Restaurants in Byron, Melbourne and Brisbane have made Condé Nast Traveller’s 2026 Hot List – here’s what makes each one worth the trip.
Condé Nast Traveller’s annual Hot List is one of the more credible barometers of where the world’s dining scene is heading. It doesn’t reward longevity or reputation; it looks for what’s genuinely new and exciting. This year, three Australian restaurants made it. Across three cities, three completely different concepts, and three different ways of thinking about what a restaurant can be. Here’s what made the list.
Feu, Byron Bay, NSW
Feu has ditched the menu.
Everything at Feu is cooked over charcoal.
The choc souffle at Feu is a hit.
Diners choose their ingredients at Feu.
Feu, inside Shannon Bennett’s new Belongil precinct, has ditched the menu entirely. Diners choose their key ingredients – anything from bay lobster to flame tail snapper – from a list sourced through a 12-month road trip up the east coast. Those ingredients are represented by hand-crafted ceramic artworks; you place them in front of you in the order you want to eat, and the kitchen takes it from there, cooking everything over yellow box timber burned to charcoal.
Three ingredients are $280, five are $320, and seven are $360. It’s a high-concept premise that could easily feel gimmicky, but the sourcing rigour and the cooking over fire give it real substance.
Where: The Belongil, 33-35 Childe Street, Byron Bay, NSW
Yiaga, Melbourne, Vic
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Sit by Yiaga's floor-to-ceiling windows. (Credit: Jason Loucas)
The set menu is shaped entirely by Australian producers. (Credit: Jason Loucas)
It's a celebration of Australia. (Credit: Jason Loucas)
Yiaga means ‘seek and find’. (Credit: Jason Loucas)
Located inside Fitzroy Gardens, Yiaga opened in 2025 by renowned Australian chef Hugh Allen (Vue de Monde). Yiaga means ‘seek and find’ in the local Wurundjeri language, and it embodies that ethos through its celebration of Australia in its design, produce and craft. The 44-seat restaurant has a custom Vivienne Wong dining table carved from a fallen cypress branch out of the Royal Botanic Gardens, floor-to-ceiling windows looking onto century-old elms and a Tasmanian blackwood timber cellar.
The $320 set menu is shaped entirely by Australian producers.
Where: Fitzroy Gardens, 230-298 Wellington Parade, East Melbourne, Vic
Golden Avenue, Brisbane, Qld
Golden Avenue has garden terrace energy. (Credit: Jessie Prince)
The fenugreek chicken shish is a popular dish. (Credit: Jessie Prince)
Enjoy comforting Middle Eastern cuisine at Golden Avenue. (Credit: Jessie Prince)
Golden Avenue believes all great food is meant to be shared. (Credit: Jessie Prince)
From the Anyday group (Agnes, hôntô, Bianca), Golden Avenue brings a woodfire-driven take on Middle Eastern cooking to Brisbane’s Edward Street. Culinary director Ben Williamson and head chef Tim Yates run a share-style menu built around charcoal and housemade breads – Machoui lamb shoulder, fenugreek chicken shish, a rose-pistachio-mochi dessert – with Habibi Funk on the speakers and garden terrace energy throughout.
It’s generous and vivid without losing polish.
Where: 67 Edward Street, Brisbane City, Qld
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Emily Murphy is Australian Traveller's Email & Social Editor, and in her 4+ years at the company she has been instrumental in shaping its social media and email presence, and crafting compelling narratives that inspire others to explore Australia's vast landscapes. Her previous role was a journalist at Prime Creative Media and before that she was freelancing in publishing, content creation and digital marketing. When she's not creating scroll-stopping travel content, Em is a devoted 'bun mum' and enjoys spending her spare time by the sea, reading, binge-watching a good TV show and exploring Sydney's vibrant dining scene. Next on her Aussie travel wish list? South Australia and The Kimberley.
A new generation ofHilton hotels is reshaping Aussie getaways, pairing the brand’s signature comfort with some of the most spectacular outlooks in the country.
When life calls for a reset, there’s nothing quite like checking into a hotel where the view does all the heavy lifting. From spectacular outback landscapes and mountain peaks to shimmering seas, these are the best Hilton hotels for sinking into comfort while soaking up unforgettable vistas from your window.
1. DoubleTree by Hilton Alice Springs
Enjoy panoramas of the MacDonnell Ranges.
With panoramas of the MacDonnell Ranges from its Mountain View rooms, DoubleTree by Hilton Alice Springs makes the most of its dramatic Red Centre setting. Set on the banks of the Todd River next door to Alice Springs Golf Club, the hotel offers a relaxed base for exploring the region’s natural attractions, including Alice Springs Desert Park and Anzac Hill, both within a 10-minute drive. An outdoor pool overlooks leafy gardens inhabited by a resident peacock, while tennis courts, a fitness centre and an on-site restaurant round out the resort-style appeal.
