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HATS OFF TO THE SOUTH

Australians love nothing more than eating out, choosing to celebrate friendship, family, anniversaries and special occasions at a favourite restaurant, or at an eatery on the bucket list thanks to the recommendations of a prestigious food guide. The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide, and the Australian Good Food Guide are two such chaperones, held at the highest levels of trusted restaurant recommendations. 


Each year, these two guides announce Chef Hat Restaurant Winners, critiqued on ingredients, taste, presentation, technique, value, hospitality, setting and experience. A professional applause to excellence, artistry and the nation’s most coveted culinary honours for both Chef and establishment. The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide and the Australian Good Food Guide allocate Chef Hat Awards with the highest level of integrity, assuring the Australian public that these are establishments to add to your wish list of exceptional culinary experiences. 

 

In 2025, The WEST Journal curated a list of some of the 2025 hatted restaurants in Greater Western Sydney, the Central Coast, Newcastle and the Hunter Valley you simply had to visit and experience for yourself. In this edition, we showcase some of the restaurants awarded a Chef Hat accolade in the Illawarra, on the South Coast and in the Southern Highlands. Incredible venues surrounded by rolling green hills, breezy coastal waters and farm to table produce. So book in your visit, take the leisurely road and get ready for a hatted experience that will linger on the palate for years to come.


ILLAWARRA  

 

Found south of Sydney, the Illawarra is renowned for its scenic coastal escarpment, swathe of gorgeous, pristine beaches and friendly, laidback towns. A place to explore, savour and be immersed in warm, soothing hospitality and a relaxed outdoor lifestyle. 



Tucked in a lively Wollongong laneway, Restaurant Santino is a modern Italian bistro with a moody, art-deco edge. Think dirty martinis, low-lit ambience, and walls lined with classic prints that frame the glow of the room. Their chefs craft fresh pasta daily, balancing tradition with a contemporary touch on a rotating menu that always feels new. The wine cellar runs deep, from Italian icons to global gems, with the Restaurant Santino team guiding the perfect pairing. Santino hums with warmth and groove - equal parts Italian spirit and equal parts Australian soul, lifted by the clink of amaro glasses and the buzz of lively conversation. Winner of both a Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide and Australian Good Food Guide Chef Hat, you should run, not walk, to Restaurant Santino.   



 

You’ll discover some of Australia’s finest cuisine at Harbourfront Seafood Restaurant, where the freshest local and sustainable seafood and produce are showcased on your plate. Overlooking the iconic Belmore Basin on Wollongong Harbour, Harbourfront Seafood Restaurant is proud to be a South Coast dining destination. Open seven days a week for lunch and dinner, they offer both a daily market menu and an à la carte selection, known throughout the region for their premium seafood platters. With stunning waterfront views, warm hospitality, and a reputation as a true Wollongong icon, Harbourfront Seafront Restaurant promises a dining experience that’s as memorable as it is delicious.




Nestled in the escarpment above Wollongong, is Ruby’s Mount Kembla, one of the longest serving restaurants in the Illawarra established in 1987. Originally a post office and general store servicing the local mining community, it has since undergone careful restoration to preserve its history and invite diners into its warm, cosy surroundings. Ruby’s Mount Kembla offers a 5 and 7 course tasting menu prepared by Head Chef and Owner Scott Woods, seasonally inspired by local ingredients with many foraged items found on the menu. With chef links to ARIA and Matt Moran as well as Tom Aitkins in London, you are in excellent hands. Ruby’s Mount Kembla also offers a wine pairing with each course, outside seating on beautiful Sunday afternoons and intimate private dining rooms available for special occasions. 



 

Awarded a prestigious 2025 AGFG Hat and a coveted SMH Good Food Guide Hat, Bangalay Dining showcases a commitment to excellence in food, wine and hospitality. Nestled on the stunning South Coast, Bangalay celebrates the region’s rich natural bounty, with menus driven by native ingredients, seasonal produce, and refined culinary technique. Bangalay Dining’s dedicated team strives to create memorable dining experiences that honour both land and culture, offering a uniquely Australian expression of coastal dining. These accolades affirm Bangalay’s place among NSW’s most respected dining destinations. As the Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide puts it, “Bangalay? Banga-yay.”



 

Moving from Sydney 12 years ago, John Evans and Sonia Greig bring city slick dining with a country vibe. SOUTH on Albany craft a fortnightly changing set 3 course Chef's menu and offer freshly shucked oysters and matching wines. It's real, honest food, driven by flavour and truly seasonal produce. Recently celebrating their 12th birthday, SOUTH on Albany have incredible loyal support, with a big local following in Berry who regularly dine at this fine establishment, as well as the many visitors to Berry who make SOUTH on Albany part of their food and wine travels.  

 

SOUTH on Albany love to showcase NSW food and wine and have been awarded one hat from the Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide for 5 years running. Their wine list is also central to what they offer, featuring both local and NSW wines, having been awarded a 2 wine glass rating from the Australian Wine List of the Year Awards and winning the 2025 NSW Wine Presidents Award for Outstanding Support for the NSW Wine Industry. For the best of seasonal produce and wine, a visit to SOUTH on Albany is one not to be missed.



SOUTH COAST 

 

Spectacular coastlines, one-of-a-kind establishments and culinary experiences tucked into the most unexpected places? Then the South Coast is your kind of getaway.  

 

 

At Mimosa Wines, you will find a boutique family owned gastronomic restaurant on the South Coast of NSW. Head Chef Matteo Ponti brings close to two decades of experience shaped by his roots in the Italian countryside and a global culinary journey. Originally from Piedmont, Matteo earned his first Michelin star at the age of thirty while leading a contemporary Italian kitchen in Singapore, where he spent a decade refining his craft. His menu at Mimosa is more than a collection of dishes - it's a personal journey. From the traditions of rural Italy, through the vibrant markets of Southeast Asia, to the native produce of the South Coast of NSW, each plate tells a story of season, memory, and travel. With a deep respect for nature and sustainability, Matteo reimagines Italian cuisine through a modern lens, honouring both humble and premium ingredients with the same reverence.



SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS 

 

The Southern Highlands is a country escape with all the hallmarks of big city living. Quaint villages, lush farmland, natural surrounding beauty, warm local hospitality, cool climate wines and some of the best restaurant meals found within Australia including at Paste Australia, recipient of both a Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide and Australian Good Food Guide Chef Hat.

 

 

Paste Australia is the Southern Highlands home of Chef Bee Satongun’s acclaimed Michelin-starred Thai restaurant brand. Located in a picturesque setting, Paste brings refined Thai cuisine to regional New South Wales, combining authentic flavours with contemporary presentation. The restaurant sources premium local produce while staying true to traditional Thai techniques, showcasing complex balance, aromatic herbs, and bold yet elegant tastes.  

 

The Sydney Morning Herald shares “the dining room is spacious, modern and glass-fronted; Satongun’s cooking is complex, textural and refined. A slippery fermented rice-noodle salad with blue swimmer crab, pickled garlic and coconut milk transports you to the tropics, while minced duck larb feels right at home in the Highlands with its toasty roasted paste and flavour boost of duck liver.” 

 

With an emphasis on creativity and cultural storytelling, Paste Australia has become a fine dining destination in Bowral and Mittagong, drawing both local food lovers and international visitors and proudly holding Chef Hat recognition.



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