Adelaide

Adelaide is the capital of South Australia and was ranked higher than Sydney as one of the world’s top 100 dining destinations. Adelaide is fringed by verdant vineyards and contains some of the best wine, restaurants, and produce in Australia. The cuisine here is diverse, of great quality, and has great prices, and also offers a large selection of vegetarian and vegan options. Adelaide takes pride in having the best food markets in the country with bustling places like Central Market, a food haven, smaller farmers markets, and organic food markets to explore and find fresh delicious produce and some tasty meals. Excellent bakeries, chocolate, local produce grown in the magnificent Adelaide Hills, and even travel south one hour to the bountiful world-famous Barossa Valley and the oldest region for Australia’s premium wines. There are so many fantastic places to eat in Adelaide some with views of the sparkling blue sea and others nestled in the rolling vineyards.

Must Savor Specialties: Fresh produce from Adelaide Hills, Oysters in Coffin Bay, Australian Cheese such as Allium Piper (a blend of Woodside Chevre made from goat’s milk, and Allisford Farm’s organic hand-harvested garlic, or Goat on a Hot Tin Roof (South Australian cheese from pasteurized goat’s milk from Oskjberg and Towerview dairies), Mandolin (Australian semi-hard cheese, supple, soft and crumbly), King George (prized fish regarded for its sweet and delicate flesh, served grilled, steamed or fried), Muntries (low growing shrub with fruit that tastes similar to apples combined with juniper), pie floater (upside-down meat pie with sauce served in a bowl of split peas soup), Tea Sandwich (crispy chicken skin with shreds of green held together by spongy white bread with no crusts, slathered with spicy mayonnaise.

Brisbane

Brisbane is the place to be for a rapidly growing and exciting food scene, famous for its Brisbane Festival where visitors and locals gather to sample the vast cuisine. The city features fine dining finesse with an original style of food that is spreading throughout the Queensland capital. Gauge is a stand-alone, award-winning restaurant in the city, known for its inventive dishes like garlic bread with burnt vanilla and brown butter. Bare Bones Society is a great example of the city’s high-end café fare. There are fabulous French bakeries serving golden croissants, and elegant cakes are dotted around the capital, burgers galore, massive bowls of ramen, traditional baked baguettes, chocolate torsade, and some of the best and authentic boulangerie-patisserie around. Brisbane is fast becoming one of the top foodie destinations in the country, with some of the best high-quality meats, and seafood, fresh fish, and vegetables in the tropical climate. The city is brimming with restaurants, cafes, pubs, and bars to explore for some pretty amazing and iconic dishes.

Must Savor Specialties: Zucchini Chips at Hellenika, Duck Ragu Pappardelle at Beccofino, Triple Loco at Ze Pickle (triple patty burger between two grilled cheese sandwiches), Black Garlic Brad at Gauge, Cacio E Pepe at 1889 enoteca (gnocchi with pork and fennel sausage), Tonkotsu Ramen at Taro’s Ramen, Coconut turmeric and king prawn curry, the Red Curry of Angus Beef Cheek and betel leaf starter at sAme sAme, Chocolate Sour Cream Cake at Jocelyn’s Provision, Breakfast Carbonara at Morning After, Saganaki (fried cheese with honey) at Greca, Moreton Bay bugs (marine crustaceans, taste similar to lobster) at George’s Paragon, Beef, chicken or vegan pho at Cafe O-Mai, Pourboy or Ze Pickle for burgers, Doughnuts are a specialty in the city, as well as croissants and cronuts especially at NoDo, Chinese at Donna Chang, chicken wings at Buffalo to Bee Sting or King of the Wings.

Darwin

Darwin is a laid back charming city and one of the most culturally diverse in the world due to its proximity to its neighbor Asia. Asian cuisine and street-style food from Indonesia and beyond are a huge part of the food scene here. The city is packed with hip, artful cafes and food trucks serving flavorful laksas and freshly brewed espressos, cheap eats can be found on the streets, and laid-back restaurants with tropical settings in the center of the city at the Waterfront Precinct. Coconut Grove and Nightcliff are just a few of the sparkling suburbs nestled along Stuart Highway. Browse the regular bustling markets such as the Mindil Beach Sunset Market held weekly in Darwin from Thursday through Sunday (April to October). Grab some delicious Thai, Indonesian, and Sri Lankan food at the many street food stalls and dine on the sand while watching a spectacular sunset over the Arafura Sea.

