Who’s up and who’s down in 2025?

‘Back with a bang’:The restaurants with new hats (and lost hats) in The Age Good Food Guide 2025

An iconic fine diner reclaims its three-hat status. High-profile operators take hits. And omakase restaurants rise and fall.

  • Tomas Telegramma
Grilled king prawns with side of piaya (flatbread with miso onions) at Askal.

The finalists for the three biggest awards at The Age Good Food Guide Awards,revealed

Ahead of The Age Good Food Guide awards on Monday night,these are the finalists for the biggest awards. You can be guaranteed they will be great.

  • Emma Breheny andGood Food Guide reviewers
A selection of iconic dishes from Sydney restaurants for the 40th anniversary of the Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide.

The 40 defining dishes from 40 years of the SMH Good Food Guide

From Berowra Waters Inn brioche to fish liver chermoula:A dish-by-dish snapshot of the past 40 years of The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide.

  • Callan Boys andDavid Matthews
Josh Niland (centre) at the new Saint Peter,in Paddington’s Grand National Hotel.

The complete list of winners at the SMH Good Food Guide 2025 Awards

From the coveted major prize categories to our two new awards,meet the best the NSW and ACT hospitality industry has to offer right now.

Vue de monde restaurant manager Rajnor Soin has made personable service his mission.

Australia is leading the world in bringing joy and friendliness to fine dining

As we announce the Service Excellence Award finalists for this year’s Good Food Guide,Melbourne’s chief restaurant critic celebrates the death of pompous,robotic service.

  • Besha Rodell
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Chris Lucas and Adam Sanderson at Maison Batard.

Chris Lucas reveals opening date and name of his hotly anticipated four-level Bourke Street ‘dining house’

Long-awaited Maison Batard will arrive with an executive chef who honed his craft at The Fat Duck and Noma,a subterranean supper club,and more.

  • Tomas Telegramma
Mini Core-teaser at The Bar at Oncore by Clare Smyth.

From cut-price margaritas to mini tasting menus:10 of Sydney’s best-value dining deals

A three-hatted restaurant experience for less,$10 yum cha and other dining specials that give you more bang for buck this month.

  • Bianca Hrovat
When it comes to must-have kitchen items,a weighted press mightn’t be high on your list. But Oscar Solomon is here to change your mind.

The $165 utensil you need in your kitchen,according to this top chef

He reckons it will make everything you cook,from fish,chicken and beef to vegetables (and even toast) better. “If people want to steal[it],that’s a good sign.”

  • Matt Shea
Lisa Guenther-Strauss has opened a wine bar in Sydney devoted to NSW wines.

Australian fine wines are world-class. So why don’t they dominate our drinks lists?

Our wines win trophies all over the world,but many restaurant lists still draw heavily on imports.

  • Katie Spain
Chef George Calombaris.

George Calombaris’ Sydney expansion plans fall over after only five months

The celebrity chef will step aside as a new operator takes the reins at Alpha while Peter Conistis opens his mammoth waterfront venture at Brighton-le-Sands.

  • Scott Bolles