AUSTRALIAN GOOD FOOD GUIDE - Home of the Chef Hat Awards

Chef-hatted Destination Dining: Australia’s Most Exquisite Regional Restaurants


From island shores to mountain peaks, Australia’s Chef-hatted destination dining experiences offer more than exquisite cuisine — they capture a true sense of place. Each restaurant invites guests on a journey where landscape, architecture and flavour intertwine.

At Rumi on Louth, the serenity of the sea meets Mediterranean warmth; at Glasshouse, countryside views frame refined regional fare. Potager’s garden-to-table philosophy celebrates nature’s rhythm, while The Wintergarden’s elegance reflects timeless grandeur.

In Gippsland, Tinamba Hotel embodies rustic sophistication. Together, they showcase how exceptional food, thoughtful design and authentic hospitality create unforgettable dining destinations across the country.


Tucked away on tranquil Louth Island, Rumi on Louth captures the essence of coastal South Australia with understated elegance. The restaurant’s open design invites sea breezes and golden light, creating a serene setting where time seems to slow. Inspired by both Mediterranean warmth and local produce, each dish celebrates the island’s natural abundance — fresh seafood, native herbs and seasonal vegetables.
 
Chef-hatted Destination Dining: Australia’s Most Exquisite Regional Restaurants

The aroma of wood-fired cooking drifts through the air, mingling with salt and sea spray. Guests linger over shared plates and conversation, feeling deeply connected to place, flavour and the gentle rhythm of island life at Rumi on Louth.


The Glasshouse Restaurant at Goonoo Goonoo Station offers an unforgettable dining experience where contemporary design meets rural charm. Set against the rolling hills just outside Tamworth, its floor-to-ceiling glass walls frame panoramic views of the surrounding countryside, bathing the space in natural light. The restaurant’s modern architecture contrasts beautifully with the historic pastoral setting, creating a refined yet relaxed atmosphere.
 
Chef-hatted Destination Dining: Australia’s Most Exquisite Regional Restaurants

Inside, warm timber, stone textures and elegant detailing evoke a sense of understated luxury. Seasonal menus showcase the best local produce, thoughtfully crafted into dishes that reflect both sophistication and a deep connection to the land’s enduring heritage.


Nestled among the lush hinterland hills of Carool, Potager is a serene country restaurant where the paddock meets the plate in the most elegant way. The dining room opens to sweeping views of rolling farmland, framed by tall trees and soft coastal breezes. Inside, warm timber accents and subtle earthy tones create a welcoming, rustic-chic atmosphere.
 
Chef-hatted Destination Dining: Australia’s Most Exquisite Regional Restaurants

The kitchen celebrates local produce - much of it harvested from the property’s own gardens - transformed into refined, seasonal dishes that highlight freshness and simplicity. With an easy rhythm between garden, kitchen and table, Potager offers a dining experience deeply connected to its natural surroundings.


Located within the grandeur of Medlow Bath’s iconic Blue Mountains setting, The Wintergarden at the Hydro Majestic offers an atmosphere of timeless elegance. Its soaring windows frame sweeping valley views, bathing the dining room in soft, natural light. Crisp linens, polished silverware and floral accents evoke classic refinement.
 
Chef-hatted Destination Dining: Australia’s Most Exquisite Regional Restaurants

Guests are enveloped in a sense of calm as they savour meticulously crafted dishes that celebrate local produce and seasonal inspiration. Whether at sunrise or beneath a dusk-tinted sky, the restaurant’s serene beauty and attentive service create an experience that feels both luxurious and deeply connected to the landscape that surrounds it — tranquil, indulgent and unforgettable.


Sitting in the tranquil heart of Gippsland’s countryside, Tinamba Hotel exudes rustic charm and contemporary elegance. Set amid rolling farmland, its weatherboard façade opens to warm interiors of polished timber, soft lighting and a welcoming country atmosphere. Expansive windows frame sweeping rural views, while the crackle of an open fire invites leisurely dining and conversation.
 
Chef-hatted Destination Dining: Australia’s Most Exquisite Regional Restaurants

The hotel celebrates the region’s rich produce with thoughtfully crafted dishes that capture the spirit of seasonal abundance. Whether enjoyed on the sun-dappled terrace or within the intimate dining room, a visit to Tinamba Hotel offers an authentic taste of country hospitality and refined simplicity.

Featured Locations

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The Wintergarden

Majestic vistas of Megalong Valley draw diners to The Wintergarden restaurant on Great Western Highway at Medlow Bath. Located inside the historic Hydro Majestic Hotel, this light-filled restaurant...

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Rumi on Louth

Experience fine dining from bounty caught outside the door for the epitome of wild indulgence at Rumi on Louth’s Samphire restaurant on Louth Island. A unique menu celebrates the bountiful local se...

Modern Australian    $$$$$

Tinamba Hotel

Serving hungry and thirsty locals for almost 150 years, Tinamba Hotel on Tinamba Seaton Road is one of Gippsland’s finest dining destinations. From the first-class ambience of the dining room, loun...

Modern Australian    $$$$$

Potager

Potager – A Kitchen Garden is a hef-hatted, produce-led restaurant on a 10-acre property in Carool, overlooking the Northern Rivers valley to the sea. Its menus follow the seasons: herbs and flower...

Modern Australian    $$$$$

Glasshouse Restaurant at Goonoo Goonoo Station

Take in sweeping views over the rolling hills of Goonoo Goonoo Station and the distant Liverpool Range from the contemporary surrounds of Glasshouse Restaurant on New England Highway in Tamworth. C...

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