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We don’t need an award system to tell us how great the Melbourne food scene is… but it sure is nice when restaurants get the recognition they deserve. There’s no shortage of wonderful places to dine across our city, with a diverse array of restaurants offering their cultures on a beautifully-presented plate. And the Tatler Best Awards have named some new spots and cult-favourites the best in the Asia-Pacific region.
Now in its third edition, the Tatler Best Awards have crowned the 100 best restaurants in the Asia-Pacific for 2026 – and five Aussie venues made the cut. The final list was selected through a rigorous process involving more than 900 discerning panellists across the region, bringing together seasoned critics, journalists and luxury travellers.
Three Aussie restaurants from last year’s top 100 were recognised once again in 2026: seafood pioneer Josh Niland’s Saint Peter, long-time Sydney chefs’ favourite Ester, and Melbourne’s legendary Cantonese institution Flower Drum.
Photograph: Christopher PearceSaint Peter
Meanwhile, two Victorian venues made their Tatler Awards debut: Brae – Dan Hunter’s sustainable fine-dining destination set on an organic farm in Birregurra, and Embla – a beloved inner-city wine bar focused on woodfired food.
Beyond the Top 100 rankings, the Tatler Best Awards unveiled 31 Best-in-Class winners – with Melbourne’s newly opened Yiaga was named Best Design Restaurant in the Asia-Pacific. This stunning garden eatery, helmed by Hugh Allen (previously Vue de Monde) – the critically acclaimed executive chef of Vue de Monde – is well-deserving of the crown.
Yiaga (an Indigenous word meaning ‘to seek and find’) is housed in a heritage 1908 pavilion in Melbourne’s Fitzroy Gardens. Inside, a continuous curved wall of 13,000 hand-made terracotta tiles wraps the space in ochre warmth, while floor-to-ceiling glass offers views of the lush surrounding greenery. Diners have plenty of time to soak in the scenes as Allen's tasting menu unfolds over multiple courses, showcasing Australia's top-quality produce and native ingredients, paired with a 70 per cent local wine list.
You can check out the full top 100 restaurants in the Asia-Pacific region here.