The best new restaurants to book a table at right now
Australian's have been blessed with some of the best dining in the world
WHAT turns a restaurant from cool to truly hot? It’s a rare alchemy where everything clicks: a sharp concept, online buzz, beautiful design, skilled operators, dialled-in drinks, a bang-on menu and that elusive sparkle of X-factor.
Right now, every hot spot seems to have a martini menu, alongside a steady stream of share plates, modern Italian and French dishes, plush dining rooms and venues built as much for a party as a proper feed. Whatever you’re in the mood for, Australia is home to some of the most inventive, high-quality restaurants in the world.
Here’s a select crop of new openings worth booking now.
Osteria Luna
Hidden beneath The Charles Brasserie & Bar in Sydney’s CBD, this electric Italian American fever dream delivers a jolt of Rat Pack energy to hundreds of diners a night. The low-lit room features velvet curtains, leather booths and waiters in pressed jackets, with a compact menu of Manhattan-meets-Milano dishes. Order calamari fritti, conchiglie pasta with vodka sauce, rigatoni bolognese and veal cotoletta alongside boozy cocktails and wines by the carafe. The music plays loud, too, with live jazz and Italian disco competing for attention. Louche, loose and a lot of fun, it’s peak 2026 dining.
Underground, 68 King Street, Sydney; osterialuna. sydney
Epula
Named after the Latin word for ‘banquet’, this grand city affair in the historic GPO building imagines Sydney’s Martin Place as a romantic Italian piazza. Soaring ceilings, curved archways and elegant columns lend a sense of theatre to the occasion, whether it’s an intimate date or a corporate catch-up. Opened by Frank Dilernia – the man behind Bar Tapavino and CBD restaurant Balcon by Tapavino – it’s an opulent homage to Europe that remains distinctly Australian. The menu offers well-priced prix-fixe options at lunch and dinner (snacks, a main and fries for $55 is a bargain), alongside old-school hits from kingfish to beef tartare, roast flathead to bavette steak.
1 Martin Place, Sydney; epularestaurant.com.au
South End
This razor-sharp bistro down the St Peters end of King Street in Sydney’s inner west is coolly understated but quietly confident, letting simple dishes shine with impeccable service. Led by Hussein Sarhan (ex-Fred’s) and Alex Tong (ex-Ester), it brings serious pedigree to a room that’s sleek but never showy. The menu is loosely European, seasonal and made for sharing: perhaps fresh bread from A.P Bakery spread with salty butter, golden potato rösti with Goldstreet Dairy cheese curds, Portarlington mussels in saffron broth, or a pork chop for two with pickled walnuts. Expert drinks from Paul Guiney continue the theme, championing top producers with ease. It’s the kind of place you drop in for lunch and leave at closing (if they can spare the table).
644 King Street, Erskineville; southendrestaurant.com
The French Exit
Anyday is a hospitality force in Brisbane, with nine venues and counting, from fire-fuelled Agnes to Middle Eastern standout Golden Avenue. Its newest offering, The French Exit, channels vintage Parisian brasseries inside a lovingly restored heritage building awash with buttery banquettes, marble tables and vintage lighting. Interiors by Tamsin Johnson complement a menu of comforting classics such as l’escargot, steak frites and crème brûlée, each executed with precision. Upstairs, bar Le Royale keeps things pumping with cocktails named after a little film called Pulp Fiction: Zed’s Dead, Ezekiel 25:17 and, of course, Mia Wallace.
169 Mary Street, Brisbane City; anyday.com.au
Tigerfish
Beachside institution Cottesloe Beach Hotel has added a vibrant pan-Asian diner to its ranks with Tigerfish, which has swiftly become one of Perth’s toughest bookings to land. Colourful cocktails lead the way, with salty-sweet concoctions inspired by southeast Asia (try the house punch with brandy, peach and oolong tea). The food menu follows suit, spanning wok-tossed mud crab red curry, loaded seafood fried rice and duck kimchi dumplings. With warm-toned interiors and Indian Ocean views, it’s a party package with a karaoke room included, if you can find it.
104 Marine Parade, Cottesloe; tigerfish.com.au
Yiaga
What does fine dining look like in 2026? Look no further than this ethereal restaurant set within a reclaimed kiosk in Melbourne’s Fitzroy Gardens. Helmed by Vue de Monde prodigy Hugh Allen, it’s a masterful space by architect John Wardle that frames the changing seasons beyond its polished windows. Every element, from furniture to glassware, is meticulously considered in pursuit of hospitality at its highest level. The result: a four-hour, 12-course odyssey showcasing the best Australian produce in inventive, often astonishing ways, spanning savoury, sweet and everything in between. For serious diners, this is the new benchmark
Fitzroy Gardens, East Melbourne; yiaga.au
Zareh
Tom Sarafian’s latest project has been a long time coming. After departing Melbourne’s Bar Saracen during the pandemic crunch of 2021, the star chef became a pop-up regular, moving through residencies and one-offs across the city. Now he’s landed where he was always meant to be: Zareh, a 40-seat diner at the edgy end of Smith Street. The contemporary Middle Eastern bistro has been an instant hit, racking up accolades and bookings weeks in advance. Expect Armenian-meets-Lebanese-meets-Melbourne cooking, with signature hummus laden with spanner crab and king prawn, chicken-kebab skewers brushed with toum and arak martinis garnished with gildas. Arguably the most exciting restaurant in the country right now, it’s been worth the wait.
368 Smith Street, Collingwood; zareh.com.au
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