Even though Melbourne has just been named the third most affordable major city in Australia for 2025, the cozzie livs crisis is still hitting hard for many of us – and forking out for a meal at a fancy restaurant is certainly not a regular activity amongst the majority of the population. So on the rare occasion you want to splash out on a special dining experience, it's important to make each dollar count. But picking where to go isn't an easy feat.
Do you go with a long-standing legend that's been wowing diners for decades, try a hip new wine bar that's trending on the 'gram, or take a recommendation from those in the business of adjudicating the best of the best? 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 a compelling selection of exceptional venues across the country.
Lucky for Victorians, one of our very own stood out from the rest! The top gong went to Cape Restaurant on the Mornington Peninsula, which won Best Premium Restaurant in 2024. Hidden within the walls of RACV Cape Schanck Resort, this fine diner 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, as well as 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.
The silver medal was awarded to executive chef Peter Gilmore’s world-famous Quay Restaurant in Sydney, while restaurants in Canberra, Adelaide, the Northern Territory and other areas around Australia also took home shiny new accolades. You can explore the full list of winners across all categories in the R&CA Hostplus Awards for Excellence here.
As for us? We're planning our next road trip to the Mornington Peninsula asap! Need more dining inspo? Our guide to Melbourne's best restaurants is the perfect place to start.
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