The 4 New Australian Restaurants to Hit This Summer

Akash Arora serves up Australia’s hottest new restaurants.

Perth, Western Australia

Henry Summer

The food: Serial restaurateur Clint Nolan’s sixth Northbridge establishment is spread across a series of indoor-outdoor spaces. It features multiple “rooms”, five bars, a sensational drinks list and a fresh, light menu of seafood, meats and salads.

The drinks: There’s a choice of more than 30 wines, plus a good selection of craft beers and seasonally inspired cocktails featuring fresh fruit, aloe vera and kombucha.

The atmosphere: Leather booths, rattan chairs and vintage tropical prints create a relaxed vibe.

The location: A short walk from Perth’s CBD.

69 -71 Aberdeen Street, Northbridge

Red Hill, Victoria

Montalto

The food: After a major refurb, this coveted Mornington Peninsula restaurant has reopened. There’s an Argentine-style grill and more than a hectare of gardens that supply much of the fresh produce for the dishes on the à la carte and five- or eight-course tasting menus.

The drinks: Montalto wines are the focus, with 21 current offerings and a selection of vintage drops, plus a few other local and Australian labels.

The atmosphere: The natural palette and vast windows set a sophisticated tone and let the serene surroundings do the talking.

The location: Red Hill, on the Mornington Peninsula, about an hour’s drive south of Melbourne.

33 Shoreham Road, Red Hill South

Sydney, New South Wales

Barangaroo House

The food: Matt Moran has roped in Cory Campbell (ex Vue de Monde and Noma) to man the kitchens at his striking new establishment with two bars and one fine-dining restaurant – all serving food with a distinctly Australian personality.

The drinks: There are fresh, playful wines at the ground-floor bar, more refined bins at the first-floor restaurant and a champagne-heavy list at the top-floor bar.

The atmosphere: Reminiscent of New York’s Guggenheim Museum, the circular building has balconies draped in greenery.

The location: The southern end of Barangaroo, right next to Bungalow 8.

35 Barangaroo Avenue, Sydney

McLaren Vale, South Australia

The D’Arenberg Cube

The food: Chefs Brendan Wessels and Lindsay Durr are at the helm of d’Arenberg winery’s new restaurant housed in a building inspired by the Rubik’s cube. “Radically different” is how the husband-and-wife team are describing the seasonal dégustation menus.

The drinks: The wine list will be chock-full of d’Arenberg’s current and back vintages, as well as a good selection of international drops and champagnes.

The atmosphere: The look is whimsical, with oak-barrel tables and luridly coloured chairs.

The location: McLaren Vale, a 45-minute drive south of Adelaide.

Osborn Road, McLaren Vale