OpenTable names Australia’s top 25 hotel restaurants for 2026

Source: Stock

OpenTable has released its Top 25 Hotel Restaurants in Australia for 2026, spotlighting a dining category that has come a long way from tired club sandwiches and breakfast buffets nobody asked for.

The list lands with new OpenTable research showing nearly a third of Australians, 31 per cent, have booked a hotel stay specifically because of its restaurant. In comparison, 96 per cent have dined at a hotel restaurant without staying overnight.


The hotel dining glow-up is not just about travellers ordering one tired club sandwich before bed either. According to OpenTable, 42 per cent of Australians have chosen an entire travel destination based on the local food scene.

That shift is also being driven by locals, with hotel restaurants increasingly becoming neighbourhood dining spots rather than just convenient options for guests with room keys.

Drew Bowering, OpenTable’s General Manager Australia, said hotel restaurants across Australia had shed their reputation as a convenience option for tired travellers.

“Hotel restaurants across Australia have officially shed their reputation as solely a convenience option for tired travellers. In fact, 31% of Australian diners believe hotel restaurants are a culinary destination in their own right, proving that you don’t need a room key to enjoy world-class hospitality,” said Bowering.

“From Melbourne’s moody lounges to Perth’s rooftop bars, Aussies are making the menu their holiday map and OpenTable has the list of the 25 best hotel hotspots to check out to make things even simpler.”

The list lands alongside a new update to Concierge, OpenTable’s AI-powered dining assistant, which is now available directly on the OpenTable homepage to help diners search for restaurants using natural language.

Room key optional

OpenTable’s research also found Saturday is still the most popular night to dine out, but Monday is the fastest-growing day for travellers, with a 42 per cent increase in bookings.

Solo dining is also very much on the table. Half of Australians have dined alone at a hotel restaurant or bar, with 41 per cent saying people watching is their favourite solo dining pastime, followed by listening to music or podcasts.

When it comes to cuisine, travelling diners are chasing bigger flavours. In 2026, Contemporary Mexican is the fastest-trending cuisine for travellers, followed closely by Latin American cuisine.

The planning is still where things get a bit messy. One in five Australians start planning restaurant reservations at the same time as booking their hotel, while 51 per cent say knowing which restaurants are actually worth booking is the hardest part of trip planning.

Nearly half of Australians, 47 per cent, say finding restaurants near their hotel or planned activities is the hardest part of deciding where to eat while travelling. On average, Australians spend 50 minutes researching and booking restaurant reservations for a trip, and 48 per cent say they would be more likely to reserve ahead if there was an easier way to search based on their specific preferences.

Staycations are also playing a role in this shift. Half of Australians have booked a hotel in their own city or nearby area for a staycation, rising to 60 per cent among Millennials.

That is where OpenTable’s updated Concierge tool comes in. Diners can describe what they are looking for, from a spot locals love to a nearby date night restaurant, and Concierge will suggest options across OpenTable’s global network of more than 65,000 restaurants using verified reviews, menus and real-time availability.

The update also lands as more Australians start experimenting with AI-powered travel planning, with 27 per cent saying they plan to use AI tools to help discover and book restaurants this year.

The hotel hit list

For the second year, OpenTable has pulled together its Top 25 Hotel Restaurants in Australia, designed to help travellers and locals find hotel dining destinations worth booking. The full hub also includes guides, travel planning insights and KAYAK-powered flight and hotel pricing.

OpenTable’s Top 25 Hotel Restaurants in Australia for 2026, listed alphabetically by state, are:

New South Wales

DECO Wine Bar & Restaurant – Powerhouse Hotel, Tamworth

Gather – Rydges Resort, Lovedale

Goodenia Restaurant & Bar – Robyn’s Nest Lakeside Resort, Merimbula

Saint Peter – The Grand National Hotel, Paddington

Ulmarra Hotel – Ulmarra

Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel – Watsons Bay

Queensland

Agave Rosa – Iconic Kirra Beach Resort, Coolangatta

Coral Sea Pavilion – Coral Sea Resort, Airlie Beach

Hatsuhana Restaurant – Sea World Resort, Gold Coast

The Fireplace Restaurant – Intercontinental, Sanctuary Cove

The Terrace – Emporium Hotel, Brisbane

South Australia

Coal Cellar + Grill – Hilton, Adelaide

Koomo Restaurant and Bar – Crowne Plaza, Adelaide

Shiki Japanese Restaurant – Intercontinental, Adelaide

Victoria

Bar Yarra – Ovolo South Yarra, South Yarra

Blacksmith Bar and Grill – voco Hotel, Melbourne

Coupette – Hannah St Hotel, Southbank

Fleet Rooftop Bar – Vibe Hotel, Melbourne

Hogans Hotel Bistro – Wallan

Naughtons Parkville Hotel – Naughtons Hotel, Parkville

Olivine – Adina Apartment Hotel, Coburg

Salted Egg – Quincy Hotel, Melbourne

Western Australia

Ascua – Intercontinental, Perth

Heno & Rey – Intercontinental, Perth

Ivy and Jack – Holiday Inn, Perth

Source: Praytell Agency

Find more dining out updates on Crumb Wire.