Must Savor Specialties: Laksa soup (made with crocodile, seafood, pork, and chicken, thick noodles, and sambal chili), banana prawns, Sri Lankan string hoppers, pork stuff Thai chicken wings, Vietnamese banh mi, authentic Thai, Nonya (Chinese/Malay cuisine), traditional Kimchi and Korean BBQ, prawn wonton soup, fresh oysters, barramundi fillets, carbon-neutral beer, rosewater ice cream, black rice Brulee, Sri Lankan love cake, chocolate chestnut cake.

Margaret River

Margaret River offers diners and foodies some excellent places to eat, bursting with new breweries, charming cafes, and bustling restaurants. The region is blessed with some beautiful beaches where chefs serve up the freshest seafood and fish including local marron (a premium Australian specialty similar to lobster). Margaret Region is a great food region, this area alone boasts over 150 wineries and dozens of micro-breweries to sip and explore. The vibrant Margaret River Farmers Market is a great place to check out with the family and try pastries and other delights.

Must Savor Specialties: Potato krapfen (light, fluffy potato-based doughnut filled with creamy vanilla custard), confit duck pie, croissants, raspberry Danish pie, organic sunflower bread, smoothies, cakes, cold drip coffee.

Melbourne

Melbourne is overflowing with magnificent dining options where world-renowned chefs dish up delectable dishes. Carlton is an inner-city neighborhood with a rich Italian immigration history known today as Little Italy bursting with Italian-Australian restaurants such as 400 Gradi, owned by former world’s best pizza Johnny Di Francesco, try the exquisite margarita pizza a simple cheese and tomato pizza that once won the world’s best title. Attica is a sought-after restaurant that offers the most edge-cutting cuisine in Melbourne served up by chef Ben Shewry, one of the most lauded chefs in the country, with delicious dishes made with unusual native ingredients and the freshest local produce. Dishes at Attica include local crayfish, salted kangaroo, and native saltbush. The famous laneways of Melbourne offer a casual dining experience with hole-in-the-wall coffee shops, terrace restaurants, and hip bars. Melbourne’s famous sporting ground is a fun location to check out the city’s love of sports, along with traditional snacks such a meat pie and tomato sauce.

Must Savor Specialties: Single-origin coffee, hand made ramen, craft beer, Chandon and De Bortoli sparkling wines, Wagyu beef tartars, chili baked mussels, salt and pepper calamari, Fairy bread (sliced white bread with rich butter topped with colorful sprinkles), chicken parma, Anzac biscuit (oats, coconut, golden syrup, and baking soda), dim sum, pigs in a blanket, vegemite curry, kangaroo meat, Ocean trout cigars, fish mackerel dumplings, pizza, burgers, jam donuts, whole roast lamb shoulder.

Noosa Heads

Noosa Heads is home to one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, and a vast national park, as well as many quality dining options and fun bars. The Noosa Farmers’ Market offers a hip vibe a great place to get some great food, with restaurant-quality seafood, heirloom fruit, and vegetables, as well as organic meat. There are some fantastic dining spots to choose from in Noosa including sparkling waterfront views. There are casual eateries that dish up some mind-blowing cuisine.

Must Savor Specialties: Sum Choi Bao (pork, chili jam, peanut, and roasted rice on crispy iceberg lettuce), charred ciabatta with smoked trout butter, seafood linguine, figs with goats cheese, fresh fish, seafood, pizza, garlic prawns, pan-fried gnocchi, Noosa spanner crabs, mud crab, smoked salmon.

Orange

Orange sits just 3.5 hours from Sydney in a high altitude, cool climate, with rich volcanic soils, and award-winning wineries. The region is known for its high-quality produce and its fun festivals like the annual FOOD Week held in April, and the Orange Wine Festival in October. There are trendy cafes dotted around Orange serving up delicious fresh top-notch coffee and seasonal menus. Check out some celebrated restaurants, local bars, and the great gourmet cuisine in Orange. The Orange Farmer’s Market is held the 2nd Saturday of every month brimming with vibrant stalls where local farmers sell their fresh produce. Enjoy an Orange Wine Tour for tastings and an enjoyable experience to the best vineyards in the region such as Philip Shaw, Colmar Estate, and Patina Wines.

