Pictured: Anvers
The Australian Good Food Guide’s 2026 Chef Hat Awards have been officially announced, celebrating another exciting chapter for Australian dining, marking a renewed era of excellence, ambition and evolution across the nation’s hospitality industry. Now in their 49th year, the Chef Hat Awards are consistently one of the country’s most respected measures of culinary achievement, recognising restaurants that demonstrate outstanding technique, creativity, consistency and a deep respect for produce, place and people.
At this year’s awards, South Australia has emerged as a powerhouse of high-end, produce-driven dining. In a historic first, Anvers Wines has debuted with an exceptional 17-point score, the first time a South Australian venue has ever entered the awards at this level. The milestone achievement places Anvers, and the team led by Executive Chef Connor Bishop, immediately among Australia’s culinary elite.
LVN
Another exciting standout was LVN, which saw a remarkable rise, climbing from 14 to 17 points in one year. This is one of the most significant score increases of the 2026 awards, and reflects sustained growth, refinement and a clear commitment to excellence.
Overall, South Australia now has three 18-point venues and three 17-point venues. The top tier features the show-stopping Restaurant Botanic, Penfolds Magill Estate Restaurant and Maxwell’s Restaurant. These are closely followed by Hentley Farm, which joins LVN and Anvers in the 17 hat category.
Hentley Farm
Chef Hats are awarded through a rigorous, independent judging process conducted anonymously by experienced industry professionals. Venues are judged on a 20-point scale, with Chef Hats awarded to those delivering the very best dining experiences.
This year’s awards reflect a confident dining scene that’s constantly in motion. Across Australia, chefs and hospitality teams are pushing beyond what’s expected, embracing regional storytelling and refining their craft to deliver experiences that resonate with diners. The 2026 Chef Hat Awards highlight an industry that continues to grow sharper, braver and more expressive.
See the Winners:
18 Hats
Restaurant Botanic — Adelaide
Penfolds Magill Estate Restaurant — Adelaide
Maxwell’s Restaurant — McLaren Vale & The Fleurieu Peninsula
17 Hats
LVN — Adelaide Hills
Hentley Farm — Barossa Valley
Anvers Wines — McLaren Vale & The Fleurieu Peninsula
16 Hats
Hardy’s Verandah Restaurant — Adelaide
15 Hats
Appellation — Barossa Valley
14 Hats
Station Road — Adelaide
Luma Restaurant — Adelaide
Ondeen — Adelaide Hills
Mt Lofty Ranges Vineyard — Adelaide Hills
Fino Seppeltsfield — Barossa Valley
Rumi on Louth — Eyre Peninsula
13 Hats
Osteria Oggi — Adelaide
Africola — Adelaide
Aurora ADL — Adelaide
Topiary — Adelaide
Arkhe — Adelaide
Fino Vino — Adelaide
Lenzerheide — Adelaide
Pinco Italo — Adelaide
Ode Bistro — Adelaide
Tunki — Adelaide
Herringbone — Adelaide
The Lane Vineyard — Adelaide Hills
Thelma Piccadilly — Adelaide
St Hugo Restaurant — Barossa Valley
Staguni — Barossa Valley
Orleana — Barossa Valley
Bush DeVine — Clare Valley
Elementary by Soul Co — Coonawarra and the Limestone Coast
The Little Rickshaw — McLaren Vale & The Fleurieu Peninsula
The Line and Label — Eyre Peninsula
12 Hats
Garcon Bleu — Adelaide
Peel Street — Adelaide
Samurai Teppanyaki House — Adelaide
Golden Boy — Adelaide
Orso — Adelaide
Kiin — Adelaide
La Louisiane — Adelaide
MENSA — Adelaide
Carnivore — Adelaide
Lola’s Wine Bar — Adelaide
Allegra Dining Room —Adelaide
Pike & Joyce — Adelaide Hills
fermentAsian — Barossa Valley
Otherness — Barossa Valley
Vintners Bar & Grill — Barossa Valley
Watervale Hotel — Clare Valley
Slate — Clare Valley
Pipers of Penola — Coonawarra and the Limestone Coast
Star of Greece — McLaren Vale & The Fleurieu Peninsula
Serafino Restaurant — McLaren Vale & The Fleurieu Peninsula
d’Arry’s Verandah Restaurant — McLaren Vale & The Fleurieu Peninsula
Ekhidna Wines and Kitchen — McLaren Vale & The Fleurieu Peninsula
For more information, click here.