Pallavi Mathur

pallavim9893@gmail.com

Pallavi Mathur is the founder and editor of Crumb Wire. She cut her teeth in PR before turning her lifelong passion for food into a full time gig. Pallavi brings readers a daily digest of what's hot in food and drink, covering restaurants, retail and features rooted firmly in food culture.

https://crumbwire.com/

Trending News

Editor's Picks

Berry’s famous donut van is rolling into Canberra for Floriade 2026

The Famous Berry Donut Van is taking its hot cinnamon donuts from Berry to Canberra for Floriade 2026. The touring van will roll into Commonwealth Park from September 12 to October 11, serving its signature donuts as part of this year’s Feast of Flowers program. The event will bring more than one million blooms to the park, alongside food, entertainment, workshops, talks and family-friendly activities. For the Berry Donut Van, the Canberra stop brings the travelling version of the business to one of the country’s biggest spring events. The original van has been part of Berry for more than 50 years, drawing locals, road-trippers and visitors for freshly made cinnamon donuts. The dedicated touring van has spent the past year taking those donuts to food festivals, music festivals and major events around Australia. There is also a bit of history in the road trip. Before the original Donut Van settled permanently in Berry in 1974, it travelled the streets of Australia serving fresh donuts to different communities. Teresa Nazareth, owner of The Famous Berry Donut Van, said, “We love that Berry Donut Van On Tour allows us to take something that has been such a big part of Berry’s history and share it with people all over Australia. “Floriade is such a vibrant celebration of spring, with incredible flowers, food and an atmosphere that brings people together, so we’re thrilled to be part of it this year.” At Floriade, the van will serve its signature hot cinnamon donuts alongside Nutella donuts, coffee, hotdogs, smoothies and milkshakes. This year’s Feast of Flowers theme celebrates the connection between nature, food and community, giving the travelling van a Canberra stop that actually makes sense for spring. Find more food and drink news on Crumb Wire.

Uncle Tobys Roll-Ups turns kids’ slang into tongue prints

“6-7” has been crowned Australia’s family word of the year, and Uncle Tobys Roll-Ups is putting the phrase where plenty of schoolyard jokes already end up: on kids’ tongues. The cult fruit leather snack has added new edible tongue prints to its Strawberry and Apple varieties, with designs featuring phrases including “6-7”, “No Cap”, “Delulu” and “Aura”. The launch follows Uncle Tobys research showing plenty of parents are not exactly fluent. According to the brand, 63 per cent of Australian parents say they do not understand the lingo their children use, while 40 per cent have had to ask their child to explain modern slang. Uncle Tobys Marketing Manager Jessica Barnes said, “Every generation has its own language, and right now kids are having fun with phrases like ‘6-7’ and ‘No cap’. With the new Roll Up tongue prints, we’re giving families a fun way to get in on the conversation. “Roll Ups have always been about imagination, and this launch brings that spirit into today’s culture – with a nostalgic snack Aussie parents grew up with, reimagined for the next generation.” Uncle Tobys is also asking Roll-Ups fans to vote on the next tongue print design via the brand’s Instagram comments. The Tongue Print varieties are made with real fruit and available now at leading supermarkets nationally for RRP $5.50. Source: Omnicom Find more food retail updates on Crumb Wire.

Maltesers Duos x PEDESTRIAN.TV campaign gives one Australian couple a $60,000 wedding

