Melbourne’s Theguardian has been named Restaurant of the Year at the 2026 Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Awards. The Collingwood establishment also claimed the Victorian state title during the ceremony held in Sydney on Monday night.
Zareh Named National Restaurant of the Year
The victory marks a shift in a category that has historically been dominated by fine-dining establishments and European-leaning cuisine. Previous winners of the award include Quay, Attica, Saint Peter, and Orana by the late Jock Zonfrillo. Co-owner Tom Sarafian attributed the win to a new sort of scene
that maintains high food standards while adopting a more casual approach than traditional fine dining.
Opened in August 2025 and named after Sarafian’s paternal grandfather, Zareh features a menu reflecting the Lebanese, Armenian, and Egyptian backgrounds of Sarafian and co-owner Jinane Bou-Assi. The menu includes:
- Aish baladi: Egyptian flatbread using flour milled in the Mornington Peninsula.
- Kafta nayyah: Raw minced lamb sourced from Victoria and Tasmania.
- Hummus: Served with spanner crab.
Sarafian described the restaurant as a cross-cultural celebration
and a “love letter” to Lebanon for opening its country to Armenia following the Armenian genocide.
Recognition of Migrant Contributions
Other winners echoed these sentiments. “Big” Sam Young, named Restaurant Personality of the Year for his work at S’more and Young’s Palace in Sydney, spoke of his start as an immigrant kitchen hand earning $10 an hour. Similarly, Marc Polese, owner of the Sydney institution Beppi’s, paid tribute to the immigrants who make the industry possible while accepting the reader-voted enduring excellence
award for the 70-year-old Italian restaurant.
Broad Industry Accolades
The ceremony coincided with the 60th anniversary of Gourmet Traveller, which first launched in 1966 as the Australian Gourmet Magazine. Editor David Meagher stated the winners reflect the extraordinary depth of talent
across the country, from emerging voices to enduring institutions.
Chef and author Stephanie Alexander received a standing ovation for the Outstanding Contribution to Hospitality award. Alexander, who founded her restaurant Stephanie’s in 1976 and the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation, also celebrates the 30th anniversary of her cookbook The Cook’s Companion this year.
Other major winners across the 10 categories include:
| Category | Winner | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Chef of the Year | Christian Ryan (ALØFT / Restaurant Maria) | Tasmania |
| Best New Restaurant | Yiaga | Melbourne |
| Bar of the Year | Tread Lightly | Willunga, SA |
| Best Destination Dining | The Woodshed | Kin Kin, QLD |
Regional Restaurant Winners
In addition to the national title won by Zareh, Gourmet Traveller recognized the best restaurants across each state. The 2026 state winners are:
- New South Wales: Bistro Livi (Murwillumbah)
- Queensland: The Woodshed (Kin Kin)
- South Australia: Esmay (Hackney)
- Tasmania: Scholé (Hobart)
- Western Australia: De’sendent (Margaret River)
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