Must Savor Specialties:Batemans Bay oysters, chicken liver parfait, antipasti platters, apple crumble porridge, egg and bacon rolls, Gruyere soufflé, gelato, fire-roasted beetroot, spanner crab with smoked bonito butter, charred lamp bump, roasted cauliflower with fresh cheese and Borrodell truffle, poached rhubarb with licorice and blood orange.

Perth

The city of Perth is fast becoming one of the top foodie destinations in Australia with fine dining and some of the country’s best-known chefs, a gourmet trip to the city is highly recommended. Perth’s proximity to the Indian Ocean provides restaurants with access to some of the freshest seafood and fish along with other traditional staples such as lamb, beef, and kangaroo, some of the top dishes in the city include sourdough bread, as Western Australia is the nation’s top wheat producer.

Long Chim is David Thompson’s Asian fusion restaurant set in the luxurious surroundings of COMO The Treasury in Perth. Thompson is one of the best-known chefs in Australia and has a love for Thai food with other renowned restaurants opened around the world celebrating his talent. The spectacular Swan Valley is located just an hour away from Perth where excellent food and wine can be enjoyed in natural scenery with lavender fields, the best honey, chocolate, and blissful bakeries.

Must Savor Specialties:Kangaroo, Beef, Lamb, bakeries, honey, chocolate, Western Rock Lobster, Sourdough bread, Meat pie, Barramundi (Asian seabass), Steamed Dumplings, Blue Swimmer crab, Nasi Lemak (coconut rice served with anchovies and spicy sambal sauce), Beef Tomahawk Steak, spicy sausage pizza, Mix vegetable curry, hazelnut ice cream, Duck Tacos, Sunday Roast, Ribs, Afternoon Tea, Mal-Teaser pancakes.

Sydney

The iconic sparkling coastal city of Sydney is home to award-winning restaurants like Quay where chef Peter Gilmore intricately prepares delicately balanced dishes, the restaurant has received the most awards in the country and was on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants for five consecutive years. Sydney has some of the world’s best cuisine to offer, the food here is full of flair just like the famed city. Classic Aussie foods include avocado toast, delicious seafood from the Pacific, flavorful produce, and more make Sydney a food enthusiast’s haven. The harbor city is overflowing with gourmet hotspots and some of the world’s best chefs in the country including Tetsuya Wakuda, Neil Thompson, and David Thompson serving up dishes inspired from all around the world. Soak up the glistening water views at waterfront restaurants dotted around the harbor with a laid back relaxed vibe.

Must Savor Specialties:Barramundi (fish), Sydney Rock Oyster, Australian prawns, Avocado on toast, bacon and egg roll, potato cake, lamington cake, yellowfin tuna, John Dory (fish), Witchery grub (indigenous staple), Thai cuisine, strawberry watermelon cake, Saucy flame-grilled ribs and steaks, Fish and Chips, Asian Fusion, Sausage Rolls, Ginger Brule Tart.

Queensland

North Tropical Queensland is another great food region in Australia, with all the tropical fruits on offer including mangoes which are synonymous with the state and grown in large numbers during the summer months. There is a thriving food scene emerging along the sparkling Sunshine Coast, there are many natural foods including fresh fruit and vegetables produced in the Sunshine Coast Hinterlands’ rich soil and verdant pastures. The sparkling waters off the coast are also filled with an abundance of fresh fish and seafood served up at local markets and restaurants, enjoy fresh Mooloolaba and Tin Can Bay prawns dished up by world-renowned chefs.

Must Savor Specialties:Snails, Feijoas, ginger, macadamia nuts, camel and buffalo milk, cheeses, Mooloolaba prawns, Tin Cany Bay prawns, mangoes, bananas, pineapple, coffee and tea plantations, beef, seafood, fish, Rosella Jam, Morton Bay Bug, Lemon Myrtle, Lamington, king and tiger prawns, mackerel, sea scallops, barramundi, avocados, pawpaws.