Where to eat in 2026: the icons setting a new standard for Australian dining

In the near-fifty-year history of the Australian Good Food Guide Chef Hat Awards, a perfect score has never been granted - but in 2026, 14 extraordinary kitchens have come close.

Earning near-mythical scores of 18 and 19 out of 20, these Chef Hat icons have officially transitioned from restaurants into bucket-list destinations worth putting on your travel list.

From the urban heights of Melbourne's glass towers to the sun-drenched vines of the Margaret River, these are the internationally acclaimed winners worth a cross-country pilgrimage.

These aren't just diners, these are pinnacles of Australian gastronomy, and this is what the judges loved about them.

Amaru is one of two restaurants in this year's awards to receive a score of 19 out of 20. Positioned on the classy High Street in Armadale in Melbourne, this modern Australian establishment offers diners a view of the open kitchen where creations like quail with dried peach, pepita miso and bullhorn peppers are born.

Ten Minutes by Tractor at Main Ridge on the Mornington Peninsula is a sleek and memorable vineyard restaurant known for its modern Australian cuisine, particularly the O'Connor eye fillet with green pepper and oxtail.

South of Geelong, along the Cape Otway Road at Birregurra, is the modern Australian establishment Brae, nestled amid lush organic farmland. Dine fireside on dishes such as wild shot fallow deer and black pearl mushrooms with grilled onion and asparagus.

Kadota, a regional gem in the Macedon Ranges and spa town of Daylesford, offers lovingly-crafted Japanese cuisine, such as Murray cod with yuzu-braised fennel, cod roe emulsion, winter greens and celeriac. This restaurant was named 2025's AGFG Reader's Choice for regional Japanese cuisine.

Vue de Monde is located in the Rialto Towers on Collins Street with sweeping views of the Melbourne CBD. This restaurant has been a Melbourne mainstay for 20 years and is known for its signature chef's tasting menu.

Minamishima Japanese restaurant in Melbourne's Richmond offers two dining areas - a counter seating-style sushi bar and a dining room, serving an omakase of nigiri, and Japanese cuisine showcasing meticulous precision.

Sixpenny in the inner-Sydney suburb of Stanmore specialises in Modern Australian cuisine and is best known for its seven-course tasting menu influenced by the seasons - with a focus on fermentation, including pastes and sauces. Housed in an historic building erected in 1907, Sixpenny is the second and final restaurant to receive a score of 19 in this year's awards.

Bentley Restaurant & Bar in the Sydney CBD wowed judges with its European fare, particularly the glazed spatchcock with pea, chickpea miso and pencil leek. Think mood music, a dynamic design and an eclectic international wine list.

ARIA Sydney is an institution, offering modern Australian cuisine in a fine dining setting in Circular Quay, with showstopping views of Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. Bring your appetite and indulge in a three-course showcase of the season's best produce, open for lunch or dinner.

Set in the stunning Botanic Gardens on North Terrace in Adelaide, Restaurant Botanic celebrates the seasons. Dine on modern Australian dishes such as Donnybrook marron with sunrise lime, saltbush buds, pearl barley and sea urchin, while surrounded by 51 acres of garden - which have inspired your meal.

One of Adelaide's premier dining destinations, Penfolds Magill Estate Restaurant sits above five acres of shiraz vines at the Penfolds Winery in Magill, Adelaide. On offer is a regularly changing modern Australian menu based on seasonal availability, designed to accentuate the wineries' own vintages.

Maxwell Restaurant at Maxwell Winery & Vineyards serves up modern Australian cuisine in the picturesque McLaren Vale amid the stunning landscape of the Fleurieu Peninsula. Try the signature dish: an oyster pearl, made with oyster mousse, finished with champagne gel and edible silver powder, served within a nori oyster shell with lemon gel, karkalla, sea blight and Sturia oscietra caviar.

Exhibition Restaurant in the Brisbane CBD is an intimate 24 seat restaurant providing a multi-sensory Japanese omakase-style dining experience, according to the restaurant's Facebook page. "Exhibition will take diners on a truly unique experience. Escapism," the social media page says. "Expect to see custom handmade cutlery, ceramics from local and Japanese artists, cooking artifacts and our teams own unique skills and knowledge on display."

Wills Domain Winery Restaurant on Brash Road in Yallingup overlooking estate vineyards in the Margaret River region. The modern Australian restaurant is perfect for a special occasion, offering dishes such as farmhouse Arkady lamb with eggplant, sheep's yoghurt and zucchini - and wines to pair.