Best Hotel Restaurants

Who doesn’t love a hotel? And the best news is, you don’t have to stay overnight to get your fix. Hotel restaurants are no longer just a buffet of options for visiting tourists, but dining destinations in their own rights.

Whatever hotel vibe you’re into, historic pub or cutting-edge izakaya, there are over 300 hotel restaurants available to book on TheFork.

To make it a little easier for you, we’ve crunched the numbers on our diner ratings to give you Australia’s 10 top rated restaurants located in a hotel.

1. Yamagen Japanese Restaurant (9.3)

Hotel: QT Gold Coast
Surfers Paradise, QLD

For a buzzing night out in Surfers Paradise, you have to try the stylish and innovative izakaya, Yamagen Japanese Restaurant at QT. Choices abound. First, you’ll need to select your dining area from the three unique spaces on offer, the bar, table-seki and sushi counter. At the exclusive sushi bar, you’ll be able to admire incredible samurai kitchen skills and fresh market sashimi and sushi. Choose a la carte or the degustation for food highlights such as Sashimi Tacos, Master Kobe Wagyu MS9+ and Zen Garden dessert. Select your beverage, from a long list of craft beers, Japanese whiskies, top-shelf sake, and twists on classic cocktails. Settle in and enjoy the spectacle.

2. Bacchus (9.1)

Hotel: Rydges South Bank
South Bank, QLD

Enter the beautifully designed venue Bacchus, created by LA designer Tracey Beckmann, and prepare to be indulged. This multi-award winning restaurant inside Rydges offers incredible High Tea and Degustation Dining options and impeccable service. Select High Tea, and you’ll be treated to freshly-baked savoury and sweet treats and gourmet teas with matching fine bone china. To make your visit extra special, enjoy beautiful Dom Perignon champagne by the glass. Degustation Dining includes a range of outstanding modern Australian creations that play with texture, colour and flavour. Vegan or vegetarian? Not a problem. Want to try carefully matched wines? Upgrade your degustation menu or order your selections from the extensive wine list.

3. The Playford Restaurant (9.1)

Hotel: The Playford- MGallery by Sofitel
Adelaide, South Australia

A visit to Australia’s most awarded boutique hotel is not complete without dining at the award-winning Playford Restaurant. Catching the hustle and bustle of North Terrace, the restaurant turns out some of the best meals in the city. The dining room is a sea of opulence; lush classic decor creates a timeless feel, perfect for business meetings or a special dinner. The menu showcases the best produce South Australia has to offer, with internationally recognised dishes using prime meat and seafood – and of course the wine list cannot be beaten.

4. Fortune of War Hotel (9.1)

Hotel: The Russell Boutique Hotel
The Rocks, NSW

Located downstairs from The Russell Boutique Hotel in The Rocks, you’ll find Sydney’s oldest pub, the Fortune of War Hotel. Come for the history and stay for the food and atmosphere. Dating back to 1828, this pub oozes old-world charm and friendly, traditional service. The food is great value and options abound for carnivores and vegetarians alike. On the menu? Burgers, pub classics, share plates (Spicy BBQ Chicken Wings or Spiced Hummus) and yummy salads. Wash your meal down with a cleansing ale (or three in a tasting paddle) or wine from a thoughtfully-curated list.

5. Tamarind Restaurant (9.1)

Hotel: The Reef Hotel Casino
Cairns, QLD

Tamarind Restaurant, located downtown in The Reef Hotel Casino, may just be the best-kept foodie secret in Cairns. Tamarind dishes up spectacular Asian-Western fusion fare accompanied by exceptional service. Think Whole Crispy Baby Barramundi, Gold Band Snapper, Garlic Prawns, and Fragrant Tea Smoked Quail and you get the idea. The menu at Tamarind is seasonal, to incorporate the freshest ingredients. It's complemented by an exciting and innovative cocktail menu, along with an Australian wine list, beers and spirits.

6. The Gantry Restaurant (9)

Hotel: Pier One Sydney Harbour Hotel
Sydney, NSW

For your next special occasion, visit The Gantry for a memorable dining experience. Located within the Pier One Sydney Harbour Hotel, it offers modern Australian cuisine with exceptional water views. The aesthetic of the space is heritage meets modern vibe, with floor to ceiling glass windows to soak in the atmosphere. The a la carte and degustation menus focus on fresh produce, such as Partridge with Rhubarb and Radicchio. Great for an intimate date or a small get together with friends, The Gantry is a highlight of Sydney’s dining scene. Be sure to take advantage of the restaurant’s stunning locale with a romantic stroll after your meal.

7. Nobu Melbourne (9)

Hotel: Crown Towers
Southbank, VIC

If you’ve got a hankering for waterside dining, head straight to Japanese favourite Nobu located in Southbank’s Crown Towers. As you take in the Yarra River views, sip on a signature cocktail and enjoy the stylish surrounds. The menu here is full of creative flavour combinations to excite your palate. Think sweet, salty and spicy 'Crispy Oysters’, Sashimi Tacos and the Nobu signature dish, Black Cod with Miso. Whether it's lunch with friends or a degustation for a special occasion, your dining experience at Nobu will be unforgettable.

8. Noosa Beach House Peter Kuruvita (8.9)

Hotel: Sofitel Noosa Pacific Resort
Noosa Heads, QLD

Chef and TV personality Peter Kuruvita’s Noosa Beach House is a stylish fine dining eating-house where it’s summer all year round. The sophisticated dining area has crisp white walls and comfortable, colourful cushions. Come early to enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail and some snacks at the bar, or book the intimate dining space for a group of 12. Seafood features heavily on the modern Australian menu, as do influences from Peter’s Grandmother’s Sri Lankan kitchen.

9. Prive249 (8.9)

Hotel: Sofitel Hotel
Brisbane, QLD

Located in the heart of Brisbane inside the Sofitel Hotel, Privé249 has incredible views over the city skyline. Settle in for attentive service and exceptional French-inspired food and wine in an intimate, elegant space. The seasonal a la carte menu may include highlights such as Grilled Beef Fillet and Crayfish, Barramundi or Roast Spatchcock. For sweet tooths, a Chocolate Fondant or Tropical Panna Cotta will be sure to hit the spot.