melbourne's finest eateries. The remaining finalists for the Best Premium Restaurant award include: Aurora Restaurant in Adelaide, Tali Wiru at Ayers Rock Resort in Uluru, Homage Restaurant at Spicers Hiddenvale in Grandchester, and The Cowrie Restaurant in Terrigal. You can explore the full list of winners across all categories in the R&CA Hostplus Awards for Excellence here.
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