5 Chef-hatted Restaurants to Enjoy in 2025

Welcome to exciting dining in 2025! With the announcement of Chef Hats scheduled for Friday, January 17 there is still time to check out awarded restaurants around the country before the new top dining destinations are crowned.

Here are five to put on your foodie road trip itinerary:

Surrounded by private parkland overlooking Lake Burley Griffin, The Boat House is the ideal place to relax and enjoy award-winning dining. Escape from the city life of Canberra and enjoy stunning lake views, with a dining room of rich décor, an open fireplace, white table linens and ambient lighting.

 

Waterside dining calls for seafood, as a seasonally changing menu has been created to offer locally sourced produce used to create stunning dishes like scallop tortellini with salmon roe, crème fraiche and Warrigal greens; perhaps charcoal pork loin, crackling, fennel, piperade and nduja tempts, enjoyed with sides of roast kipfler potatoes, green beans and snow peas.

Lush palm fronds and tinkling wind chimes take you from the Hinterland haven of Yandina into the wondrous world of The Spirit House Restaurant. New dishes from Head Chef Tom Hitchcock await guests at this Chef Hat-awarded venue, where a memorable dining experience of modern Southeast Asian flavours is guaranteed.

 

The makeover bug has hit with exciting renovations to the gardens and fantastic recipes on the main menu such as pan-seared scallops, Thai seafood sauce, caramelised turmeric oil and longans; followed by grilled shio koji cured pork, pineapple relish, sweet potato and mushroom mousse mille-feuille, or green curry of beef eye fillet with grilled eggplant and nam prik num.

While visiting the Port Lincoln area of the Eyre Peninsula, a stop at The Line & Label on Whillas Road is an absolute must. Perched regally above the vineyard of Peter Teakle Wines, The Line & Label offers an architecturally stunning restaurant of stacked bluestone walls, a floor-to-ceiling double-sided fireplace to warm the space on cool nights and hand-cut American oak for the ceiling.

 

Take a seat under glowing halo lighting at a plush upholstered chair as you peruse a Mod Oz menu featuring the area's freshest seafood, plated elegantly in dishes of charred octopus, carrots, avocado, yuzu and gochujang. Perhaps braised lamb with ras el hanout, farro, almond, labneh, carrots and date entice for the main, or bluefin tuna, ricotta gnocchi, saffron, fennel and sauce vierge.

Primely positioned in Port Macquarie’s Clarence House, Bills Fishhouse + Bar dons a casual urbanity, which echoes throughout the well-designed space. Modern simplicity best describes this eatery and its carefully curated sea-to-plate menu, with a focus on staying true to fresh, seasonal ingredients and uncomplicated eating.

 

From delectable oysters and whole baked fish to quality produce from local suppliers, char-grilled is the main weapon of choice in the kitchen; while behind the bar there’s a local line-up of craft beer on tap, crafty cocktails and an all-NSW wine list. A foodie’s paradise with a buzzing vibe, Bills is the place for a shared feast, a special occasion, casual evening drink or tasty bite after work; bringing people together over a mutual love of good food, wine and times.

When it comes to seafood, few do it as well as Rick Stein at Bannisters, located within the grounds of Bannisters by the Sea in Mollymook. Whether you visit for the restaurant experience or let it be part of a pampering package, the coastal views don’t end on the road; this is a waterfront venue and every diner has an ocean panorama. 

 

The beach-chic setting is comfortable, classy and understated and the food exquisitely prepared – look out for dishes like Japanese fish cakes, ginger, spring onion, watercress, chilli and soy lime dressing; moving onto mains such as char-grilled tuna steak, salsa verde, pickled fennel and green bean salad, or braised Basque-style snapper with clams, asparagus, broad beans and peas.