10 of Australia’s best waterside restaurants

Boasting a unique setting within the sails of the Sydney Opera House, Bennelong is as iconic as its location. Head chef Rob Cockerill leads a top-tier menu that celebrates premium Australian ingredients, delivered with refinement and confidence. Dining here is a uniquely Australian experience, framed by unrivalled views of Circular Quay and the Royal Botanic Gardens. 

Located at The Sundays resort on Hamilton Island in Queensland, with views over Catseye Beach and the Coral Sea, Catseye Pool Club is relaxed island dining done well. The menu is curated by chefs Josh and Julie Niland and focuses on fresh seafood, local flavours and easygoing plates designed for sharing. It’s aspirational without being pretentious: holiday dining at its most enjoyable. 

Located in The Ritz-Carlton Perth, Hearth offers great views over the Swan River to accompany a high-end dining experience showcasing Western Australia’s exceptional produce. Chef Brian Cole focuses on live-fire cooking, with meats, seafood and vegetables prepared over wood and charcoal. The result is food that feels elemental and expressive. 

Intimate and informal, Humble on Duke lives up to its name, pairing thoughtful, produce-led cooking with a laid-back coastal setting just moments from Sunshine Beach, Queensland. Chef Stacey Conner highlights local seafood and seasonal vegetables in her menus, while partner Jade Tareha keeps the front-of-house atmosphere warm and welcoming. It’s the kind of place locals love, and visitors wish they had back home. 

Few restaurants in Australia are as instantly recognisable as Icebergs. Perched above Bondi Beach, with uninterrupted views over the ocean pool and surf, the dining room is as much a part of Sydney’s visual identity as the beach itself. Under chef Alex Prichard, the Italian-inspired food is undeniably pricey but also elegant, unfussy and produce-driven, perfect for long lunches that roll effortlessly towards a memorable sunset. 

Floating on the water at Jones Bay Wharf, Lumi Dining offers one of suburban Sydney’s most distinctive high-end dining rooms. Chef Federico Zanellato’s Japanese-Italian menus are precise and contemporary, with a strong sense of finesse. The scenic setting in the harbour at Pyrmont, combined with the restaurant’s elegant but never stuffy approach, makes Lumi a favourite for special occasions. 

Sitting right on the marina in the Sydney suburb of Mosman, Ormeggio delivers one of the city's most refined waterside dining experiences. Chef Alessandro Pavoni’s Italian cooking is polished but generous, with a strong focus on seafood and seasonal produce. Boats glide past as you eat, reinforcing the sense that this is destination dining. Neither formal nor remote, it's a place equally suited to big celebrations and leisurely afternoons. 

Pilu has long been a Sydney fine-dining favourite, offering Sardinian-inspired cooking just steps from Freshwater Beach. Chef Giovanni Pilu’s food is soulful and rooted in tradition, with handmade pastas, seafood and the signature slow-roasted suckling pig taking centre stage. Proximity to the ocean adds to the sense of escape, making a meal at Pilu feel like a short Mediterranean break. 

Set in a characterful converted flour mill at the intersection of two rivers, Stillwater, in Launceston, is one of Tasmania’s most respected dining destinations. Chef Craig Will’s cooking is quietly confident, built around Tasmanian produce and restrained technique. But Stillwater is as much about atmosphere as it is about the food, with its riverfront location adding a sense of calm and history. 

Supernormal’s Brisbane outpost brings Andrew McConnell’s Asian-inspired cooking to the river’s edge, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Brisbane River and the Story Bridge. Chef Jason Barratt's menu focuses on seafood, seasonal fare and local Queensland produce. It's complemented by attentive service for a crowdpleasing experience that's perfectly matched to the relaxed, waterside setting.