Gourmet Traveller unveiled the winning restaurants and culinary talent of its Gourmet Traveller 2023 Restaurant Awards last night at the hospitality industry’s event of the year.

Taking out the top gong for Restaurant of the Year for both its state and nation-wide, is South Australia’s Restaurant Botanic with chef Justin James accepting the award at the gala event held at Sydney’s Shell House.

Celebrated for its iconic location within Adelaide Botanic Garden, the restaurant is renowned for celebrating the beauty of nature and using the garden’s bounty to create a dining experience with a unique sense of place.

The star-studded hospitality guest list included the likes of top chefs Neil Perry, Shannon Martinez, Ben Shewry, Brigitte Haffner, and Andrew McConnell. Perry’s Double Bay restaurant Margaret was named both Best New Restaurant and the NSW state winner of Restaurant of the Year.

Tasmania claimed Best Destination Dining for Van Bone in Marion Bay, while Hobart’s Fico was named the state winner.

Best New Talent went to the creative duo behind Willunga wine bar Muni – Mug Chen and Chia Wu – in South Australia.

From Victoria, Thi Le was voted Chef of the Year in the night’s only peer-voted category, while Shannon Martinez was named Restaurant Personality of Year. Tedesca Osteria was named the state winner for the second year in a row.

Gold Coast wine bar Paloma was singled out as the Wine Bar of the Year, while Essa was awarded the state prize for Queensland.

In ACT, Pilot was named best restaurant for a second year running, while Perth’s Lulu La Delizia took out the honour for Western Australia.

The event marked the first time the awards were announced in person, following more than two years of Covid restrictions and disruptions.

Full profiles of all the winners, along with the full 2023 Restaurant Guide, feature in the October issue of Gourmet Traveller.