PEDESTRIAN.TV and Maltesers have named the winners of their national dream wedding competition, with engaged couple Bianca and James set to receive a fully planned and funded wedding package valued at up to $60,000. The campaign asked couples across Australia to share their love stories and the compromises behind their wedding planning, tying the search to the launch of Maltesers Duos. The prize includes support across major costs including clothing, food, hair and makeup, flowers and venue expenses. The campaign was created around the idea that wedding planning often means bringing together two different sets of tastes, traditions and expectations into one celebration. Mars Snacking ANZ Bitesize Portfolio Director Ana Laskova said, “The launch of Maltesers Duos was the perfect opportunity to explore the ultimate joint decision: a wedding. “PEDESTRIAN.TV has been instrumental in bringing this ambitious idea to life with us, they know their audience so inherently and we’ve been delighted by the creativity and heart shown in the entries to the competition. “We congratulate our winning couple and can’t wait to share their journey of how they achieved their dream wedding, with a little help from Maltesers Duos.” Bianca and James will now work with the PEDESTRIAN.TV team across the planning process, from styling and fashion through to catering and entertainment. Their wedding journey will also be documented in a content series for PEDESTRIAN.TV platforms. Publicis OneMars Group Planning Director Jasmin Christie said, “This campaign was built on a simple truth: the best relationships aren’t about choosing one way over another, but about having the best of both worlds. “Through this partnership with PEDESTRIAN.TV, we’ve created a campaign that brings the spirit of Maltesers Duos to life in an authentic and engaging way, turning one of life’s biggest decision-making moments, a wedding, into a celebration of not having to choose.” Most weddings are not shaped by one person’s perfect vision. They are shaped by two people, two families, two sets of priorities and a lot of decisions that need to land somewhere in the middle. For Maltesers Duos, that gives the product launch a matched campaign hook. The new product is centred on two flavours in one, while the wedding campaign follows a couple trying to bring two visions into one day. PEDESTRIAN.TV Senior Creative Project Manager Madison O’Nions said, “Bringing this campaign to life has been an absolute blast. It took a massive effort across our strategy, creative, partnerships, and production teams to make something that feels culturally relevant and genuinely hits with our audience. “Partnering with Maltesers to throw one lucky couple the ultimate wedding is a total dream, and we’re only just getting started!” Now that Bianca and James have been selected, the campaign will move into production. The wedding is scheduled to take place later in 2026, with content rolling out across PEDESTRIAN.TV in the lead-up to the event. Source: Soda Communications Find more food culture on Crumb Wire.

Allen’s Choc Blocks have landed in supermarkets nationally

Allen’s is transforming its lollies into a much-loved Aussie sweet-treat format, decorating supermarket aisles with three new Choc Blocks. The range has launched at Coles, Woolworths and independent retailers, mixing milk and white chocolate with sherbet fizzy chips, fudge pieces, waffle cones and Mini Smarties. Nestlé Head of Marketing Confectionery Shannon Wright said, “We wanted to take everything people love about Lollies: the colour, the fun, the unexpected textures and pack it into a choc block. “Each piece has its own little surprise, whether it’s a pop of fizz, a chewy bite or a satisfying crunch.” The range includes: Allen’s Block Party – Smooth milk chocolate with fudge pieces, sherbet fizzy chips and Mini Smarties. Allen’s Sherbet Fizz – Smooth milk chocolate with sherbet fizzy chips and waffle cone. Allen’s Strawberries & Cream – Creamy white chocolate with fudge and sherbet fizzy chips. The 170g blocks take the chew, fizz and crunch people already know from Allen’s and put them into a supermarket chocolate block. Allen’s has dabbled in chocolate before through products like Freckles and chocolate-coated lollies, but this is a dedicated three-block range under the Allen’s name. The new Allen’s Choc Block range is now available nationally, retailing for $7.50. Source: Omnicom Find more food retail updates on Crumb Wire.

Sal’s is taking its New York slices to The Carlton Club

Sal’s Authentic New York Pizza has found a new home at The Carlton Club kitchen in Melbourne’s CBD. The Bourke Street venue will launch the residency on Tuesday, September 8, with $1 slices for one day only before adding Sal’s foldable New York-style slices and pies to its regular food offering. The Carlton Club will also run a $12 pot of Birra Moretti and slice deal from 3 pm to 11 pm daily after the launch. The move gives the multi-level venue another reason for people to stay beyond the first drink. The Carlton Club is already known for its rooftop, level 1 balcony, pool room, drinks and DJs, with Sal’s now joining the mix from the kitchen. Chief Publican Liam Ganley said, “Historically, The Carlton Club has been a place you go for one drink and end up staying for the whole night, so for us, having food from ‘the city that never sleeps’ just makes sense. “We want people to come have fun, enjoy some great pizza and stay for the night. Sal’s is the perfect fit for The Carlton Club.” Sal’s traces its roots back to Queens, where Italian-born New Yorker Salvatore Leo opened Sal’s Pizza of Little Neck in 1975. The brand later came to this side of the world in 2008, after friends Nick from Auckland and Ciaran from Queens worked to bring New York-style pizza to the Southern Hemisphere. After rounds of blind testing, they found Sal’s pizzas could be made with water from down under. Sal’s Authentic New York Pizza opened in Auckland later that year, with Sal’s son Brian joining the team before the brand expanded through New Zealand and launched in Australia in 2019. At The Carlton Club, diners can expect Sal’s signature slow-risen dough, made with New York-milled hard spring wheat flour for a foldable base. The tomato sauce is made fresh daily with vine-ripened California tomatoes, with menu highlights such as Pepperoni and the original Home-Style Italian Meatball. The residency also marks a new chapter for The Carlton Club, with Ganley Group rescuing the venue from administration in March 2025, keeping the heritage hospitality landmark trading and retaining staff. Ganley Group, known for restoring heritage buildings, has major renovations planned for The Carlton Club in 2027. Until then, Sal’s will be serving from the kitchen at 193 Bourke Street. Find more dining out updates on Crumb Wire.

Contact us

©2025- All Rights Reserved. Developed by Infutive Pvt. Ltd.