2. Hilton Garden Inn Busselton
Wake to views of the ocean in Busselton.
Sitting on the foreshore a seashell’s throw from Busselton Jetty, Hilton Garden Inn Busselton puts one of Western Australia’s most celebrated coastal outlooks front and centre. Guests staying in Ocean View Rooms wake to views of Geographe Bay and the Indian Ocean, while Balcony rooms further enhance the experience, inviting guests to step outside and soak up the sea breeze. For a different perspective, Town View Rooms overlook Busselton’s distinctive peppermint trees. The hotel is perfectly positioned for seaside strolls and easy access to the town centre, with a heated outdoor pool, fitness centre and contemporary dining.
3. Hilton Cairns
Check into Hilton Cairns and soak in the beauty.
In a prime position on the Esplanade, Hilton Cairns gives you front-row views over Trinity Inlet, framed by palm trees and passing cruise ships, or across the lush, mountainous backdrop of the hinterland. In addition to its waterfront setting, guests can unwind beside the lagoon-style pool, stay active in the fitness centre and enjoy a selection of on-site dining and bar spaces, while the Executive Lounge offers another relaxed vantage point over the tidal estuary. Opt for a private balcony room to maximise the unobstructed views.
4. DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Cairns
Choose from rooms looking towards the water or the ranges.
Just down the Esplanade, DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Cairns offers similar panoramas, with rooms looking towards the water or the jungle-clad ranges beyond the city – many featuring private balconies. The hotel leans into its tropical setting with landscaped gardens and an enticing outdoor pool, perfect for cooling off after a day exploring the reef or rainforest. Guests can dine at on-site restaurants or linger over drinks at the bar, while a 24-hour fitness centre keeps routines intact. With modern rooms and that signature Hilton comfort, the hotel balances resort-style ease in a central location a short stroll from the lagoon and city sights.
5. Hilton Darwin
Opt for Harbour View Rooms or Suites at Hilton Darwin.
Take in the Top End horizon from Harbour View Rooms or Suites on the upper levels of Hilton Darwin. On Level 20, the city’s only Executive Lounge is the place to be at dusk, where canapés and cocktails are served against a cinematic sky. Set high above the city, the hotel’s outdoor pool invites a leisurely swim, complemented by a fitness centre for those keen to keep moving indoors. Dining spans PepperBerry, showcasing modern Australian cuisine with native bush spices, to the immersive Le Petit Chef experience, plus light bites and drinks in the stylish bar and lounge.
6. DoubleTree by Hilton Esplanade Darwin
Watch sunsets over Darwin’s Esplanade.
Positioned right on the foreshore, DoubleTree by Hilton Esplanade Darwin offers a more laid-back alternative near the waterfront parklands. Book an upper-floor ocean-facing room to make the most of the harbour view, especially golden at sunset. King Executive Suites elevate the experience further, with private rooftop verandahs. Guests can relax by the large outdoor pool made for tropical lounging, plus there’s a fitness centre and the Aqua Restaurant and bar, which spills onto an alfresco terrace.
7. Hilton Garden Inn Darwin
Garden, pool and Esplanade views await.
Also located on the Esplanade, Hilton Garden Inn Darwin places you right on the edge of the harbour. From the outset, it feels tailored for easy Darwin living, with an outdoor pool, all-day dining at Together & Co, a fitness centre and a 24-hour snack shop for grab-and-go essentials. Upper-level Harbour View Rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows and Juliet balconies with unobstructed views of the water. Inside, rooms are modern and practical, with smart TVs, workspaces, Wi-Fi access and contemporary bathrooms. Guests also have access to free parking and a self-service laundry, making for an easy and hassle-free stay.
8. Hilton Surfers Paradise Hotel & Residences
Look over the iconic Surfers Paradise.
Set in the heart of Australia’s holiday playground, Hilton Surfers Paradise Hotel & Residences captures the essence of the Gold Coast. Floor-to-ceiling windows and private balconies offer uninterrupted Pacific Ocean views, with Surfers Paradise Beach stretching below. Turn inland and the city skyline sparkles at night, a neon grid rising above Cavill Avenue. Beyond it all, the Gold Coast hinterland drifts into soft, green-blue mountain silhouettes. The hotel makes an excellent base for exploring theme parks and other attractions. There’s also four pools, an award-winning spa, two fitness centres and on-site restaurants.
9. Hilton Garden Inn Albany
Look out the room window to Albany Waterfront Marina.
Poised above Princess Royal Harbour, Hilton Garden Inn Albany distils the salt-licked calm of Western Australia’s south coast into a modern waterfront stay. From upper-level Harbour View Rooms, guests arise to magnificent sunrises spilling across Albany Waterfront Marina, where they can watch boats slip quietly in and out like clockwork. The same views carry through to the on-site restaurant and breezy viewing decks. Inside, it’s all clean-lined comfort, with a fitness centre and a casual eatery showcasing local produce.
