Zareh is Australia’s Restaurant of the Year
Gourmet Traveller marked its 60th year by naming Tom Sarafian’s Melbourne restaurant the best in the country.
At the 2026 Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Awards on 18 August, the magazine named Zareh in Melbourne its Restaurant of the Year. Chef Tom Sarafian’s room draws on Lebanese, Armenian and Egyptian cooking.
Hobart’s Christian Ryan, behind Aloft and Restaurant Maria, was named Chef of the Year. Yiaga in Melbourne, led by Hugh Allen, took Best New Restaurant, and Saadi, from Saavni Krishnan and Aditya Suresh, won Best New Talent.
The Woodshed at Kin Kin in Queensland, run by chef-owner Oscar Holgado, won Best Destination Dining, and Tread Lightly in Willunga, South Australia, was Bar of the Year. Sydney institution Beppi’s was recognised for 70 years of Enduring Excellence, and Stephanie Alexander for her Outstanding Contribution to Hospitality.
The state winners were Zareh (Victoria), Scholé (Tasmania), Bistro Livi (NSW), The Woodshed at Kin Kin (Queensland), Esmay (South Australia) and De’sendent (Western Australia).
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