Luxury restaurant settings and fine dining — these hatted restaurants in rural Australia promise to be well worth the drive.
From former mental asylums to wineries in Western Australia, there’s no discrimination when it comes down to location at these hatted restaurants in regional Australia.
So, if you’re intrigued by good food in unexpected destinations, prepare yourself to be charmed with our list of the best hatted restaurants in regional Australia that you must try in 2025!
What does it mean if a restaurant is hatted?
The Good Food Guide was first published in the UK in 1951. Since then, the Australian team created the hat system which is awarded to outstanding restaurants and chefs.
Best Hatted Restaurants in Rural New South Wales
Muse Restaurant, Pokolbin
Found in Pokolbin in the Hunter Valley wine region in New South Wales, Muse Restaurant has been present on the Australian Good Food Guide for quite some time now. Seating just 70 guests at a time, this upper-class restaurant offers the complete fine dining experience with contemporary Australian cuisine taking centre stage. With an onsite sommelier, Muse Restaurant gladly pairs their seasonally changed menu with local, Australian made wines. The perfect pitstop between wine tastings, after one visit you’ll realise why Muse Restaurant is considered as one of the best restaurants in regional New South Wales.
Muse Restaurant, Pokolbin, New South Wales. Photographed by Lisa Maree Williams. Image via Destination NSW.
Muse Restaurant | 2450 Broke Rd, Pokolbin, NSW 2320
Paper Daisy, Cabarita Beach
The dining experience at Paper Daisy is an invitation to celebrate the unique part of the world they inhabit. A restaurant that prides itself on its sophisticated simplicity and dishes that are satisfying, thoughtful and deeply memorable. The location is one of extreme beauty, while the interior is quirky and fun. Previously scoring the Regional Restaurant of the Year award, Paper Daisy will too be your favourite regional restaurant.
Paper Daisy, New South Wales. Photographed by James Horan. Image via Destination NSW.
Paper Daisy | 21 Cypress Cres, Cabarita Beach, NSW 2488
Best Hatted Restaurants in Rural Tasmania
The Agrarian Kitchen, New Norfolk
The Agrarian Kitchen is an eatery, food store and a cooking school. Starting off as a cooking school back in 2008, nine years later the eatery opened for business and has since made headlines as one of the best hatted restaurants in regional Australia. Despite the outstanding food, the site itself is just as intriguing with its past infamously known by locals as the old town mental aslyum. With original infrastructure still in place today, The Agrarian’s charm is attributed to the high ceilings, large windows and chic modern interiors. Although the old-world glamour elevates the eating experience, guests feel good with each bite knowing that the restaurant thrives on fresh produce and no waste. With authentic, locally sourced, seasonal produce, each diner will be able to experience the beauty and charm of New Norfolk with every bite at The Agrarian Kitchen.
The Agrarian Kitchen, Tasmania. Image via Tourism Tasmania.
The Agrarian Kitchen | 11a The Avenue, New Norfolk, TAS 7140
Best Hatted Restaurants in Rural Victoria
Doot Doot Doot, Merricks North
Located in the Jackalope Hotel on the Mornington Peninsula, Doot Doot Doot is celebrated as one of the best hatted restaurants in country Victoria due to its innovative culinary approach and stunning ambiance. The restaurant offers a seasonal menu that showcases the finest local produce, often sourced from the hotel’s own kitchen garden. Diners are treated to a unique experience under a mesmerizing canopy of 10,000 globes, adding to the restaurant’s avant-garde charm. The dishes, crafted with time-honoured techniques and culinary curiosity, provide a memorable dining journey that reflects the rich heritage of the region.
Doot Doot Doot dining room. Image via Visit Victoria.
Doot Doot Doot | 166 Balnarring Rd, Merricks North VIC 3926
Jones Winery Restaurant, Rutherglen
Jones Winery Restaurant, nestled in the picturesque Rutherglen region, is a must-visit for food and wine enthusiasts. Awarded one hat by The Age Good Food Guide 2023, this restaurant offers a modern French bistro menu that changes with the seasons, emphasizing fresh, local, and sustainable produce. Jones Winery blend classic French techniques with innovative twists for exceptional dining. The restaurant’s commitment to quality and sustainability, combined with its charming vineyard setting, ensures a memorable dining experience.
Jones Winery – Rutherglen. Image via Visit Victoria.
Jones Winery | 61 Jones Rd, Rutherglen VIC 3685
Best Hatted Restaurants in Rural South Australia
Hentley Farm, Seppeltsfield
Set in the old stables of a 60-hectare winery, Hentley Farm in South Australia has proudly been awarded with two hats by the Australian Good Food Guide. The venue itself is intriguing, set in a refurbished 1880s farm building with exposed-brick walls and rolling acres. On top of the famed winery (where guests opt for a tasting), the fantastic restaurant takes centre stage with their three-hour, chefs table degustation menu available for up to only nine guests at a time. An overall spectacular experience to say the least, be sure to add this hatted restaurant in rural Australia to your list in 2025.
Hentley Farm, South Australia. Photographed by Duy Dash. Image via South Australian Tourism Commission.
Hentley Farm | Gerald Roberts Rd, Jenke Rd, Seppeltsfield, SA 5355
Best Hatted Restaurants in Rural Western Australia
Cullen Wines, Willyabrup
If there is one thing we know about Western Australia, it’s that the wineries are not playing around. By that we mean both their restaurants and their wine. Cullen Wines is no exception, in fact, they and a few others are the highlights. Cullen Wines’ specialty is the way they work with what they have. Carbon-neutral, sustainable and ethical, the Scots-born chef Colin Anderson is passionate about using local produce and being environmentally conscious. This includes the solar panels, the buzzing bees and the biodynamic herb garden, which must be doing something right, because the result is an excellent meal and even better wine.
Cullen Wines, Margaret River. Image supplied via Tourism Western Australia.
Cullen Wines | 4323 Caves Rd, Wilyabrup, WA 6280
Vasse Felix, Margaret River
Vasse Felix was the first vineyard established in the southwest, and it’s still thriving today. The vineyard encapsulates the taste of the Margaret River, both in its wine, thanks to head winemaker Virginia Willcock and, also in its food, thanks to chef Aaron Carr. The winery has beautiful views of the rolling vineyards on full display in their dining room, and they work hard to keep the menu fresh and contemporary, always keeping to seasonal and local produce.
Vasse Felix, Western Australia. Image via Tourism Western Australia.
Vasse Felix | Caves Rd & Tom Cullity Dr, Margaret River, WA 6284
Yarri, Dunsborough
Yarri is the mastermind collaboration between co-founders of Snake and Herring Wines. In true retrospect to its location, the restaurant aims to honour nature, seasonality and region — the people, produce and place. Dunsborough is the gateway to the Margaret River region, and Yarri is the gem just waiting to be discovered. Yarri’s menu is about subtlety, accessibility and authenticity. They are passionate about being ethical produce and seasonal ingredients and aim to present every dish as the best it can be, which they do with perfect ease. One of the best regional restaurants in Australia!
Yarri | 6/16 Cyrillean Way, Dunsborough, WA 6281
Looking for luxury restaurants in Sydney? Take your pick from our list of the Top 10 Fine Dining Restaurants in Sydney. Or for something themed, we’ve found 10 Quirky and Unique Dining Experiences in Melbourne.
